They're all made out of ticky-tacky
And they all look just the same
Welcome to new subscribers and regular readers! Thank you for joining me for today’s song, “Little Boxes” by Malvina Reynolds (1962). Below, you’ll find my interpretation of the lyrics which you can find at https://genius.com/Malvina-reynolds-little-boxes-lyrics or other internet sources. For Japanese students, vocabulary words in bold are provided in Japanese below. TOEIC (PBT) 450+, Eiken 2, CEFR B1.
(312 words)
In the 1950s in the U.S., the economy was booming and more and more (mostly white) families were able to buy their own homes. This meant that there was a need for more houses. Companies started building houses quickly in the suburbs. These areas were called “tract housing”.
Malvina Reynolds was a singer and a songwriter. She wrote songs about the environment and about society. This song makes fun of how those neighborhoods were being built. It talks about the houses as “little boxes” that are painted different colors but are really all the same. The song says they are made out of “ticky-tacky,” which means the houses were made from cheap, low-quality materials.
The houses weren’t the only things that were the same. The people who lived in them also started acting the same. They went to university and became doctors, lawyers, and businessmen.
These people had the same interests and hobbies. A “dry” martini is a drink, usually vodka or gin, with Vermouth added. If you add less Vermouth, it’s called a “dry” martini. They raised their children the same. The children had the same experiences growing up such as school activities and summer camp.
The children went to university. At university, they were “put in boxes”, meaning they all followed the same, uniform, four years of education. During their time at university, they didn’t question why they were there or if what they were learning was important.
After university, the children continued the cycle. They got jobs, got married, had children, and moved into their own little boxes.
It's easy to get lazy about thinking for yourself if no one reminds you not to. That's why parents, teachers, and other adults need to help children learn how to think on their own. Then, when those children grow up, they can teach their own children to think for themselves, too.
Leaving a comment is a good way to practice your writing skills.
Vocabulary in the article and in the lyrics
suburbs 郊外
neighborhoods 付近
ticky-tacky 特に郊外の建築物に使用される劣悪または安価な材料。
vermouth ベルモット
uniform 同じ
I believe that education should be free.
All of the articles about the songs will remain free for students to use. (We are all students, are we not?) However, if you find these articles useful and are in a position to make a small (or large) donation, I would be deeply grateful.
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More songs by Malvina Reynolds:
Goodness I haven't heard this song since I was a child Louise! I have always had a great abhorrence of sameness, especially in housing, though the reasons why I understand. I never knew until now the reason for this song... I may not ever hear it again but if I do it will have meaning - you're amazing, thank you! xx
I have one rich relative. They were so excited to hear that Malvina Reynolds had apparently written the song about their neighborhood in Palo Alto, California.It never dawned on them that she was writing about them and their lifestyle.
It also reminds me Phil Och’s Love Me I’m Liberal where he sings:
I vote for the Democratic Party,
They want the U.N. to be strong.
I go to all the Pete Seeger concerts;
He sure gets me singing those songs.
And I'll send all the money you ask for,
But don't ask me to come on along.
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal…