I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris

This is about his desire to be with Paris Hilton.

Relax...I'm Joking.

I have a different take.

One of Morrissey's idols is Oscar Wilde who he has included in more than one song, "Cemetery Gates" is one song that jumps to mind, and I think this song is about Wilde as well.

After a long affair with the Marquess of Queensbury's son Alfred Taylor, Wilde was imprisoned for "posing as a somdomite." Public perception turned on Wilde and a few years later when he got out of prison he was no longer welcome in London. Wilde's wife wouldn't even see him or let him see his children whom he loved fondly, having even written several childrens books for them. He left England and trooped around Eruope for a while, even met up with Alfred Taylor again but it didn't work out. Prison did a number on Wilde and he was very weak. He ended up living in Paris, where he eventually died. Wilde's imprisonment is said to be the end of the Victorian Era in Literature. Wilde would have been "in the absence of your (Alfred Taylor's) love So he threw his arms around Paris, at least that's how I interpreted the song.

Indeed it is. Jerry Finn's production only makes it sound even better. Unfortunately the lyrics might play into the hands of those who only see Morrissey as the depressing pope of mope who can only sing about not being loved all the time. Ofcourse we all know that there's far more to his work, the numerous topics he's discussed in songs is staggering and the depth to his lyrics, the imagery, wit, sarcasm etc. other lyricists can only dream of matching in quality. No matter, this is a good song. Pretty straightforward really, the narrator no longer holds any faith in anyone else loving them and so seeks to escape loneliness within the city of Paris, seeking love and romance within the buildings themselves. Or is it? I'm reminded of recent news stories where people have literally fallen in love with buildings. Perhaps Morrissey is building on that idea. Or maybe its about a certain person named "Paris"....... My money's on the straightforward suggestion to be honest, but there's depth there if you want it.....

hahha he's not attracted to buildings or cities or whatever, I think he's saying "Because only stone and steel accept my love" as in there's no use in loving people because they don't love him back, and he's losing his faith in love.

Oh, it's lovely.

I find that this song is very clear. He was in a relationship that ended so horribly that he no longer feels as if anyone could/would love him again. He values himself so little that only stone and steel will accept his love, two things that we describe cold and distant people as. He's also playing off the love vibe by using the city we most associate with love, Paris. Paris itself may be beautiful, but if you describe it (iron, steel, stones) it doesn't sound very pleasant.

In "Romeo and Juliet", Juliet was supposed to marry a man named Paris. She chose to kill herself rather than marry anyone other than the one she truly loved. "Paris" is often used as a reference to second place.

I think Morrissey is using "Paris" here that way as well. He can't have what he really wants and he's come to accept that to some degree. After a lifetime of fighting with himself trying to figure out what he wanted and being terribly conflicted about how to get it (or if he even could get it), he's made a decision- he's embracing Plan B.

Of course, talking about "stone and steel" works for both the unemotional second choice as well as seamlessly ties into Paris the city. And Morrissey, being a musician, travels to cities all over the world to perform. So... maybe that IS his Plan B, the love and affection he gets from the world for his music, as opposed to a personal love that he has repeatedly failed to find or keep.

This is clearly about Oscar Wilde, seriously, do people really believe Morrissey is attracted to buildings? Frightening!

I don't have many friends/relationship, and I tend to say that I have fallen in love with songs or a special place. Like when I was in Rome, I felt a very pleasent feeling by Fontana Di Trevi, and I thought about it like I was in love with that place. So maybe, like me, it's just his way to express his love for a special place, and that it's easier to accept the love you feel for the place - 'only stone and steel accept my love' ?

I think this song is about a person with Paris Syndrome, a mental disease that occurs to those who idolized the city of Paris and France, but feel disappointed by indifferent people, lack of French ability, not-so-great scenery of Paris or cultural differences. Those who tend to have Paris Syndrome often get a low evaluation in their own country and try to find anywhere greater than their country. They want to believe that anywhere greater than their country (often France and Paris) can give them a higher evaluation, and they can get a happier life there. But in most cases, they will be disillusioned by Paris and go back home depressed. The narrator in this song says that ' only stone and steel accept my love' and he's throwing his arms around Paris, so he is in the phase 1 of the disease. The phase 2 (disillusionment and depression) is not mentioned in the lyrics, but it will surely come to him. And this is roughly about Morrissey himself, I suppose. He mentioned his French ability in the gig recorded for the live album Beethoven Was Deaf.