In "Our Favourite Poems", Chris Knox picks the lyrics of this song as his favourite New Zealand poem.

I can't remember exactly what he says (I just had a flick through in a book shop a few months ago), but it's something like how the song really encompasses the dilemma of being a modern man in a relationship - as a man, are you even necessary any more? (My answer: very necessary!)

It's one of my favourite songs. I makes me feel both sad and hopeful.

.. or, being a man in modern relationship? You know, in one of those ones about which people snigger and say "well you know who wears the pants in THAT relationship". And if the guy asserts himself, his bossy and domineering partner accuses him of being sexist, bossy, domineering and reverting to outdated role-power stereotypes?

You know the ones.

Ugh.

...

I think a lot of people like that song -- when I was in MarineVille, we played Flex at a "Stars in Your Ears" gig (where local bands would play covers of fav. NZ tracks for NZ Music Month) in Wgtn, and the crowd went nuts.

Oh, and I've never even seen the Elemental/Flex EP.. my only copy of that song is on the original JPSE EP, the one with the great artwork...

Oh, it turns out the book I was thinking of is actually "Dear To Me". (This is probably more for the benefit of anyone who comes here via a google on the subject.)

But what I did learn from rereading the entry on Flex is that the chorus actually goes "flex thyself". I didn't believe it, but listened again and there is was. Both formal and informal, holy and common.

"flex thyself"

Yeah, I know..... but when I typed "thyself", I gagged involuntarily, so... I changed it to "yourself". Executive decision....