Zager & Evans are only known for their immensely popular song In the Year 2525 (Exordium And Terminus), written by Rick Evans. It hit number one on the UK chart in 1969. Coincidentally, it was number one on 20 July 1969 in USA, the date of the first manned moon landing by astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, and spent six weeks on the Billboard Top 40. It was nominated for a special Hugo Award that same year.
The band signed with RCA records, who claimed they were "The Next Big Thing", but follow-up singles, such as "Mr. Turnkey", went unnoticed by the public.
Mister Turnkey
Zager & Evans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It′s ten p.m. in Wichita Falls
Mister Turnkey
August sixteen, ninteen sixty-nine
And I'm in some bar
Mister Turnkey
I need a woman and I ain′t getting far
I never was the kind of man a woman looked for
But Mister Turnkey
She looked at me with flirtin' eyes
Mister Turnkey
She was lovelier than oil lights
Mister Turnkey
She led me on, she led me on
She know she wasn't going to let me love her
Mister Turnkey
I forced that girl in Wichita Falls
Mister Turnkey
I′m sittin′ here cryin' in coveralls
Mister Turnkey
Don′t want to be the man I am
Mister Turnkey
I'm a-hollering from block number four
Mister Turnkey
It ain′t never seen nothing like this before
Mister Turnkey
I've nailed my left wrist to your wall
I′m going home
Mister Turnkey
I'm sheltering from block number four
Mister Turnkey
I ain't go the strength to call once more
Mister Turnkey
I′m crying hanging here dying
Tell her I′m sorry.
The lyrics of "Mister Turnkey" by Zager and Evans tell the story of a man who is desperately seeking love and attention from a woman. The song begins with the singer in a bar, looking for a woman to take home with him. He acknowledges that he's never been the type of man that women are attracted to, but he still hopes to find someone who will give him a chance. He eventually meets a woman who flirts with him and leads him on, but ultimately rejects him. This rejection leads the singer to take extreme actions, as he forces himself on her, and later on, regrets it all.
The song's powerful lyrics explore the dark and violent side of masculinity, as the singer struggles with his own inadequacy and attempts to assert himself through violence. The lines "I forced that girl in Wichita Falls...Don't want to be the man I am" reveal the weight of his actions and his subsequent regret. The song challenges the idea of traditional masculinity and the damaging effects of it on both men and women.
Line by Line Meaning
Mister Turnkey
The singer is addressing a man named Mr. Turnkey who may be a prison guard or someone else in a position of authority.
It's ten p.m. in Wichita Falls
The time and location of the singer's current situation.
August sixteen, ninteen sixty-nine
The specific date of the events in the singer's story.
And I'm in some bar
The artist is currently in a bar and sets the stage for what is to come.
I need a woman and I ain't getting far
The artist is looking for companionship but is struggling to find it on his own.
I never was the kind of man a woman looked for
The singer believes he is undesirable to women and has a low self-esteem.
She looked at me with flirtin' eyes
Despite the singer's belief that he is not attractive, a woman shows interest in him.
She was lovelier than oil lights
The artist finds the woman to be very beautiful.
She led me on, she led me on
The woman flirted with the artist and made him believe he had a chance with her.
She know she wasn't going to let me love her
Despite leading the artist on, the woman had no intention of actually having a relationship with him.
I forced that girl in Wichita Falls
The singer admits to forcing himself on the woman who flirted with him.
I'm sittin' here cryin' in coveralls
The artist is emotional and regretful about what he has done, and is currently dressed in work attire.
Don't want to be the man I am
The singer is unhappy with himself and has regrets about what he has done.
I'm a-hollering from block number four
The singer is likely in prison and calling out to Mr. Turnkey from his cell block.
It ain't never seen nothing like this before
The singer's behavior is unusual and shocking to those around him, even for the prison environment.
I've nailed my left wrist to your wall
The artist has harmed himself and is looking for attention or help from Mr. Turnkey.
I'm going home
The artist is likely delusional, believing that by harming himself he can go back to a better time or place.
I'm sheltering from block number four
The singer is still in prison and hiding from his fellow inmates.
I ain't got the strength to call once more
The singer is too weak or afraid to reach out for help once again.
I'm crying hanging here dying
The artist is in a suicidal state and is calling out for help.
Tell her I'm sorry.
The artist wants someone to apologize to the woman he hurt or harmed in some way.
Writer(s): Rick Evans
Contributed by Kayla I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Harry
on Cary Lynn Javes
Love this gem. Memories of 1969.