Sonny & Cher - I got you babe
Well it's the, er, season to be lovely and that so this description will not be mean. I have nothing further to add - Dave however does.
HER: They say we're young and we don't know
We won't find out until we grow
HIM: Well I don't know if all that's true
'Cause you got me, and baby I got you
Sonny and Cher start off the preceding by making the rather flimsy case about youth discrimination. To be fair the first couple of lines look like they're building up to a profound statement, in which they criticize the government for not giving 16 year olds the vote or maybe lowering the alcohol consumption age. Nope instead it's just them sticking up two fingers to everyone, and saying they've got each other. As a long term singleton I naturally find this irritating, as it is just another set of smug cunts shoving their happiness down my throat.
Also I have a feeling that Mr Bono might be on the pull with Cher in this verse as it sounds like Cher was all behind the campaign for the youth, when he interjects with the almost romantically enticing reminder that he is still very much her boyfriend. Almost like saying "forget all this political nonsense love, after all you still have me (whilst subtly gesturing towards the bedroom) and that's all you'll ever need." As fate had it Sonny was the one who went on to a political career in the US congress, but if he hadn't been after a quickie could we have seen a president Cher in power? I somehow doubt it all the same, but there's a thought.
HIM: Babe
BOTH: I got you babe
I got you babe
That's it readers eat it up, every last bite of the mutual happiness Sonny and Cher are ramming down our collective throats. Can you imagine being blissfully happy? Well you may as well forget about it as your imagined happiness doesn't even equal a tenth of the happiness Sonny and Cher have. Funny how it still goes down with a bitter after taste.
HER: They say our love won't pay the rent
Before it's earned, our money's all been spent
HIM: I guess that's so, we don't have a pot
But at least I'm sure of all the things we got
Love's young dream becomes even more idealistic as they boast that their love won't pay the rent. Too right it won't! I'd love to see how the bailiffs tackle that excuse, as perhaps in a sinister twist he'll an indecent proposal to prevent their eviction. Let's see if love saves the smarmy bastards then!
I admit they are realistic about the plight, in fact the Bono kitchen sounds like one of the worst possible places to cook considering the lack of pot. I can imagine it must be a staple diet of take-aways for this couple, although considering they can't afford basic cooking utensils they may have to resort to freeganism (that is stealing food thrown out by supermarkets). Still at least they have each other and all the sex therein to enj... Damn I think they are actually making a good point there. I hate it when smug couples manage to actually find a way to survive genuine hardship.
HIM: I got flowers in the spring
I got you to wear my ring
HER: And when I'm sad, you're a clown
And if I get scared, you're always around
Oh dear, now they are crossing a line. They're topping the feat of smug couples everywhere by implying their relationship is/was perfect. Of course in beautiful hindsight the truth is they didn't live happily ever after in a castle made of candyfloss, and with a chocolate moat. No indeed, their relationship came to an end in 1975 after 6 years, and with a public and messy divorce proceeding. That makes me feel glad that the façade may have not equaled the facts but even I have to profess that that makes me cynical about marriage, relationships and about any future ones I have. At least it goes to show no one is perfect, which is reassuring.
HER: Don't let them say your hair's too long
'Cause I don't care, with you I can't go wrong
HIM: Then put your little hand in mine
There ain't no hill or mountain we can't climb
The lovers now dwell on a few of their personal features, and as you can see, Cher is preoccupied with how people view Sonny's long hair. Now I admire her ignorance of this factor, as that shows some integrity, or some commitment to the relationship. However, I still sense that a small part of her wants him to cut it short, so he can appear more acceptable at parties. As you can imagine, the couple don't live a lavish lifestyle (they don't own any pots for gods sake!) so it would be nice if they both looked nice when they do find the time, and money, to go out. I can imagine this resentment may have been the wedge that broke the relationship.
Sonny meanwhile is more concerned with Cher's little hands. He talks about there being "no hill or mountain they can't climb," which is a bold and romantic statement, but consider if you will how Cher's little hands will cope with climbing the cliff faces of Everest? In short it wouldn't work and I can imagine that if Sonny wanted to put this claim to practice (who knows he may have been a keen mountaineer), he will have been constantly frustrated by Cher's little hands thwarting the expedition and possibly endangering both their lives. As you can see their relationship was far from perfect even back then.
HIM: I got you to hold my hand
HER: I got you to understand
HIM: I got you to walk with me
HER: I got you to talk with me
I got you to kiss goodnight
I got you to hold me tight
I got you, I won't let go
I got you to love me so
In spite of the clearer marriage difficulties the couple was facing, they still try to put a brave face on the things by burying their heads in the sand, burying all their personal resentments against the other deep deep inside. Is it any wonder the relationship ended in such a bitter dispute?
Happy Valentines day.
Leave a comment