Old97s.com

The meaning was twofold.  Anyone know what that means?

No idea....but I'm glad someone asked.  I want to know.

---

My land I'll defend with my life if it be, 'cause my pastures of plenty must always be free.
--Woody Guthrie

Doubley 

 

woolybugger:

1 : having two parts or aspects 2 : being twice as great or as many

Cool question. This is a total guess (maybe it'll make the Old 97's laugh - but most musicians like that people can find their own meanings in lyrics):

Mediterranean can mean surrounded by land - so the reference to the room where they got "busted" by her mother in the next line of the song could be for a basement. If this basement room was decorated in a manner associated with the region near the Mediterranean sea, then you've got a twofold meaning for the room that was Mediterranean.

Alternatively, "and the meaning was twofold" was just a convenient rhyme for "though your 29 years old"...and we're just trying to hard.

This is Rhett we're talking about!!  Wordsmith extraordinaire!!  He'd never stick something lame and meaningless in there, just because it was a convenient rhyme, would he?  He's much to good of a writer to do that.  I'm going with the theory that there is a meaning in there somewhere, though I haven't figured out exactly what that is.  Your guess is as good as any.

I'm not sure, but if you ask one of the guys, they'll probably tell you.  I've heard them explain lyrics to fans before.  Not quite sure how to e-mail them, though I'll bet others here know the answer to that. 

---

Still a firefly.

I didn't take that particular line as a clever twist in the story, nor another random act of trademark punnage.  I assumed it was used literally.  The meaning was twofold.  I assumed, simply the meaning (of what the scene of the story/memory/flashback being recalled meant) was doubled.. triggered by the association of the room or somethin'-- the scene being recalled in the story of the song. I also took the Mediterranean line literally (to be the distinctive style)  seeing that the song was vividly recalling different visuals like that all through the song.

Vivid storytelling delivered with simplicity (a craft in it's own right) -- that's just my initial interpretation and it stuck with me, so Imma-gonna stick with it.

I enjoyed this song live much more than I thought I would. 

I just had a brainwave about this one today... Perhaps "the meaning was twofold" refers to the title of the song.  When he sings it, you could interpret it 2 different ways:

"I'm indefinitely", meaning unsure, uncertain, or

"I'm in, definitely" meaning that I'm definitely "in", or interested.  Two completely contradictory meanings (ie. "twofold")from the same group of letters, just arranged a little differently.

 As for Mediterranean, maybe he was just referring to a decor style, trying to "date" the story.

My thought is since "the room was meditteranean" has two meanings. (twofold)  Maybe it means the room was located/surrounded by other rooms so no privacy (busted by your mother) and maybe it had a meditteranean motif/decor to it as well?

 

I always assumed it meant that the room (temperature) was hot and steamy and they are hot and steamy since they are getting it on.

Ooohhh...I like that one!  That sounds about right.  Hot and steamy and then busted by your mother.

Yes... yes, I think we finally solved it..  it was in front of the liner notes all along... if you stare at the kitty picture long enough.....and then shift your focus directly behind the 7....then back to the kitty, this time under a blacklight.. it's there:

 

                                              

 

 

 

 

 

                                         

 

                                               

Ha ha! you are out of control! : ) As far as getting busted by her mother--I'm pretty sure there was some smoking involved--burn holes in your pockets and the inseams of your pants--had to have happened when trying to hide 'em! I've got to agree with the twofold meaning relating the the title and chorus. Indefinitely.

---

I'll stomp a mud hole in your heart

I always heard the chorus as either "I'm indefinitely" or "I mean definitely" (as opposed to "no" or "maybe").