Deserves a Genius feature.
"Fat boy"
conflating manhattan project mythologies."Goes to the pool"
pacific theater.
"Sees his reflection"
self-explanatory, i should think.
"Doesn’t know what to do"
the pilot's crisises of confidence as they approach japan.
"He feels little inside"
numbed from the horrors of war.
"And filed with pride"
yet still knowing they are doing their patriotic duty.
"Oh, fragile flame"
of democracy
"When no one sees the same"
the otherization of the enemy during wartime (cf. "slap a jap")
"Fat boy"
see number one.
"Goes about his day"
the basic operations of the enola gay.
"Trying to think of funny
Things to say"
making jokes to pass the time/ease the nervousness.
"Like, this is just a game I play,"
the idea of all of their targets being giant chess pieces at that height
"And I like me this way."
again, proud of their work.
"Oh, fragile flame
When no one feels the same"
see above.
"Hush, sleep
Don’t think
Just eat"
now, this is where it really gets artful because she leaves it up to us as to whether or not she is referring to the japanese below them or their families/friends at home blissfully unaware of the task they are about to undertake
"You’re daddy’s little boy
You’re momma’s pride and joy"
referring to the scientists at los alamos most likely
"You know they love ya
But not because they hold ya"
the blind eye that produced the "end the war any way necessary so long as it doesnt reach american soil" philosophy
"And fat boy says
Wouldn’t it be nice?
If I could melt myself like ice
Or outrun my skin
And just be pure wind?"
again is she anthropomorphizing the bomb or discussing the impact and its aftermath? or both?
"Oh, fragile flame
Sometimes I feel the same"
see above.
― strng hlkngtn, Friday, August 12, 2005 1:56 PM (eleven years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― to pimp a barfly (Eazy), Tuesday, 9 May 2017 14:52 (six years ago) link