This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
At the record company meeting
On their hands - a dead star
And oh, the plans they weave
And oh, the sickening greed
At the record company party
On their hands - a dead star
The sycophantic slags all say :
"I knew him first, and I knew him well"
Re-issue! Re-package! Re-package!
Re-evaluate the songs
Double-pack with a photograph
Extra track (and a tacky badge)
A-list, playlist
"Please them , please them !"
"Please them !"
(sadly, this was your life)
But you could have said no
If you'd wanted to
You could have said no
If you'd wanted to
BPI, MTV, BBC
"Please them ! Please then!"
(sadly this was your life)
But you could have said no
If you'd wanted to
You could have walked away
...Couldn't you?
I touched you at the soundcheck
You had no real way of knowing
In my heart I begged "Take me with you ...
I don't care where you're going..."
But to you I was faceless
I was fawning, I was boring
Just a child from those ugly new houses
Who could never begin to know
Who could never really know
Oh...
Best of! Most of!
Satiate the need
Slip them into different sleeves!
Buy both, and feel deceived
Climber - new entry, re-entry
World tour! ("media whore")
"Please the Press in Belgium!"
(This was your life...)
And when it fails to recoup ?
Well, maybe :
You just haven't earned it yet, baby
I walked a pace behind you at the soundcheck
You're just the same as I am
What makes most people feel happy
Leads us headlong into harm
So, in my bedroom in those 'ugly new houses'
I danced my legs down to the knees
But me and my 'true love'
Will never meet again...
At the record company meeting
On their hands - at last! - A dead star !
But they can never taint you in my eyes
No, they can never touch you now
No, they cannot hurt you, my darling
They cannot touch you now
But me and my 'true love'
Will never meet again
On their hands - a dead star
And oh, the plans they weave
And oh, the sickening greed
At the record company party
On their hands - a dead star
The sycophantic slags all say :
"I knew him first, and I knew him well"
Re-issue! Re-package! Re-package!
Re-evaluate the songs
Double-pack with a photograph
Extra track (and a tacky badge)
A-list, playlist
"Please them , please them !"
"Please them !"
(sadly, this was your life)
But you could have said no
If you'd wanted to
You could have said no
If you'd wanted to
BPI, MTV, BBC
"Please them ! Please then!"
(sadly this was your life)
But you could have said no
If you'd wanted to
You could have walked away
...Couldn't you?
I touched you at the soundcheck
You had no real way of knowing
In my heart I begged "Take me with you ...
I don't care where you're going..."
But to you I was faceless
I was fawning, I was boring
Just a child from those ugly new houses
Who could never begin to know
Who could never really know
Oh...
Best of! Most of!
Satiate the need
Slip them into different sleeves!
Buy both, and feel deceived
Climber - new entry, re-entry
World tour! ("media whore")
"Please the Press in Belgium!"
(This was your life...)
And when it fails to recoup ?
Well, maybe :
You just haven't earned it yet, baby
I walked a pace behind you at the soundcheck
You're just the same as I am
What makes most people feel happy
Leads us headlong into harm
So, in my bedroom in those 'ugly new houses'
I danced my legs down to the knees
But me and my 'true love'
Will never meet again...
At the record company meeting
On their hands - at last! - A dead star !
But they can never taint you in my eyes
No, they can never touch you now
No, they cannot hurt you, my darling
They cannot touch you now
But me and my 'true love'
Will never meet again
Lyrics submitted by weezerific:cutlery, edited by Mellow_Harsher
Paint a Vulgar Picture Lyrics as written by Johnny Marr Steven Morrissey
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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What a great song. I used to listen to this on my morning commute drive to film school in Halifax (2001). Several of the lyrics are different looking at them here than I had ever realized. I thought the lyrics were "on the hands of dead stars".
To me this song always revealed something new every time I listened to it, and as many expressed, although it is a sad song, the tone is very positive and uplifting. I actually refer back to it whenever I'm feeling down. It is one of those songs that cheers me up.
I often felt this song was about a man that Morrissey was secretly in love with but couldn't reveal. I'm not sure about Morrissey's actual preference (I have heard he is A-sexual, or not attracted to women or men). For whatever reason, I just got this feeling that in this case, he was referring to a man. Either someone who stopped by the recording studio who had little to do with the music industry, but Morrissey was strangely attracted to as someone untainted by the music business, and he could not reveal his feelings, but wished he could remove him self from his current life as a recording musician and go wherever this stranger was going. I think many people here have made some great comments suggesting this song is about Morissey talking about specific individuals, or referring to himself at the time reflecting back on a younger, more pure version of himself.
The line, "I danced my legs down to the knees" always seemed to have sexual connotation to me... going back home, to his bed in his room and "thinking" about the stranger he was attracted to. Basically, a metaphor for masterbation. Being both attracted to someone but realizing he would never see them again. If this is a common expression, I have never heard it used outside of this song.
The line "Me and My True Love will never meet again" is very epically romantic and tragic. This line always reminded me of Shakespeare or medieval stories and poems. I envision a ship sailing away across the sea with two lovers being separated by the ocean. It is a really beautiful song with so many interesting l lines that take us to several different places: The company meeting, Belgium, the soundcheck, the ugly new houses, and finally wherever his true love is going off to. Great, great music!