Zeugma, syllepsis, ellipsis

November 11, 2012 12:43 PM

In Praise of the Rolling Stones and Their Zeugmoids

via LanguageLog.

also:
Buddy Holly, Wordsmith
Celebrating the Beatles: Goo Goo Ga Joob!
Dylan the Prophesizer

posted by the man of twists and turns (13 comments total)

I was in a supermarket yesterday when "Brown Sugar" came on. I thought, "They really used to be great, those guys."
posted by Egg Shen at 1:07 PM on November 11, 2012

Supermarket? I remember when some DJs wouldn't play that song on the radio because it was too suggestive.
posted by charlie don't surf at 1:16 PM on November 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

So the Rolling Stones once almost used zeugma - but not quite. Good times.
posted by Segundus at 2:00 PM on November 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

I like this post. *like*
posted by Potomac Avenue at 2:35 PM on November 11, 2012

This post is like a post I might like.
posted by charlie don't surf at 2:37 PM on November 11, 2012

Interesting discussion of a particular songwriting pair who use a clever literary device occasionally. The apotheosis of Jagger and Richards' songwriting was Beggars Banquet and "Sympathy for the Devil."

One thing in the article surprised me, because I had always misheard the lyric. I thought the words to "Ruby Tuesday" included

Lose your dreams
And you will lose your mind,
A life unkind.

I still think this would be a better lyric and it disappoints me that it isn't actually what is sung. Oh, well.

Supermarket? I remember when some DJs wouldn't play that song on the radio because it was too suggestive.

In the early 80's I worked at a major medical device company in a newly constructed office building. They decided to pipe in Muzak, much to my and many others chagrin. One day, I was concentrating on a problem when it suddenly penetrated my consciousness that an orchestral version of "Bitch" was playing. I stood up on my desk to reach the speaker above it and disconnected the wires.
posted by Mental Wimp at 3:16 PM on November 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

"She blew my nose and then she blew my mind."

It's a great case of strategic ambiguity. In the first clause, the verb blow takes the object "my nose" and means "to clear mucus from (the nasal passages) by exhaling forcefully." Typically one blows one's own nose, but the lyrics depict the motherly gesture of supplying a tissue or handkerchief to facilitate the nose-blowing. (Or you might read some other meanings into it.)

The usage of "might" in the bolded part suggests that this person is singularly ill-suited to analyzing the Stones
posted by anazgnos at 3:37 PM on November 11, 2012 [5 favorites]

I read this post after I sent some.
posted by jimmythefish at 4:26 PM on November 11, 2012

The Stones have nothing on Flanders and Swann's "Have Some Madeira, M'Dear."

he said as he hastened to put out the cat,
the wine, his cigar, and the lamps

She lowered her standards by raising her glass,
Her courage, her eyes and his hopes.

When asked, "what in heaven?" she made no reply,
Up her mind, and a dash for the door.

posted by edheil at 5:47 PM on November 11, 2012 [3 favorites]

I was in a supermarket yesterday when "Horse With No Name" came on. I thought, "They were never, ever great, those guys."
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:29 PM on November 11, 2012 [3 favorites]

My favorite example of this comes from "Mr. Bad Example."

"I got a part-time job at my father's carpet store,
Laying tackless stripping and housewives by the score."
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 8:03 PM on November 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

The best thing I can say about "Horse with No Name" is that it's really fun to recite the lyrics in the tone and cadence of a televangelist or crazy street preacher.

"Oh I have RODE. Yes I have RODE-uh THROUGH that DESERT. On a HORSE. A horse that HAD NO NAME PRAISE JESUS"
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 9:15 AM on November 12, 2012 [2 favorites]

Oh, I never ever thought I'd live to see the day I'd hear the Stones while I was in an elevator.

I guess I just can't get no satisfaction. Hell, I didn't even get what I wanted, but I guess I got what I needed.

I gotta go get in line with Mr Jimi.

BRB.
posted by mule98J at 10:09 AM on November 13, 2012