What's your favorite song lyric?

“Any damsel that’s in distress Will be out of that dress When she meets Jim West”

There’s just so much to unpack there.

Obviously, Will Smith’s character in Wild Wild West is super capable and heroic. This line doesn’t suggest that he’s actually doing anything, though.

Basically, a woman in the midst of dire circumstances is gonna disrobe when Jim West shows up. Not because he rescued her or got her out of her predicament. Just because he’s there.

“Distress” is also really broad. Maybe she’s short on rent. Maybe she’s trying to figure out what to get her sister-in-law for a baby shower. Doesn’t matter. Will Smith shows up, she gets naked.

Will Smith circa Wild Wild West was a handsome dude, no doubt. There would’ve been some women who were out of that dress, that’s fair, I guess. But just because they were stressed out or having a tough day or whatever? I know he fought or rode a giant mechanical spider or whatever it is that happened in that movie, and I know life was different in the lawless, mechanical spider infested west, but I think even then women had a bit more agency than that.

But maybe that’s the charm of Jim West? I think that’s what the song is asking us to explore.

/r/AskReddit Thread