Asian Rut

It is about some people's racism I think.

I do not understand why so many people think or thought this song was racist. If anything, the song is anti-racism, and it shows Morrissey's condemnation of racism overall. "Asian Rut" is actually about the pain that comes as a result of racism; it's not a song that support racist views. If anything, I find the song to be quite moving and poignant.

Many people are too stupid, and immediately think that the song is racist because of the title.

I'm a big Smiths / Morrissey fan but I'm not so keen on this lyric, they're purely observational without any judgement of the events unfolding, the observer is "just passing through to somewhere civilised" after witnessing the unfairness of three against one, while also knowing this was an attempt at revenge for an earlier event, it seems pointless that the desperate, drugged up tooled up asian kid who wants revenge ends up another casualty, whether the song describes a witness to events who chooses not to act on what they have seen or a none existent one just as a literary device, it leaves you frustrating and powerless, there's no explicit racist element to it but the distant uncaring quality is uncomfortable to listen to, it's a side of mozza I'm not keen on but then he always could be a funny bugger, it could be a subtle anti racist comment or it could be the total opposite, the title is unusual too.

Slightly controversial point here (which will no doubt attract a lot of negative comments) but this is yet another Morrissey song which prompted certain people (including Paul Heaton from the once good The Beautiful South and The Housemartins) to believe he was racist. The point some people fail to see is that patriotism isn't racism AT ALL. Sure that racists are very patriotic, but some people are patriotic without being racist. This applies to this song and another of his songs, Bengali In Platforms in particular. Without talking too much about the meanings of both songs (which are quite obvious really), it seems to me that Morrissey has similar views to myself on issues of race/equality. The fact is that there's almost TOO MUCH political correctness these days, where British or white people in general can be the butt of racist jokes, etc. and the culprits seem to get away with it. But there is plenty of what could be interpreted as racism towards white people from, for example, black gangster rappers. Why should they get away with these racist (and often sexist amongst other things) comments, when white people get condemned? It's silly. It should be deemed unacceptable for people of all races to be racist. Then there are people who disagree with Asylum seekers and illegal immigrants, who come over and gain housing and work from those who are more in need of them. And yet some (for example) British Muslims seem to think these comments are an attack on Muslims in general, which is very paranoid. Wherever you're from, whatever country you're from, if you move to another country you should always respect the laws and the culture of that country. Anyway this song has a pretty good tune, and has thought-provoking, interesting lyrics (although from possibly his weakest album though, even though it is OK).

That Girl83, I agree in some ways but I'm not sure it's as simple as it being 'anti - racism.'

'Ooh Asian boy What are you on ? Day oh so late Strangely the sun still shone Oh Asian boy What are drugs are you on ?'

The above lines are followed later by:

'Tooled-up Asian boy Has come to avenge The cruel, cold killing Of his only friend'

This to me is Morrissey condemning this kind of violence on both sides: The attack by the English thugs on the Asian boy and the revenge the Asian tries to take on the English boys in response to the murder of his friend. So it really is about the problems of racist violence in today's multi - cultural society.

It's not a racist song but maybe Morrissey was turning the tables somewhat and trying to make the Asian lad look as bad as the English thugs. We know what the song's about but I suppose we'll never know for certain exactly what Morrissey was implying in some of his songs.

In an interview with Q magazine (September issue) he is quoted as answering the question, 'Do you think people are innately racist?: "Yes. I don't want to sound horrible or pessimistic but I don't really think, for instance, black people and white people will ever really get on or like each other. I don't really think they ever will.

I prefer Morrissey's work in The Smiths to his solo work, but one thing I do enjoy is seeing the reactions from people when he does tackle racism in his songs :|. I find his songs say a lot about the problems of the multiculturalist effort in the 80s/90s which, in effect, ignored the problem of white racism rather than face it. I think another song that shows how well he can get into the heads of certain people is one of my favourites.. 'We'll let you know."

i dont see how this is viewed as racist. from i see it, a boy of oriental race finds out who murdered his friend and goes to do the same to them [perhaps after taking drugs/steroids?] when he gets there, the three white boys beat him up. it is suggested that mozz witnesses this but doesnt do anything to interfear [i take that from the last part] so mabe thats what made people think he was racist

In the end the narrator hopes he isn't the next victim of the English thugs but then realizes that he is white and that he'll probably will be left alone.

It's more about the human motives for disturbing people. Own kind is ok. Other colour means war.