Blog 5: Liz Phair

Big Tall Man

By: Chasko/Phair

Performed by: Liz Phair

1998

I'm a big, tall man
I cut the grass
My left eye hurts
I am waiting and reading parts
I can be a complicated communicator

Yes I'm winning
Spinning
I feel energy bein' pulled off from all sides
And it feels good
Like relieving a headache.

Zeus and Athens
Florida driveway
Asphalt and tires
Sand and the beach,
Rocker panel
Headlights in the dark...
I'm drag racing
Drag

Yes I'm winning
Spinning
I feel energy bein' pulled off from all sides
And it feels good
Like relieving a headache

Yes I'm winning
Spinning
I feel energy bein' pulled off from all sides
And it feels good
Like relieving a headache

Fog and the distance beyond it
Boats and the quiet morning noises
I'm walking the shoreline
A beer and a cigarette
A bug with twitching antennae
A button up short-sleeved shirt

Yes I'm winning
Spinning
I feel energy bein' pulled off from all sides
And it feels good
Like relieving a headache

I'm a big tall man
I cut the grass
My left eye hurts
I can be a complicated communicator

Yes I'm winning
Spinning
I feel energy bein' pulled off from all sides
And it feels good
Like relieving a headache

(repeated several times with background vox:
Yes, I'm careening down!
Winding the canyons, now!
Yes, I am broadcasting myself!)

Yes I'm winning
Spinning
I feel energy bein' pulled off from all sides
And it feels good
Like relieving a headache

Yes I'm winning
Spinning
I feel energy bein' pulled off from all sides
And it feels good
Like relieving a headache

The artist that I chose for my song is Liz Phair. I recognized her name from a CD that I had made from the movie 13 going on 30. This song is called “Why Can’t I” but it does not deal with feminism. So I searched through her songs and lyrics and found “Big Tall Man” and found it much better suiting. I think this song addresses women’s roles in society and how it is much easier to be a man. When she says,” And it feels good
Like relieving a headache,” she is referring to it relieves herself to call herself a man. She is saying that it lifts stress off of her shoulders just by calling herself a man and being able to do manly duties.

I think this song pokes fun at certain subjects that society portrays as manly. Some examples would be mowing the lawn, being a complicated communicator, and wearing short sleeve button up shirts. I feel she is almost mocking men in her song. I think it can be an empowering song because it is telling women that only men are supposed to be doing the things she is singing about. However, it is clear that women are capable of these things, but just by calling herself a man she is allowed to be doing them. I think that her songs could eventually touch a certain audience, but it is a bit abstract, and those that are not looking for the positive side of feminism may not see it in her song. I think it stood out more to me because I was looking for it. She may want to take a stand and be more bold with her lyrics and accusations.

Lauren Suehrstedt