Menswear

The 1975's song 'Menswear' delves into the chaotic and emotionally charged atmosphere of a wedding, capturing the protagonist's fragmented experiences and thoughts. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a best man who is grappling with the complexities of the event, from dealing with a free bar to navigating social interactions. The opening lines, 'Well, I only brought three, what you lookin' at me for?' suggest a sense of unpreparedness and anxiety, setting the tone for the rest of the song.

The song's narrative unfolds through a series of disjointed scenes and conversations, reflecting the protagonist's intoxicated state. The mention of 'spilling Amaretto' and 'preceding railing racket off a porcelain basin' highlights the physical and emotional messiness of the situation. The protagonist's interactions with other guests, including a girl he is sitting with and a man who looks like him but is taller, add to the sense of confusion and disorientation. These interactions are laced with tension and insecurity, as seen in lines like 'I've never seen him knockin' about / He looks just like me, but 6 foot 3 / So I reckon you could knock him out.'

The song also touches on themes of jealousy and betrayal, particularly in the lines 'I never really got on with your bird the first time / I met her out, dressed in nowt / telling everybody you were shagging about.' This suggests underlying tensions and unresolved issues between the protagonist and the bride, adding another layer of complexity to the narrative. The closing lines, 'Because it's 3:05, I can hardly see / And I'm on the verge of passing out,' encapsulate the protagonist's physical and emotional exhaustion, bringing the song to a poignant and somewhat bleak conclusion.