| Morrissey – First Of The Gang To Die Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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This is probably really naive of me but I feel as if this is another song about Morrissey's (often fetishistic) relationship with gang culture. Just like in 'Suedehead' he's discussing gang subculture. It feels like quite a romantic song. I adore that Hector 'stole all hearts away.' The characters seems so powerful and commands the most attention (even from the singer!) but he dies a tragic and presumably young death. It reminds me a little of Morrissey's relationship with James Dean, too. |
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| The Smiths – Girlfriend in a Coma Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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This song makes me think about Morrissey's interest in soap operas. He was really into Coronation Street growing up, wasn't he? The whole 'girlfriend in a coma' story line is a soap opera-ish topic. That aside, this is a really fun song. Quite sad underneath the surface while also being very humorous. |
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| The Decemberists – We Both Go Down Together Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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I know it's been mentioned before but this song makes me think of Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles - especially on the relationship between Tess and Alec (he being the voice in the song.) It mentions the character's dynamic upon their first meeting ('A childhood rough and rotten/I come from wealth and beauty, untouched by work or duty.') Tess is a 'dirty daughter from the labour cans' when they first meet and remains so for a lot of the novel. The lyrics even contain Hardy's 'rape' scene in the woods - 'I laid you down in the grass of a clearing/You wept but your soul was willing.' It summarises quite well what happens in that scene (from Alec's perspective at least.) The thing is that Tess and Alec both 'go down together' so to speak. (Careful, book spoilers ahead!) Tess murders Alec and in so-doing condemns herself to death. They both die together in a way. Additionally, when each character makes an attempt to better themselves in the novel (Tess through marrying Angel and Alec through joining the Church) they stop after coming into contact with each other and fall back into old habits. It's as if they're pulling each other down. The 'cliffs of Dover' are imagery from the First World War and the military explanation makes a lot of sense, though. |
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| The Smiths – I Want the One I Can't Have Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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Absolutely love your interpretation. However, I do think that Morrissey intended the song to be sexually ambiguous on purpose. In interviews he talks about a desire to write songs from a female perspective which were typically from that of males (I think it's about 'William it was really nothing') - he could want the listener to take something from their own personal experience to the song? To see how a female feels about the situation? We'll never know. Your explanation is brill, though, and I completely agree with the reading. The song has an absolutely gorgeous dynamic. You're right, it's so unappreciated as is 'What She Said' (perhaps one of my all time favourite Smiths songs.) The lyric 'He killed a policeman when he was thirteen and somehow that really impressed me' is one of the most incredible lines. It just works so well and leaves so many questions to be answered. |
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| Johnny Flynn – Kentucky Pill Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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This song really makes me think directly about warfare. The line 'You see the same girl/But you won't see that face again' it sort of evocative of when soldiers go to war and return either a changed person themselves, or their loved ones have changed. Or, alternatively the solider has died. 'Did you punch all those clocks' reminds me a lot of W. H. Auden's poem 'Stop all the Clocks.' It recognises a reaction to death. The chorus is extremely poignant - 'I'm running for my old playmates/I'm running through the town/I'm running with a gun/That's gonna shoot my playmates down.' This just brings to mind so many war related images. The playmates could refer to other soldiers and that the narrator is running in memory of those friends. Or, he's running to protect his playmates in a battle situation. It might seem like a civil war or not a formal war because the narrator's gun might even kill his friends/colleague/those he grew up with. Ah, it's such a beautiful song. |
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| The Smiths – Handsome Devil Lyrics | 14 years ago |
| Ah, yes, but men have mammary glands too. They don't function in the same way in which women's work, but they do have them. I don't know if that's Morrissey just trying to lead us astray or what. | |
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