It was 1985. By a similar token, I'm always amazed by the prevalence of both "fag" and "faggot" in a wide range of 80s teen movies from The Breakfast Club to Bill & Ted's Excellent Aventure.

True. Goes to show you how mainstream society was scared to death of AIDS and were ready and willing to blame the disease on gay men at the time. As a little kid I remember the word being so common that it wasn't any worse than calling somebody a "shithead" or something on the playground. In fact it was more acceptable because "faggot" didn't even count as a swear.

I've always thought of it as general homophobia but I think you're right about the connection to AIDS fearmongering. It doesn't seem like those words were nearly as common in mass media in the previous decades.

In this context 'faggot' doesn't mean 'homosexual'. To the sweat-laborer characters singing the song,
it means a prettyboy rock star who seems to get everything the easy way.

In another context, Urban Dictionary says, 'In these times not used if somebody is really a homosexual,
but rather someone who is stupid or a loser'. http://www.urbandictionary.com

:rolleyes:

That's a great song. I remember watching the video when it came out.

I love that deep, gritty note that slides from high to low, such as at 1:15 and 1:23. That note has a lot of personality and I associate it only with this song. I also love the buildup at the beginning of the song and the satisfying thudding of the drums, which are recorded very well.

Finally, I like the meaning of the song, which is sung from the perspective of blue collar electronics salesmen who have disdain for rock star "work" since the salesmen are doing *real* work (practical, physical, repetitive labor without fame or fortune), yet they also feel envious of the rock stars and express their envy and frustration (with their own lives) by putting them down.

Since rock stars are singing the song, this makes Dire Straits' actual perspective on the salesmen's view of themselves difficult to pin down, based on the song. Do Dire Straits agree somewhat that rock stars aren't doing real work? Are they sympathetic with the salesmen's viewpoint?

After reading Song Meanings at Songfacts about what Dire Straits frontman says about the song, I think Knopfler's view is that rock stars are doing real work and the electronics salesman is making ignorant statements.

I agree with the electronics salesman, though. :) I don't view being a rock star as real work (even though it is paid), assuming the musicians like being musicians and think it is fun.

I agree. The word "***got" doesn't mean the salesman thinks the rock star is gay, but rather the salesman thinks the rock star is a prettyboy who seems to get everything the easy way, just like you say.

However, the word "***got" as a slur originated because of homophobia and so can be perceived as derogatory toward gay people and as perpetuating discrimination against gay people whenever it used as a putdown, even if the speaker doesn't intend the word to be a putdown of homosexuality.

I read that in 2010 this song became embroiled in arguments over free speech because of its use of the word "***got," according to this website:

I was surprised that a Canadian organization would be so quick to limit free speech.

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A Well-Respected Man (1965) - The Kinks



I disagree about the origin. English is a fluid language where context is often all-important.
And 'fag' or 'faggot' has never been exclusively a homosexual slur.

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I watched Kevin and Perry: Go Large not long ago, so I've been listening to some songs from that.

I wasn't saying that I think the laborer characters in the song believe that the prettyboy rock stars are actually gay. In fact, the laborers are also jealous of how these prettyboys get "their chicks for free".

However, I believe that the slur stems from homophobia in general and that homophobia was more socially acceptable in 1985 partially because AIDS was a big fear, a mysterious plague that was often blamed on gay men (perhaps by the very laborers in the song). Just a theory.

The reason this case is striking is that, for whatever reason, I don't think any big pop radio hits today will have the word "faggot" repeated in a verse.