SteamrollerBlues wrote:I think you misinterpreted PMP's post. He's not saying the lyrics aren't offensive, he's saying they're a parody, which would definitely explain that line. It's making fun of the people who think that way.
Apologies if I don't know what I'm talking about ahead of time.
The line is hardly parody as it is being told to the potential suitor and the whole point of the song is to stay away from his woman which is his property. Sorry women arent chattel any more. Perhaps you forgot that women once were property. And of course Peter and the usual crew making excuses by saying it's only satire to justify what is clearly inappropriate in 2016 becuse of course Elvis recorded it and Elvis can do no wrong. Like, no officer, i didnt punch my wife in the face- that was just a tune up to her attitude-she"s running s lot better now. I'll check out of this thread and leave the cave men to it. Hard to believe that even a small comment pointing out the obvious misogyny of a track written 40 years ago finds fans defending it. And by the way the parody was the play on Male and Mail- not treating a woman as property.
Reed may've meant no harm, but the lyrics some heard as satire other embraced as ... social commentary.
This is one reason the track was included on the infamous 1982 bootleg LP, Elvis' Greatest Sh'it.
While listening again to that great recording and to the whole session, I think there was a great country blues album to be made at the time (say instead of the dreadful "Speedway").
1. US Male
2. Guitar Man
3. Mine
4. Goin' Home
5. Tiger Man (live)
6. Hi-heel Sneakers
1. Big boss Man
2. Down In The Alley
3. Just Call Me Lonesome
4. Baby What You Want Me To Do (live)
5. Too Much Monkey Business
6. Stay Away
Pink&Black wrote:
From a woman's point of view, referring to the discussion of the lyrics, I'd like to say this song puts a smile on my face everytime I hear it.
The lyrics are so over the top 'macho' and of course Elvis with his great sense of humour understands this and obviously had himself some fun. Didn't know he put in Mississippi instead of Georgia, very cool!
It's obviously pure over the top and tongue in cheek. I've always found the song hilarious. I didn't know about the Mississippi detail: that's awesome!
Davelee wrote:One of the very best tracks Elvis recorded!
It's not often I agree with you
He could just sing anything and make it his own. Jerry Reed's version is fine but Elvis outswaggers him on every level.
From a woman's point of view, referring to the discussion of the lyrics, I'd like to say this song puts a smile on my face everytime I hear it.
The lyrics are so over the top 'macho' and of course Elvis with his great sense of humour understands this and obviously had himself some fun. Didn't know he put in Mississippi instead of Georgia, very cool!
How can anyone not agree with me on this song being one of the very best? Even if you don't like me...lol.
Personally, i don't have any issues with the lyrics (never really thought about it tbh) its just a great song.
'M-A-L-A" which obviously shows how the protagnist of this song is showing himself to be an illiterate Southern redneck. The satire is apparent.
The ring bought on sale etc. only reinforces the satire.
Fish wrote:'M-A-L-A" which obviously shows how the protagnist of this song is showing himself to be an illiterate Southern redneck. The satire is apparent.
The ring bought on sale etc. only reinforces the satire.
I think you may be mishearing that part of the song. He spells out M-A-L-E
I like this song quite a bit. I always thought the parody was obvious FWIW.
Last edited by Mike in New Jersey on Sun Jul 24, 2016 7:43 am, edited 1 time in total.
Well, I take it as a parody all the way. And I like US Male and I think this kind of song is very rare in Elvis Presley's catalogue. So in this one Elvis is a lot different(on a good kind of way) to many mediocre songs he recorded in the middle 60's.
jeanno wrote:While listening again to that great recording and to the whole session, I think there was a great country blues album to be made at the time (say instead of the dreadful "Speedway").
1. US Male
2. Guitar Man
3. Mine
4. Goin' Home
5. Tiger Man (live)
6. Hi-heel Sneakers
1. Big boss Man
2. Down In The Alley
3. Just Call Me Lonesome
4. Baby What You Want Me To Do (live)
5. Too Much Monkey Business
6. Stay Away
It was done 30+ years later in 1999 by RCA/BMG, albeit with a different track listing: Elvis-Tomorrow Is A Long Time cd! . Bye for now .
1. Too Much Monkey Business
2. Guitar Man
3. Tomorrow Is A Long Time
4. U.S. Male
5. Big Boss Man
6. Love Letters
7. Indescribably Blue
8. Fools Fall In Love
9. Hi-Heel Sneakers
10. Down In The Alley
11. Come What May
12. Mine
13. Just Call Me Lonesome
14. You Don't Know Me
15. Stay Away
16. Singing Tree
17. Going Home
18. I'll Remember You
Maestro. Mike Windgren. Torero!!!!!!!!.
Always Trying To Make Peace <<--->> On FECC
Not The Best, Just The Coolest Guy Around!..
Viva el vino, viva el dinero, viva, viva el amor!!.
jeanno wrote:4. Baby What You Want Me To Do (live)
...hats off to you...although "live recordings" they would have sat rather nicely on the Tomorrow Is A Long Time compilation or simply replace two tracks with these ones!!
fn2drive wrote:The sad part is that the lyrics didnt age well and so it really cant for public consumption any longer.
I think you miss the point that the lyrics are clearly intended as a satirical swipe at the All-American male image.
I don't think any woman in 2016 wants to be considered the property of this or any other US male. It was barely acceptable in 1967; it isn't today. Really no place for misogyny any longer. Just another example of the comments you make I referenced in another post that you claim to never make. Little wonder why you don't understand why they are mean spirited, hostile etc if you cant see why the lyrics are offensive. Satire. Tell that to a battered woman who's husband thought she was his property. Appalling. I guess cave men still roam the earth.
