Meaning of "Mean Streak" by Y&T

The lyrics of "Mean Streak" delve into the themes of materialism and the power dynamics in a relationship. The song portrays a woman with a constant desire to spend money and maintain a lavish lifestyle, which puts pressure on the speaker to keep up with her demands. The line "Keeping up with the Joneses is tough" highlights the societal pressure to conform to a certain standard of wealth and possessions.

The woman's mean streak is revealed through her manipulative behavior, as she exploits the speaker's love for her and constantly pushes him to provide more. The lyrics suggest that the speaker is aware of this mistreatment, but his love for her blinds him to her true nature. The repetition of the lines "Better open your eyes boy, she just wanna buy buy buy, Better wake up boy, I'll tell you why" emphasizes the need for the speaker to recognize the destructive nature of the relationship.

The lyrics also touch on the speaker's feeling of inadequacy and the pressure to meet unrealistic expectations. He goes to great lengths, such as working overtime and acquiring material possessions, to please the woman. However, these efforts seem futile, as he is constantly being criticized and never feels good enough in her eyes. The mention of a "big car, big pool, big house heart attack" alludes to the negative consequences of pursuing an extravagant lifestyle solely to please someone else.

The lyrics imply that change is possible if the speaker were to leave the woman, but his weakness prevents him from doing so. The lines "It could be different now, if she thought you'd say goodbye, But you're too weak to try" suggest that the speaker is aware of the toxicity in the relationship, but his fear of being alone or his deep emotional attachment prevents him from taking action.

Overall, "Mean Streak" sheds light on the detrimental effects of materialism in relationships and the struggle to break free from toxic dynamics.