Musings of an Expagan

Many people out there think that in the decade of the 80s that music was devoid of message and meaning.  Many falsely believe that most groups out there weren’t putting out any ideological or political statements in their music.  Of course you had your U2 with their Joshua Tree Album featuring the songs Mothers of the Disappeared, Pride, and Sunday Bloody Sunday.

Lost on the generation of the 80s was that many popular bands did have deep and meaningful messages within their music.  Today I will take some time and and point out the deep seated and often highly political content of one of the popular bands of the 80s.

The B52s

During the early 80s, the B52s where formed out of the ideological and political currents of the day.  The underlying anger, and social disorder brought them together to forge a group bound by common sociopolitical and cultural Beliefs.

Love Shack

Was the song that most exposed their sociopolitical ideology, unfortunately the message was covered up by a way too catchy beat, that most society kept on dancing while the message fell on deaf (to the message that is) ears.  The message contained in this song is at once, both optimistic, and reflective, showing the world that the B52s did indeed have a message to bring into the unenlightened world.  Packed with metaphor, some would say too packed, the song brings up the shallowness of life, and humankind’s reach for deeper meaning.

The song opens with the lead singer discussing the ultimate destination of Man.

If you see a faded sign by the side of the road that says
15 miles to the… Love Shack! Love Shack yeah…

Here the singer is stating the deep seated need for direction in one’s life.  Direction, if missed, means that one will miss their ultimate destination.  The Love Shack is, while small,  warm and inviting, a shelter from the danger, and disenfranchisement that was felt by most of the youth of the day.  While possibly a fictional place, nay one might say imaginary, it was still a destination that had meaning for the writer.  Seemingly both a place of common discourse, and yet one where the inhibitions of man could be thrown off and everyone becomes equal.  Yet the longing of “The Love Shack” is felt in his forlorn voice, almost a cry for help, trying to reach this destination where his soul is longing.

I’m headin’ down the Atlanta highway, lookin’ for the love getaway
Heading for the love getaway, love getaway,

Here, the Atlanta highway, is a deep seated metaphor for life, the female singer longingly belts out she is living life, but there is more to it than just moving through time.  She is seeking something deeper, something more meaningful, something that each and every soul seeks.  Like St. Augustin in the Early 300’s when he cried out “Our Souls are Restless, until they rest in you! O Lord!” The singer opens her soul up to the world that something is missing, something deeper, something more thank life.  After reflecting on her life, she shows where her meaning is found, truly it is love that fulfills all, love that brings meaning to life.  She is living and seeking a life of Love, that is the true fulfillment of life.  We are not talking simply sex here, for sex is simply an act, where as true love is something that is sought by all, and listening closely you can her the deep and lonely call of her voice seeking that love that fulfills all, that third type of love, in greek: agape love which is the greatest of all love.

I got me a car, it’s as big as a whale and we’re headin’ on down
To the Love Shack
I got me a Chrysler, it seats about 20
So hurry up and bring your jukebox money

Here we are back to the male lead of the B52s, who now parallels the second point that he is living life, but again, I must point out that it isn’t merely existence, but something larger.  Life, again, he is saying, that without an ultimate destination, there is no help.  Again the target of this existence is “The Love Shack.”  Some have postulated that this could be many things, but the Catholic Theologian Hans Von Thurrigard, in his treatise “On the Destination of Heaven” postulates that the young male singer is seeking Heaven, and ultimate connection to God.  Echoed in the Forth Century writings of the Desert Fathers in many writings, of the ascetic school of early Christianity this longing with union and communion with God is the ultimate destination.  Next, the singers, allusions of his mode of transportation, “which seats about 20,” which is a clear metaphorical statement since most cars these days are not built to seat more than 5 at most, six without seatbelts; showing that he clearly wants to bring more along on this journey.  So insistent is his call, that he also tells them to hurry up, and to bring their “Jukebox Money” which also is an allusion to Treasure in heaven, which Christ taught “Do not store treasures here on earth, but store treasures in Heaven.”  Which is linked in the parable of the wealthy man who built up his treasures on earth, yet died unfulfilled in the hereafter.

At this point we have merely scratched the surface of the metaphorically filled, yet richly illustrated song that seeks the deeper meanings of man’s life and his place in the universe.  In my next post, I will explore the deeper reaches and meanings of this artwork as we delve into the meanings of:

The Love Shack is a little old place where we can get together
Love Shack baby, Love Shack bay-bee.
Love baby, that’s where it’s at, Ooo love baby, that’s where it’s at