submissions

The Smiths – How Soon Is Now? Lyrics

9 years ago

@[rockyhoward:14826] I would add that the person Morrissey is talking to in this song is an authority/parental figure. I'd say either his mother or father. A parent can often critique that you are "going about things in the wrong way." The parent is suggesting that he goes to the club and such, and he never really connects with anybody. He is getting nagging unhelpful advice; his mother or father are vague and just say "it" (I'd say connection, love) will happen now... but it just isn't happening for him.

submissions

The Smiths – Pretty Girls Make Graves Lyrics

9 years ago

@[poppi:14825] It's a plausible interpretation. I still get a heavy sense of either the dilemma of feeling ambiguously sexual or completely non sexual (which he did claim, after all). I think it has a lot to do with being non attracted to even a pretty girl, though. Whether he's attracted to men or feels little sexuality at all. Otherwise, I don't think he's mention nature playing a trick on him (he doesn't like women! OR, he doesn't really want to have sex at all!).

submissions

The Smiths – Ask Lyrics	9 years ago
@[dannypro:14824] Oh, another irony is that it was Johnny Marr that ultimately ASKED Morrissey to join the Smiths.

submissions

The Smiths – Ask Lyrics

9 years ago

This song is about crippling shyness. It's quite a humorous take. The person he's singing about, quite possibly a reflection of himself, is so socially anxious that he is simply waiting for someone to ask him to do damn well anything. He's lonely and has no friends and plenty of time, so, "how could he say no?" This person is also in love, but is so socially stunted he spends warm summer days indoors writing to a girl he'll probably never meet. The song is a plea, "ask me ask me ask me!!!" He thinks love is the only thing that could save him, and thinks that is the only thing that could break him out of his shyness; yet he still wants someone else to do the asking. Morrissey ultimately displays this characters shyness with the hyperbolic idea that the only other thing that could bring this person out of his shell is total war and destruction "the bomb" itself. Oh Morrissey and his dark, witty humor. The song is made even more ironic due to it's impeccably cheery melody. Perhaps the happiest sounding Smiths tune?

submissions

The Smiths – Still Ill Lyrics

9 years ago

I think this song is about getting older and wiser but still having an element of youthful, naive immaturity. Morrissey starts with a very immature declaration: "England is mine and owes me a living" and follows it up with the irrational "ask me why and I'll spit in your eye." I think a part of him still has and wants this rebellious, immature side, yet he recognizes he "cannot cling to those dreams anymore." But, the very act of being Morrissey and The Smiths is heavily influenced and indulging in those dreams. Thus, he asks "am I still ill?" It has a nice double meaning, because "ill" can also mean "cool" and "hip" as well as "sick." Ultimately, though, I think it's an ambivalent position for Morrissey, as he realizes that the rebellious, careless life doesn't bring much fulfillment, as he partakes again in youthful love/lust, "it just wasn't like the old days anymore." Morissey also wanders if he has any control over these emotional/lifestyle changes with the classic question, "does the body rule the mind or does the mind rule the body?" A quintessential philosophical youth's question. My take, anyway.

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