In order to answer an essay question on any poem it is vital that you understand what it is about. This section includes:
- The poem in a nutshell
- A “translation” of the poem, section-by-section
- A commentary of each of these sections, outlining John Cooper Clarke’s intention and message
'i wanna be yours' in a nutshell
'i wanna be yours', written by English poet John Cooper Clarke, subverts traditional ideas of romantic relationships with simple imagery that describes love unconventionally. Incongruously, the poem uses casual language to explore intense love.
'i wanna be yours' breakdown
Lines 1–2
“let me be your vacuum cleaner
breathing in your dust”
Translation
- The poem begins addressing an implied listener
- The speaker clearly gives their intention, that they want to “breathe” in the other person
Cooper Clarke's intention
- Cooper Clarke sets the tone of the unconventional romantic poem with non-standard grammar, breaking traditional conventions
- The odd metaphor implies the speaker’s longing for an even closer relationship
- The poet uses a vacuum cleaner’s ambiguous connotations to imply ideas about love:
- It could be perceived as invasive, disruptive, perhaps even toxic
Lines 3–6
“let me be your Ford Cortina
i will never rust
if you like your coffee hot
let me be your coffee pot”
Translation
- The speaker wants to be their car that will never “rust”, suggesting a long-lasting love
- The speaker could perhaps appear a little flustered mentioning coffee twice, but this intensifies the image and implies the speaker will do anything to please their lover
Cooper Clarke's intention
- Cooper Clarke uses metaphorical imagery that defies typical romantic symbolism
- The speaker’s down-to-earth language makes their message seem more genuine
- Nevertheless, the bizarre images hide the deeper implications of an obsessive love
Lines 7–8
“you call the shots
i wanna be yours”
Translation
- The speaker says their partner is in charge and no matter what they ask it will be done
Cooper Clarke's intention
- Cooper Clarke shows a love that is entire:
- The speaker’s submission to their partner’s control is offered willingly
- The colloquial phrase “you call the shots” contributes to a casual tone:
- This may lighten the poem’s intense declaration of love
- However, Cooper Clarke draws attention to it with short, emphatic lines
Line 9–14
“let me be your raincoat
for those frequent rainy days
let me be your dreamboat
when you want to sail away
let me be your teddy bear
take me with you anywhere”
Translation
- The speaker wants to protect their partner on bad days, like a “raincoat”
- In addition, they want to be their “dreamboat”:
- This is a pun as it plays on two ideas: a boat and the colloquial meaning of an attractive lover
- The phrase “let me be your teddy bear” refers to a romantic song by Elvis Presley in which he sings the same line
Cooper Clarke's intention
- These lines draw further comparisons that reinforce the speaker’s longing
- Cooper Clarke presents a lover’s desire to be their partner’s support and comfort
- These lines allude to a romantic relationship that is steadfast and dependable
Lines 15–16
“i don’t care
i wanna be yours”
Translation
- The speaker breaks from their metaphorical list to clarify their message
- Whatever their partner wants they will do it if it means they can be together
Cooper Clarke's intention
- The rhythm is disrupted again to show the speaker’s passionate and all-consuming love
- This is illustrated, too, with the rhyming of “anywhere” (in the previous line) and “care”
Lines 17–20
“let me be your electric meter
i will not run out
let me be the electric heater
you’ll get cold without”
Translation
- The speaker returns to offering themselves to the relationship
- The reference to an “electric meter” and “heater” implies the speaker wants to be their source of warmth
- They add that they will never stop offering warmth and energy as they will “not run out”
Cooper Clarke's intention
- Cooper Clarke uses mundane household images that connote to vital parts of daily life
- Perhaps this implies the speaker wants their partner to depend upon them like electricity:
- The line “you’ll get cold without” does indicate a relationship that is possessive
Lines 21–23
“let me be your setting lotion
hold your hair
with deep devotion”
Translation
- The speaker says they want to be their partner’s “setting lotion” (for styling hair)
- These lines mean the speaker will help their lover stay “firm” with their strong commitment
Cooper Clarke's intention
- Cooper Clarke alludes to the strength of commitment the speaker can offer
- This presents romantic relationships as a source of stability
Lines 24–27
“deep as the deep
atlantic ocean
that’s how deep is my emotion
deep deep deep deep de deep deep”
Translation
- These lines repeat the word “deep” to emphasise the speaker’s message
- The language breaks down and the speaker defaults to romantic traditions
- This is reinforced with the repetition of the alliterative and auditory “de deep deep”
Cooper Clarke's intention
- Cooper Clarke conveys a speaker losing control of their emotions:
- Nevertheless, the oral nature of the poem contributes to the idea that the poem is a tribute to the idea of love
- Here, the speaker uses traditional romantic imagery of the deep ocean, to connote, arguably, to the way passion has increased over the course of the monologue
Lines 28–29
“i don’t wanna be hers
i wanna be yours”
Translation
- The last line is ambiguous and can be interpreted in different ways:
- One argument could be that the possessive pronoun “hers” suggests the existence of another girl (perhaps one who has interfered in the relationship)
- Alternatively, it could imply that no other girl is good enough
Cooper Clarke's intention
- Cooper Clarke’s poem ends suddenly with reference to a third person:
- This may indicate, ironically, that the passionate poem is an argument to prove their commitment to the listener instead of a third party
- It could also end the poem by reinforcing the idea of entire commitment and monogamy