I think you misinterpreted PMP's post. He's not saying the lyrics aren't offensive, he's saying they're a parody, which would definitely explain that line. It's making fun of the people who think that way.
Apologies if I don't know what I'm talking about ahead of time.
The line is hardly parody as it is being told to the potential suitor and the whole point of the song is to stay away from his woman which is his property. Sorry women arent chattel any more. Perhaps you forgot that women once were property. And of course Peter and the usual crew making excuses by saying it's only satire to justify what is clearly inappropriate in 2016 becuse of course Elvis recorded it and Elvis can do no wrong. Like, no officer, i didnt punch my wife in the face- that was just a tune up to her attitude-she"s running s lot better now. I'll check out of this thread and leave the cave men to it. Hard to believe that even a small comment pointing out the obvious misogyny of a track written 40 years ago finds fans defending it. And by the way the parody was the play on Male and Mail- not treating a woman as property.
My apologies in advance if this sounds or comes across as offensive, it's not meant to be, but if you have to go into music and lyrics in that depth how the hell do you get time to enjoy the music.
ELVIS PRESLEY - THE MOST UNDERRATED, UNDERUSED, WASTED TALENT OF ALL TIME
I think its a great song, in fact, last in a trio of great single releases since late '67 that showed Elvis had found his way again. Its too bad the public & radio didnt notice and make them big hits. This song got a lot of play in my local juke joint. The guys seemed to like it more than the girls(very rare). I couldnt wait for the next single surprise, but the momentum was broken when a Speedway single appeared along with another typical Elvis movie.
Guitar Man, Big Boss Man, US Male-3 great singles! But the damage The Colonel and RCA did for many years with the soundtracks LP's almost ruined Elvis' musical career. Sad but true. So these great songs were not reaching top 25, unfortunately.
SteamrollerBlues wrote:I think you misinterpreted PMP's post. He's not saying the lyrics aren't offensive, he's saying they're a parody, which would definitely explain that line. It's making fun of the people who think that way.
Apologies if I don't know what I'm talking about ahead of time.
The line is hardly parody as it is being told to the potential suitor and the whole point of the song is to stay away from his woman which is his property. Sorry women arent chattel any more. Perhaps you forgot that women once were property. And of course Peter and the usual crew making excuses by saying it's only satire to justify what is clearly inappropriate in 2016 becuse of course Elvis recorded it and Elvis can do no wrong. Like, no officer, i didnt punch my wife in the face- that was just a tune up to her attitude-she"s running s lot better now. I'll check out of this thread and leave the cave men to it. Hard to believe that even a small comment pointing out the obvious misogyny of a track written 40 years ago finds fans defending it. And by the way the parody was the play on Male and Mail- not treating a woman as property.
Reed may've meant no harm, but the lyrics some heard as satire other embraced as ... social commentary.
This is one reason the track was included on the infamous 1982 bootleg LP, Elvis' Greatest Sh'it.
Satire IS social commentary, though, and no form of comedy is more cutting. The joke is on the US Male, the same as it was on the sitcom character Alf Garnett, for example. Not sure if he made it to the USA. Find She Wears My Ring offensive if you want because of its topic of "owning" a woman, but not a song that is effectively taking the p*as out of the awful character the singer is portraying.
For a man without love is only half of a man but a woman is nothing at all.Now that is offensive as it's put across seriously. US Male on the other hand is tongue in cheek and a play on words not to be taken seriously at all.
poormadpeter2 wrote: The joke is on the US Male, the same as it was on the sitcom character Alf Garnett, for example. Not sure if he made it to the USA.
The US sitcom "All In The Family" was based on Till Death Us Do Part. A hilarious show.... but not nearly as funny as the PC Police taking offence at Elvis and the US Male - Hysterical!
poormadpeter2 wrote: The joke is on the US Male, the same as it was on the sitcom character Alf Garnett, for example. Not sure if he made it to the USA.
The US sitcom "All In The Family" was based on Till Death Us Do Part. A hilarious show.... but not nearly as funny as the PC Police taking offence at Elvis and the US Male - Hysterical!
Yeah starring Carl O'Connor as Archie Bunker and was a huge success as well as being controversial.
Davelee wrote:One of the very best tracks Elvis recorded!
It's not often I agree with you
He could just sing anything and make it his own. Jerry Reed's version is fine but Elvis outswaggers him on every level.
From a woman's point of view, referring to the discussion of the lyrics, I'd like to say this song puts a smile on my face everytime I hear it.
The lyrics are so over the top 'macho' and of course Elvis with his great sense of humour understands this and obviously had himself some fun. Didn't know he put in Mississippi instead of Georgia, very cool!
I found it odd that this wasn't mentioned in major Elvis books I read. I looked. I thought KOOL!
The word play on the postal system is skillful and clever, the satirical humour is found in abundance on this track - the U.S. Male of the title even proudly announces the fact that he bought her ring on sale!
The humourous ridiculing of the title character of the song works all the more successfully because of Elvis' completely straight (yet knowing) delivery of the lyrics.
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"Hey man, I'd better warn you, to make your reservation, your exit's overdue"
Had Elvis covered the following 1972 Olivia track in 1973 or even 1975, with a little rewrite of the lyric it could have become "Her Old Man's Got A Gun" and in part revisited the theme of U.S. Male, albeit in a slightly darker tone, and without the satire.
It has come to the point that being offended is a badge of honor and even a competition as who can be first to proclaim being offended. (Not talking about anyone here, as much as I am making a general observation of society these days).