Sex in the 1820s and 1960s

I've very much enjoyed the Jane Austen series on PBS. This is PBS's attempt to reinvent itself, and I think I like it. They even kept a tiny bit of the Masterpiece Theater song. At any rate, I finally watched Northanger Abbey today, and the NYT was right that in many ways it's better as a movie than a book. A lot of that may be thanks to Andrew Davies, who adapted it as well as he does all Brit lit. But also, as NYT says, Northanger Abbey is more explicitly about sex than any of the other Austen novels. This is nice, since sex in most Austen novels is tucked away or relegated to roguish men and silly young girls who almost ruin their families and middle-aged couples who find themselves in ill-matched loveless marriages. It turns out, in Northanger Abbey, that normal people want to have sex. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/19/arts/television/19bell.html?ref=television

In my random schizophrenic way, this reminds me of my recent realization that something like 20 percent of oldies are songs trying to convince some chick to have sex. I mean of course guys join bands to get laid. And they write love songs to get laid. But apparently they used to say so in their love songs. And apparently they included lyrics where they tried to convince women that they really shouldn't worry about the repercussions of having sex. You know repercussions like having their reputations ruined, or getting pregnant, or catching stds, or whatever else "tomorrow" might bring. Since the "today's" in these songs were in the mid-sixties when the birth control pill had just been or not yet legalized in all states, and abortions weren't legal, and welfare was actively being stigmatized, I have to ask-- Did this work? I mean obviously people had sex, but I think I'd be pissed if I was fed this kind of bullshit before I decided to have sex. Spare me, you know? That said, they're pretty good songs. Just further evidence that good art sometimes has wonky politics. (Maybe another time I'll talk about how another 40 percent are about what cheating sluts ex-girlfriends are).

Anyway, my evidence: The Grass Roots' song "Live for Today":
We were never meant to worry the way that people do
And I don't need to hurry as long as I'm with you
We'll take it nice and easy and use my simple plan
You'll be my lovin' woman, I'll be your lovin' man
We'll take the most from living, have pleasure while we can (2-3-4)
Sha-la-la-la-la-la, live for today
Sha-la-la-la-la-la, live for today
And don't worry 'bout tomorrow, hey, hey, hey
Sha-la-la-la-la-la, live for today
Live for today
Baby, I need to feel you inside of me
I got to feel you deep inside of me
Baby please come close to me
I got to have you now, please, please, please
Gimme some-a lovin', gimme some-a lovin'
Gimme some-a lovin', gimme some-a lovin'
Baby gimme some-a lovin'
(I also love how gender-bender this is).

or

the lyrics to The Four Tops' Baby I Need Your Loving:
Baby, I need your lovin'
I got to have all your lovin'
Baby, I need your lovin'
Got to have all your lovin'

or

the Beach Boys' Don't Talk:
Come close, close your eyes and be still
Dont talk, take my hand and let me hear your heart beat
Being here with you feels so right
We could live forever tonight
Lets not think about tomorrow
And dont talk put your head on my shoulder

or Gary Puckett and the Union Gap's Lady Willpower:
Lady Willpower, it's now or never.
Give your love to me and I'll shower
Your heart with tenderness endlessly.
I know you want to see me but you're afraid
Of what I might have on my mind.
One thing you can be sure of
I'll take good care of your love
If you will let me give you mine.
Lady Willpower, it's now or never.
Give your love to me and I'll shower
Your heart with tenderness endlessly.
Did no one ever tell you the facts of life?
Well there's so much you have to learn.
And I would gladly teach you if I could only reach you
And get your lovin' in return.
Lady Willpower, it's now or never.