In an interesting juxtaposition we are introduced to another
of the players. Ian’s comments on the
song are below.
"Cross-Eyed Mary is a song about another form of low
life, but more humorous. It's about a schoolgirl prostitute but not in such
coarse terms. She goes with dirty old men because she's doing them a favour,
giving people what they want because it makes them happy. It's a fun kind of
song." Ian Anderson in Disc and Music
Echo, 20th March 1971
One should remember that this is said in the vernacular of
the seventies and Ian’s choice of words to not, therefore, reflect the
insensitivity they would today. The
writer’s own words clear up that the girl is a prostitute and not just a
slattern as some have speculated.
More importantly is that this is the song that first drew me
to Ian Anderson’s amazing skill with the flute.
The intro is currently my favorite intro to any song. One must also note the power of the bass line
in this. It is an eternal testament to
Jeffery Hammond-Hammond’s skill. Both
musically and lyrically this offering is brilliant and amazing.
The story shows us a girl who chooses to give or sell
herself to lecherous men. Much
speculation has been made about her name.
The writer has not chosen to weigh in on it so one cannot say what it
means with authority. The possibilities
as I see it are an actual affliction, a
religious reference (perhaps she goes to a parochial school), or a reference do
death where her eyes are “x” as in cartoons of the earlier era.
What is clear is that even in affluent Highgate the morals
of the place are in dire need of revision.
The thing about prostitution is that it would not exist if there were no
one willing to participate. That our
subject does it willingly and for fun does not change the culpability of those
who use her.
We see another example of how society has failed to assure
that people can get their needs met without abusing or using others. I do not wish to make Ian’s song carry more
baggage than he intended but I also see the deep dark sadness of both Mary and
her customers.
I must assure that I never use others. It is not just wrong it does long term
damage. It puts eternal pain into the
life of the used. I have made others
feel used before and I hate that I have done it. I must not use others. I must serve them,
love them, and be all that I can to show Christ, not religion to them.
Cross-Eyed Mary – Ian Anderson
Who would be a poor
man, a beggar-man, a thief - if he had a rich man in his hand?
And who would steal
the candy from a laughing baby's mouth - if he could take it from the money
man?
Cross-eyed Mary goes
jumping in again.
She signs no contract
but she always plays the game.
She dines in Hampstead
village on expense accounted gruel,
And the jack-knife
barber drops her off at school.
Laughing in the
playground gets no kicks from little boys:
Would rather make it
with a letching grey.
Or maybe her attention
is drawn by Aqualung
Who watches through
the railings as they play.
Cross-eyed Mary finds
it hard to get along.
She's a poor man's
rich girl and she'll do it for a song.
She's the rich man
stealer but her favour's good and strong:
She’s the Robin Hood
of Highgate- helps the poor man get along.
Wishing you joy in the journey,
Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer
who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home
owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure
store."
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