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Jacky's Only Happy When She's Up on the Stage Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Jacky's only happy when she's up on the stage
I make this claim, now let me explain
Since she lost you
Jacky's only happy when she's up on the stage
Free in the truth of make-believe
Since she lost you
[Chorus 1]
She is determined to prove
How she can build up the pain
Of every lost and lonely day
[Verse 2]
Jacky's only happy when she's up on the stage
She'll make you believe what you'll never believe
Since she lost you
Jacky's only Jacky when she's up on the stage
Living bodies that actually move!
Since she lost you
[Chorus 2]
She is determined to prove
How she can fill up the page
Of every lost and lonely day
[Verse 3]
"Cue lights! I am singing to my lover at night!
Scene Two: Everyone who comes must go!
Scene Four: Blacker than ever before!
Scene Six: This country is making me sick!"
[Verse 4]
Jacky cracks when she isn't on stage
See the effects of sexual neglect
No script, no crew, no auto-cue
No audience telling her what to do!
Exit, exit
Everybody's heading for the exit, exit
Everybody's running to the exit, exit
Everybody's running to the exit, exit
Everybody's heading for the exit, exit
Everybody's running to the exit, exit
Everybody's running to the exit, exit
Everybody's running to the exit, exit
Everybody's running to the exit, exit
Everybody's heading for the exit, exit
Everybody's heading for the exit, exit
Everybody's heading for the exit, exit, exit, exit, exit, exit, exit, exit, exit, exit, exit, exit, exit
Jacky's only happy when she's up on the stage
I make this claim, now let me explain
Since she lost you
Jacky's only happy when she's up on the stage
Free in the truth of make-believe
Since she lost you
She is determined to prove
How she can build up the pain
Of every lost and lonely day
Jacky's only happy when she's up on the stage
She'll make you believe what you'll never believe
Since she lost you
Jacky's only Jacky when she's up on the stage
Living bodies that actually move!
Since she lost you
She is determined to prove
How she can fill up the page
Of every lost and lonely day
"Cue lights! I am singing to my lover at night!
Scene Two: Everyone who comes must go!
Scene Four: Blacker than ever before!
Scene Six: This country is making me sick!"
Jacky cracks when she isn't on stage
See the effects of sexual neglect
No script, no crew, no auto-cue
No audience telling her what to do!
Exit, exit
Everybody's heading for the exit, exit
Everybody's running to the exit, exit
Everybody's running to the exit, exit
Everybody's heading for the exit, exit
Everybody's running to the exit, exit
Everybody's running to the exit, exit
Everybody's running to the exit, exit
Everybody's running to the exit, exit
Everybody's heading for the exit, exit
Everybody's heading for the exit, exit
Everybody's heading for the exit, exit, exit, exit, exit, exit, exit, exit, exit, exit, exit, exit, exit
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Really don’t quite know what parallel he might be drawing here between ‘Jacky’s’ life and current events - or life in general - but I think that there probably is a parallel somewhere and I can only imagine that this is his one (fairly obtuse) comment on the subject of our time - in Britain at least - of governance.
The repeated use of the word ‘exit’ in the last stanza in 2017 cannot be brushed over - I would argue at least.
I’m really trying to understand what his thinking might be in any parallel and if any of you can offer any thought on this I would certainly be interested to hear of it. Thanks.
@davie_bravo
@davie_bravo
dunno, think it is more likely to be a straightforward song - something similar in his work would be 'Girl Least Likely To' or 'Art Hounds' someone who doesn't realise how bad they are at what they are doing and actually finds solace in it as they have lost someone...
dunno, think it is more likely to be a straightforward song - something similar in his work would be 'Girl Least Likely To' or 'Art Hounds' someone who doesn't realise how bad they are at what they are doing and actually finds solace in it as they have lost someone...
Free in the truth of make-believe Since she lost you
Free in the truth of make-believe Since she lost you
Another thought that springs to mind are those reality 'talent' shows such as the x factor when fairly often the person on stage is utterly deluded while the rest of us are heading for the exit. You probably...
Another thought that springs to mind are those reality 'talent' shows such as the x factor when fairly often the person on stage is utterly deluded while the rest of us are heading for the exit. You probably 'get that' I suppose and feel there is also a parallel with something else. I think the video which is a parody and is excruciating to watch , although somewhat compelling, like a train wreck supports this more 'what you see is what you get' interpretation.
Morrissey said in an interview that the song was autobiographical and that makes perfect sense. It's about his obsession with touring and live music to fill a void and chase a high. But his fans were like, "Nuh-uh, it's about Brexit." Great song and video. "Everyone who comes must go."
For me, this song correlates with jacky Kennedy.
Sorry- not sorry - but for me it is a commentary Brexit - cleverly wrapped (but thinly disguised) in an allegory about a fading star (Britain as it is now) desperate for the attention of the old days (colonial past, industrial revolution, etc) when she was centre stage ( on the world stage ).
I make this claim, now let me explain...ahem... Evidence ?
Well it's there in the lyrics - and even more so when it was performed live Jacky - reference to Union Jack - the flag of great Britain Also Jackeen is a term used in Ireland to refer to Anglo Irish / British leaning types
"Since she lost you" [ when sung live he often pronounces YOU as "EU" - i.e. European Union]
"Jacky's only happy when she's up on the stage"
[Britain loves the attention of being front and central on world stage - Colonial Power, World Cup1966, etc. etc.]
"Free in the truth of make-believe Since she lost you"
"She'll make you believe what you'll never believe Since she lost you"
[Now they've left the constraints of the EU, they believe they can control their own destiny and resurrect the Great British dream - but it really is make believe stuff though most of the public were made to believe it was real]
"She is determined to prove How she can build up the pain Of every lost and lonely day"
[Captures the bullish Brexiteer brigade who dogmatically denounce what they believe are the shackles of being in the EU, what they have lost from this and the pain it has caused them]
"Cue lights! I am singing to my lover at night" [Imagine Nigel Farage / Boris Johnson stepping up on a soap box shouting Let's Get Brexit Done to a crowd of followers ..and saying lines equivalent to below which relate to relaxed EU immigration and asylum seeker rules - one of the main drivers behind Brexit]
"Everyone who comes must go" "Blacker than ever before" "This country is making me sick"
[Can imagine Farage saying lines equivalent to these]
"Jacky cracks when she isn't on stage See the effects of sexual neglect"
[Britain cannot cope with being restrained. It needs to believe at least that others see it as a power and innovator on the world stage. Otherwise it gets frustrated and angry]
"No script, no crew, no auto-cue No audience telling her what to do"
[No more Silly EU rules to follow. Also note the silent implicit rhyme - a subtle thing Morrissey does sometimes...No crew, no auto-cue, <No EU>]
"Exit, exit Everybody's heading for the exit, exit..."
[...then the final reveal in case you were in any doubt...Exit Exit...the word Brexit has been thrown in here a few times when sung live]