It is interesting how much our (my) initial interpretation of
a song is based on what I've read in the media and (up
to HOSL at least) the expectation that her songs were
mainly self-confessional. In 'my' mental movie of the song
Warren Beatty plays the role of The Kingpin and Joni
plays Edith.
I see the big Hollywood star - The Kingpin - arriving at a
small town theatre to see Edith play a concert - he's met
outside by models and photographers, with bodyguards
holding back sophomore kids, all swooning, hyped up by
his media playboy image (victims of typewriters).
Then Edith's on stage, trying to concentrate (the band sounds
like typewriters) and The Kingpin's in the front row staring at her
intently - flirtatiously - but not really listening to the music, holding
his hands together tightly, anticipating the night of love (lust) ahead.
After the show, at the backstage party, everyone surrounds them -
the centre of attention - the ring - Edith can see the model girls
whispering and gossipping out of the corner of her eye as he
'purrs' his praise on her - as they are parted by the crush of the
party - one by one - the model girls push forward to whisper stories
of his legendary playboy exploits to her, with challenging, bitchy
smiles. Meanwhile, in true playboy style, he's idly checking out the
other women in the room.
Later that night in the hotel room, lying in silence, staring at each other
after making love, with just the sound of the rain, a distant plane and
the room's central heating, and with her head still buzzing from the concert
and their lovemaking, she says his crime - his reputation as a great lover -
belongs - is justified.
Well, it's one way of looking at it!
PaulC
EDITH AND THE KINGPIN
The big man arrives
Disco dancers greet him
Plainclothes cops greet him
Small town, big man, fresh lipstick glistening
Sophomore jive
>From victims of typewriters
The band sounds like typewriters
The big man he's not listening
His eyes hold Edith
His left hand holds his right
What does that hand desire
That he grips it so tight
Edith in the ring
The passed-over girls are conferring
The man with the diamond ring is purring
All claws for now withdrawn
One by one they bring
His renegade stories to her
His crimes and his glories to her
In challenge they look on
Women he has wanted grow old too soon
He tilts their tired faces
Gently to the spoon
Edith in his bed
A plane in the rain is humming
The wires in the walls are humming
Some song-some mysterious song
Bars in her head
Beating frantic and snowblind
Romantic and snowblind
She says-his crime belongs
Edith and the Kingpin
Each with charm to sway
Are staring eye to eye
They dare not look away
You know they dare not look away
