The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Frankly, Mr. Shankly, this position I've held
It pays my way, and it corrodes my soul
I want to leave, you will not miss me
I want to go down in musical history
Frankly, Mr. Shankly, I'm a sickening wreck
I've got the twenty first century breathing down my neck
I must move fast, you understand me
I want to go down in celluloid history, Mr. Shankly
Fame, fame, fatal fame
It can play hideous tricks on the brain
But still I'd rather be famous
Than righteous or holy
Any day, any day, any day
But sometimes I feel more fulfilled
Making Christmas cards with the mentally ill
I want to live and I want to love
I want to catch something that I might be ashamed of
Frankly, Mr. Shankly, this position I've held
It pays my way and it corrodes my soul
Oh, I didn't realise that you wrote poetry
I didn't realise you wrote such bloody awful poetry, Mr. Shankly
Frankly, Mr. Shankly, since you ask
You are a flatulent pain in the ass
I do not mean to be so rude
Still, I must speak frankly, Mr. Shankly
Oh, give us your money
It pays my way, and it corrodes my soul
I want to leave, you will not miss me
I want to go down in musical history
Frankly, Mr. Shankly, I'm a sickening wreck
I've got the twenty first century breathing down my neck
I must move fast, you understand me
I want to go down in celluloid history, Mr. Shankly
Fame, fame, fatal fame
It can play hideous tricks on the brain
But still I'd rather be famous
Than righteous or holy
Any day, any day, any day
But sometimes I feel more fulfilled
Making Christmas cards with the mentally ill
I want to live and I want to love
I want to catch something that I might be ashamed of
Frankly, Mr. Shankly, this position I've held
It pays my way and it corrodes my soul
Oh, I didn't realise that you wrote poetry
I didn't realise you wrote such bloody awful poetry, Mr. Shankly
Frankly, Mr. Shankly, since you ask
You are a flatulent pain in the ass
I do not mean to be so rude
Still, I must speak frankly, Mr. Shankly
Oh, give us your money
Lyrics submitted by weezerific:cutlery
Frankly, Mr. Shankly Lyrics as written by Johnny Marr Steven Morrissey
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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You’re all wrong.
Frankly Mr Shankly is about the head of Rough Trade Records, Geoff Travis. The label which The Smiths were signed to at the time.
Morrisey was upset about the deal the band were on, and the basic fact that they weren’t making any money. So he wrote a song making fun of Geoff Travis, and disguised it as a letter to the fictional “Mr Shankly”.
However, he gave it away (probably purposefully) with the line.
“I didn’t realise you wrote poetry. I didn’t realize you wrote such bloody awful poetry”.
Geoff Travis apparently used to write poetry, and for many years previous to the song sent it to Morrissey (a fellow poet), for his opinion.
Morrisey ends the song with
“Now give us money”
Which was basically the reason he was so upset with him. He felt the band were being cheated financially
On the 25th anniversary of the album, Geoff Travis gave an interview to the NME, where he said he had no idea it was about him, until he heard the line about “poetry”, where he burst into laughter (they were actually friends, and Morrissey intended it as light hearted)
Yeah, that was basically what has been said before. Calm down with your "you're all wrong"s.
@ceej1979 Don't know about them being friends: Morrissey's autobiography suggests otherwise...
@ceej1979 while it's nice to explain all this, you're ALL wrong is a bit much. A lot of people commented on similar themes without knowing the specifics. Frankly Mr. Ceej1979, very few people were in that band and went through that specific experience with those specific people but there are thousands and thousands of people who still can relate to the song as they have analogous experiences and feelings.
@ceej1979 Well, no one is "wrong", lyrics can be interpreted in many ways. One of the reasons I love The Smiths is because people can give meaning to them in their OWN way.
@AlexanderDumbass I just read the autobiography and I agree they weren’t friends. However Morrissey’s version of events is that Geoff Travis was treating him really badly and ripping him off but Geoff didn’t see it that way and couldn’t understand why Morrissey was so pissed off with him despite there being a court case etc. Interesting that Geoff claims to have laughed at hearing the line about his terrible poetry. If Geoff really did laugh that shows a lot of character because that would be an incredibly hurtful thing to hear about your work from someone you admire. Maybe he just says he laughed but actually he was fuming.