I had no idea introrse was a word, I thought you sang "i-n-t-r-o-r-s-e" because singing "i-n-t-e-r-c-o-u-r-s-e" was too many letters to fit with the rhythm. And "boy be a man" was analogous to "boy I'm gonna make you a man" in The Kinks' "Lola..." Yeah, I know, I'm looking for love in all the wrong places here, but after Shower Street, little blind fireman, etc. I think I can be forgiven for that. ;)
"Dance on the rim of a wire-rimmed can" had me picturing someone teetering on the edge of one of those big wire trash cans you find in national parks, and I figured it was a metaphor for hovering on the edge of fooling around with Tam. The image is full of tension and uncertainty to me.
So, my interpretation: I was guessing that one of you had some interesting near-encounter with Tam in the woods, maybe those woods by Hill-Kitt, or out by the bluffs. Our hero has had ambivalent feelings about her from the start, he's always half-expected a confrontation like this -- he knew someday he'd "look in her eyes." Tam is decidedly not ambivalent, she is the initiator in the song, she's coming on strong, full of action. She takes the man to the woods, and "Boy, be a man," says Tam, i.e. "Let's make love like crazed weasels," but our hero hesitates. He's an i-n-t-r-o-v-e-r-t, much more comfortable with sex as a result of falling in love, not "Hi, I'm bored, wanna f**k?" so he's caught off guard, he isn't sure what to do. Somewhat attracted to Tam, definitely not in love with her, yet offered this opportunity, he's pulled in two directions, balancing him on the edge of the can, ultimately motionless.
I half-expected to hear one day that Tam heard about the song and flipped out, since it names names and all... But if nothing happened with Tam, and her name just fits the song, I think she might be flattered. In the song, she sounds like a mysterious Femme Fatale or something. I bet she'd think that was cool.
Also, when I first heard the song, Disappearing Luke totally confused me, then Disappearing Matthew Mark and John really cracked me up. I love that part.
Scot Ninnemann is a Chapel Hill, North Carolina-based musician and webmaster who has worked often with Memphis Evans and Kaptain Karl. His excellent website is at www.scotjohn.com/.
Kaptain Karl's Essay About Chimney
Memphis Evans' Essay About Chimney