Hip To Be Square

The speaker describes a change from rebellious behavior to a more conventional, disciplined life: he settles down, dresses neatly, exercises, and watches what he eats. At first, this sounds like giving up excitement, and he admits that the new routine may seem dull or “crazy.” But his tone becomes confident and playful as he insists that being conventional is now fashionable.

“Renegade” suggests someone who breaks rules, while “square” is an informal word for a respectable, traditional, or uncool person. The title’s phrase “hip to be square” is a joke built on a contrast: “hip” means fashionable, so the speaker claims that being ordinary is fashionable. Cutting his hair is a simple sign of his outward change. The people who were once “the farthest out” have “gone the other way,” meaning even former outsiders have become more conventional.

The lyrics can be heard as celebrating a calmer lifestyle, but they also gently mock the idea of following trends. The speaker says he knows the routine may be “nowhere,” yet he still embraces it, which leaves some uncertainty about whether he truly values it or is performing confidence. The repeated slogan makes conformity sound like a trend of its own.