“Short Skirt/Long Jacket” by Cake is a 2001 single from their album Comfort Eagle. The song’s lyrics describe an idealized woman who embodies both modern professional attributes and traditional feminine qualities. The titular phrase symbolizes the tension between these dual roles, reflecting societal expectations in a post-feminist era.
According to John McCrea, the song is more about “prosperity and depression” and the complexities of human behavior rather than an ideal woman. The lyrics paint a picture of a woman who is financially savvy, efficient, and attractive, yet the song’s message is layered with irony and social commentary.
In this article, we’ll explore the message conveyed in the song’s lyrics.
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“Short Skirt/Long Jacket” Lyrics Meaning
[Verse 1]
I want a girl with a mind like a diamond
I want a girl who knows what’s best
I want a girl with shoes that cut
And eyes that burn like cigarettes
I want a girl with the right allocations
Who’s fast and thorough and sharp as a tack
She’s playing with her jewelry, she’s putting up her hair
She’s touring the facility and picking up slack
The singer describes his ideal woman as intelligent (“mind like a diamond”), confident (“knows what’s best”), and striking in appearance (“shoes that cut”, “eyes that burn like cigarettes”). He admires her financial acumen (“right allocations”) and efficiency (“fast and thorough and sharp as a tack”). The lyrics also portray her as someone who is always busy and productive, multitasking between personal grooming and work responsibilities.
[Chorus]
I want a girl with a short skirt and a long jacket
The titular phrase “short skirt and a long jacket” represents a juxtaposition of traditional feminine attire (short skirt) with professional business wear (long jacket). This combination symbolizes the balance between femininity and professionalism that the singer finds appealing.
[Verse 2]
I want a girl who gets up early (Gets up early)
I want a girl who stays up late (Stays up late)
I want a girl with uninterrupted prosperity (Uninterrupted)
Who uses a machete to cut through red tape
With fingernails that shine like justice
And a voice that is dark like tinted glass
She is fast, thorough, and sharp as a tack
She is touring the facility and picking up slack
This verse emphasizes the woman’s work ethic (“gets up early”, “stays up late”) and her ability to navigate complex systems efficiently (“uses a machete to cut through red tape”). The imagery of “fingernails that shine like justice” and a voice “dark like tinted glass” further reinforces the blend of femininity and authority.
[Verse 3]
I want a girl with a smooth liquidation (Smooth liquidation)
I want a girl with good dividends (Good dividends)
At Citibank we will meet accidentally (Meet accidentally)
We’ll start to talk when she borrows my pen
She wants a car with a cupholder armrest
She wants a car that will get her there
She’s changing her name from Kitty to Karen
She’s trading her MG for a white Chrysler Le Baron
The final verse shifts focus to the woman’s financial savvy (“smooth liquidation”, “good dividends”) and a chance meeting at a bank. It describes her transition from a more carefree persona (“Kitty”) to a more serious one (“Karen”), symbolized by trading a sporty car (MG) for a more practical one (Chrysler LeBaron).
Deeper Meaning Behind “Short Skirt/Long Jacket”
“Short Skirt/Long Jacket” by Cake is often interpreted at face value as a song about the singer’s ideal woman, but it delves much deeper into societal commentary. On the surface, the lyrics describe a woman who is successful, intelligent, and financially savvy, embodying the modern empowered woman. However, the song’s true depth lies in its exploration of the double standards imposed on women in a post-feminist society. The title itself, “Short Skirt/Long Jacket,” serves as a metaphor for the tension between the desire for female emancipation and the lingering traditional expectations of domesticity.
The song’s writer, John McCrea, has explained that the inspiration came from observing someone with the contrasting fashion elements of a short skirt and a long jacket, symbolizing the oppositional forces within a person or society. The short skirt represents freedom and sexual emancipation, while the long jacket symbolizes the societal pressure to conform to traditional roles. This dichotomy highlights the conflicting expectations placed on women: to be both empowered and domesticated. The song critiques these unrealistic standards by portraying a woman who, despite her independence and success, is ultimately expected to assume a subservient role when interacting with a potential partner.
Furthermore, the song is not just about gender roles but also touches on broader themes of human behavior and the complexities of relationships. McCrea noted that the song is about “prosperity and depression” and the peculiarities of the human mating ritual. The lyrics, while seemingly celebratory of a modern woman, actually underscore the societal pressures and contradictions that women face. The shift in the song’s narrative, where the woman transitions from a powerful figure to a more domesticated one, illustrates these societal constraints.
The use of the song as the theme for the TV series “Chuck” adds another layer of interpretation, as it aligns with the show’s themes of dual identities and societal expectations. The song’s catchy and upbeat melody belies its deeper commentary on societal norms and the complexities of human relationships, making it a compelling and thought-provoking piece. Overall, “Short Skirt/Long Jacket” is a nuanced exploration of gender roles, societal expectations, and the intricacies of human behavior, all set to Cake’s signature blend of funk and alternative rock.
Jacob Carter is a lyricist. He created the lyrics writing course to teach people how to analyze and write lyrics. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in English Literature, so he’s skilled at playing with words.
He’s also an amateur guitarist, which means he knows music and melody very well. With this background, he’s a great lyricist you can rely on to learn writing lyrics.