You Know I Couldn't Last

Gelignite is "a high explosive consisting of a gelatinous mass of nitroglycerin with cellulose nitrate added."

Clearly this is about the ills of becoming a famous musician. The song is full of familiar rock star complaints--the cruelty and fickleness of critics and fans, marketing and merchandise distractions, feuds over royalties. But they are presented in a fresh and witty way, as is to be expected from Morrissey. I like the lines "the teenagers who love you, they will wake up, yawn, and kill you" and "the critics who can't break you, unwittingly they make you."

Often people criticize stars who make such complaints about their fame, and I could see people dismissing this song in the same way-- "oh, Morrissey's too rich and famous now, boo hoo"-- but I think this is a genuine attempt by Morrissey to talk about the problems that he is dealing with now, just as writing about poverty and ennui in Manchester were genuine reactions to what his life was like at the time he wrote songs for The Smiths.

I don't know where you got that from. I was thinking it's Mozz showing us the bad side to becoming huge rock star.

stardom does not last forever. And when your fame dies, you'll be living the same way you used to.

the "northern leeches removing, removing, removing" and "evil legal eagles" lines are most likely referring to the Joyce/Rourke royalties case.

I like the line "The teenagers, Who love you, They will wake up, yawn and kill you" I've been there before. You love a band so much. Its your favorite band in thwe world. You would sucks everyone's dick in that band and then one day you just don't care about the band anymore.

I agree this song is about, the side of fame most removed from the public, as well as the fickleness of consumers, with a tad of spite directed towards, the buisness end of the entertainment biz.

"You know I couldn't last." One of the phrases in the death note left by Candy Darling for Andy Warhol.

The critics who, Can't break you They somehow help to make you The critics who, Can't break you, Unwittingly they make you

ilove this, & morrissey.

I think this song goes some way to answering Paint A Vulgar picture too - where he bemoans labels re-releasing albums and cashing in on merchandise etc. I don't know how many times I've seen people writing reviews on Amazon quote from that song questioning his integrity and here he's saying 'look, you knew I couldn't keep it up' in the end he wants to maintain the standard of living he's grown accustomed to, even if that means selling some of his more youthful ideals. Also, initially The Smiths were very anti-music video (promos) but since going solo he's made quite a lot of them. The -ist and -ism relates (amongst other things) to accusations of racism in the UK music press. Great song from a remarkably uncompromised artist, despite what he says in this song.

I think Mozzy states, that were he able to have a child with someone, he would not be capable of raising one.