usage of colloquialism in lyrics hinders comprehension

[Geoffrey]

what does "i'm not coming on" mean? he sings "i'm crazy for love but i'm not coming on." is it street slang for something? i've never understood what it means. tell me, anybody, in proper plain english - so i too can know what it is he's not doing.

[E.A.Hill]

Well, judging from the two lines preceding that one:

Well my friends are gone and my hair is grey
I ache in the places where I used to play

To put it bluntly, I would guess he's talking about not being able to have an erection.

Also speaking of particular words hindering comprehension look at your title. I don't even know if this qualifies as colloquialism, I think it's more of a euphemism.

[Cate]

ohh please - that's not it

'I'm not coming on' simply means that.

If a man says 'blah blah blah, nice words, nice words, nice words - but I'm not coming on' - it means - 'I'm just flirting a bit and enjoying you, not trying to pick you up or hit on you or anything like that'... 'unless of course you want me to'- might also be implied

Now if a woman were to say this, me at least, it would mean something similar except the end would be changed from 'unless you want me to' to 'but I'm thinking about it'.

Hello and welcome to the forum by the way.

[E.A.Hill]

Thanks for the greeting, I always like to enter forums talking about erections.

[imaginary friend]

Thanks for the greeting, I always like to enter forums talking about erections.

Shhhh... be careful, you might arouse the Foul Police (and we only just spanked them to sleep)...

[Cate]

as long as he doesn't get offensive and talk about elections!

Shhhh... be careful, you might arouse the Foul Police (and we only just spanked them to sleep)...

imaginary this is a secret - p.s. I hope they're well tied this time!

[lizzytysh]

And, actually, I've always taken it that he's not even doing the "blah blah blah, nice words, nice words, nice words" parts, as that well-described flirtation part is the 'coming on' [in the context of this song, that is] - all those words with an underlying motive to bed a/the woman. Here, one might say... "I think he's coming on to you!" When I hear the song and those lyrics, I imagine him simply watching and wishing, but not engaging, even in the conversational portion, in that it seems he felt that whole arena had pretty much passed him by. Little did he know .


~ Lizzy

[imaginary friend]

Little did he know .

Ain't that the truth!

Ah, but there's something so sexy about a humble man

[Cate]

as that well-described flirtation part is

oh dear, I was in an odd mood - sorry I didn't mean to dis the fella's with the blah blah blah bit.

I think your probably right Lizzy in that it sounds as if the singer is on the sidelines here by choice . I think Leonard himself is perfectly aware of the effect that he has on woman, he may not understand it, but I'm sure he's aware of it.

Ah, but there's something so sexy about a humble man

most definitely

[LisaLCFan]

Hey, I'll chime in with two things. First, since when do Leonard's lyrics have to be perfectly understandable to everyone? Poetry is by nature interpretive (despite what my various English teachers tried to argue to the contrary). Even Leonard has suggested that his lyrics can mean different things to different people, and just the fact that they mean anything to anyone makes him happy! (I saw an interview with him to this effect...)

Second, concerning this particular lyric, I admit that I always thought of it the way E.A.Hill described it, since it seemed kind of obvious to me. However, Cate ,et.al., have convinced me that they could be right, too. So, I don't see why both (all) of you can't be right, since it wouldn't be the first time Leonard has slipped us a double entendre.

[friscogrl]

I also think it is a shortened version of "I'm not coming on to you" which would be like saying I am not trying to hit on you. I don't think it is a reference to having an erection, at least not initially.

M

[MaryB]

I've always thought the same thing Marsha. I think he's really upfront with what he's saying and there is no hidden meaning in this line.

[iheardsomething]

imho, i go with the feeling that it means he isnt getting anywhere ..im not coming on..-.im getting nowhere here ... im crazy for love .... he would want to be in a relationship ,love to meet someone ,love to be in love,maybe not with a specific person but just the feeling of it - but its not happening .. im just paying my rent every day..........just the same old same old...... at least thats what comes into my mind when i listen to it, and im happy with that interpretation ..for me.... as someone mentioned a lot of lyrics can mean what you want them to mean,i know once someone says well actually i heard an interview where he/she said it means AB or C i can be disappointed and think well i prefer what i thought it meant

[ladydi]

Just think of all the concerts where after Leonard sings that phrase a woman will shout out "OH YES YOU ARE!". Of course we should feel free to reassure him.

I think Sheila commented that "there is something so sexy about a humble man"...

Oh yes...

[FOXWOOD]

what does "i'm not coming on" mean? he sings "i'm crazy for love but i'm not coming on." is it street slang for something? i've never understood what it means. tell me, anybody, in proper plain english - so i too can know what it is he's not doing.

Geoffrey is obviously a man of intelligence and eloquence. I suspect that he is being slightly mischievious by pretending not to understand and then deriving some amusement from the responses that are posted here.

I am sure that he will protest that this is not the case and that he is really making an genuine enquiry.
If this is the case I am am ready to apologise unreservedly for my slur upon his good character.