Miss America

That Handsome Devil's song 'Miss America' paints a vivid and unsettling picture of suburban life in Middle America. The lyrics delve into the hidden, often disturbing aspects of seemingly ordinary lives. The song opens with a portrayal of Tommy, a character who stutters and whose father secretly tries on his mother's clothes. This image sets the tone for a narrative filled with dark secrets and peculiar behaviors, suggesting that beneath the surface of suburban normalcy lies a world of dysfunction and hidden desires.

The song continues to reveal more unsettling stories, such as Mr. Wilkinson, who kills a man in a drunken accident and drags the body for hundreds of yards. This gruesome imagery is juxtaposed with the mundane act of fixing up the lawn and turning on the TV, highlighting the contrast between the facade of normalcy and the underlying chaos. The mention of Edna, who cries in the shower for hours, adds another layer of emotional turmoil, suggesting that many people in this suburban setting are struggling with their own private battles.

The chorus, with its repeated lines about picking up the phone, fixing the lawn, and turning on the TV, serves as a satirical commentary on the superficial solutions often offered to deeper problems. The song's closing lines, which mention people waiting their lives away on the promise of a dream that will not come, underscore the theme of disillusionment and the emptiness of the American Dream. 'Miss America' is a haunting exploration of the dark side of suburban life, revealing the hidden struggles and tragedies that lie beneath the surface of everyday existence.