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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To have only just realised this about Norwegian Wood?

98 replies

StVincent · 05/10/2016 18:02

This song was on the radio earlier - how have I not noticed before that it's about a man burning a woman's furniture/house as revenge for her not sleeping with him? Shock

Tell me I'm not the only one!

OP posts:
AnyTheWiser · 05/10/2016 18:39

I assume he lit a fire in the grate as it was cold in the morning, having spent the night in the (likely enamel then) bath.

SlottedSpoon · 05/10/2016 18:41

I love that song, it's one of my favourites. I thought it just meant a log fire. To get warm. Because it's cold in Norway.

I never considered a spurned arsonist.

StVincent · 05/10/2016 18:43

TBF I initially thought it was a bit of a piss take about her pretentious lifestyle. Exposed wood. Rug. Wine. No chairs.

A bit like Flanders & Swann's "Design for Living" -

"We've planned an uninhibited interior decor,
Curtains made of straw,
We've wallpapered the floor."

OP posts:
Floisme · 05/10/2016 18:43

I thought it was about smoking dope Blush

StVincent · 05/10/2016 18:44

"I never considered a spurned arsonist."

I feel guilty now SlottedSpoon!

OP posts:
PuppyMonkey · 05/10/2016 18:47

Never taken any notice of the words before, it's just been "dum dum dumdumdum isn't it good, Norwegian wood." Blah blah.

Have now looked it up and think he lit a fire in a "ah well, never mind" type of way.

They wrote some shite didn't they? Grin

yeOldeTrout · 05/10/2016 18:50

I dont' think it's clear at all. Confused
But then I don't understand the stupid Meatloaf song either. (shrug)

ChaseAvenal · 05/10/2016 18:54

The same thing occurred to me a few years ago. I can't unhear it now no matter how much DPs disagree. I didn't think it was revenge for them not sleeping together, but for leaving him to let himself out without saying goodbye. But I didn't think they slept together either, I thought perhaps when she said it was time for bed he either made a move or followed her and then she says she has work in the morning as her way of rejecting him.

Liiinoo · 05/10/2016 18:55

OK Trout, now I'm interested - what stupid Meatloaf song?

TwigletsMakeMeViolent · 05/10/2016 18:57

I was hoping this would be about the book, which I loved. Looks like I'm in the minority!

ChaseAvenal · 05/10/2016 18:57

I'm guessing Trout means I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)?

The lyrics do explain but it's about 8 mins into a 10 minute song so don't blame anyone for not paying attention that long!

Floisme · 05/10/2016 18:59

The book bored me senseless - sorry!

MypocketsarelikeNarnia · 05/10/2016 18:59

I'm guessing trout is confused about what meatloaf won't do for love... I am too.

SatsukiKusakabe · 05/10/2016 19:00

Think it was meant to be a play on "knowing she would", with a sexual overtone.

Listen to 4th Time Around by Bob Dylan, it is said to be a parody of Norwegian Wood, as he thought the Beatles were trying (somewhat unsuccessfully) to plagiarise his style by going for a folkier sound, and more obscure lyrics. It is quite amusing when you listen to it with that in mind.

(Like the book Norwegian Wood, in the minority I guess)

MypocketsarelikeNarnia · 05/10/2016 19:00

X post.

Tell?

SatsukiKusakabe · 05/10/2016 19:01

trout when the female voice comes in with her part she tells you "sooner or later you'll be screwing around"

He won't do that.

LemonRedwood · 05/10/2016 19:02

Meatloaf says what he won't do in every frigging verse!

I never understood Norwegian Wood though

ChaseAvenal · 05/10/2016 19:07

Near the end where it becomes a duet, she asks him about all the things he'll do for her, and he says 'I can do that', but then the last bit it becomes:

'After a while you'll forget everything
It was a brief interlude and a midsummer night's fling
And you'll see that it's time to move on
I won't do that
I won't do that
I know the territory, I've been around
It'll all turn to dust and we'll all fall down
Sooner or later you'll be screwing around
I won't do that
No, I won't do that'

So he would do anything for love, except try and get it from someone else.

ChaseAvenal · 05/10/2016 19:09

Haha, x-post, seems Satsuki got there first :)

Hughpughbarneymagrew · 05/10/2016 19:11

I thought the lighting a fire was a euphemism for having a wank Blush

YabuDabbaDoo · 05/10/2016 19:12

I always thought the loud sitar bit after "it's time for bed" was a narrative pause as well to indicate a short but sweet bit of "dlddly dlddly Dee"

EsmesBees · 05/10/2016 19:13

I like the book too [irrelevant]

SatsukiKusakabe · 05/10/2016 19:14

You explained it better Smile

MypocketsarelikeNarnia · 05/10/2016 19:16

He wouldn't be fucking someone else 'for love' though would he?

That's why it doesn't MAKE ANY FUCKING SENSE.

YabuDabbaDoo · 05/10/2016 19:17

Oh hughpugh I never thought of that but it fits well doesn't it - he was on his own after all!

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