Break Up The Family

I love the ambiguity in this song. It's funny -- because it can be percieved 2 different ways, it was a truly important song to me twice in my life thus far -- once upon falling in love and in a way resiging myself to part with my friends and the fun times we had. Upon my recent breakup (we were together for 3 years), this song took on the opposite meaning -- a rejoicing in "breaking up the family" of my relationship -- realizing the follies of my ways, and reconnecting with my dear friends. Morrissey is such a brillianty writer -- his words can be seen on so many different levels. He is definaetly the lyrical master of the last 30 years,.

i believe this song is about the break up of the smiths. he is not lamenting the break up so much as he is ready to move on with his life.

I read somewhere that this song was about a group of friends that are so closely knit that it is almost suffocating and no-one can ever break free and become successful outside of the clique...its a really lovely song.

"the thought of breaking up someone's family was absolutely repellant to me, honestly. If anyone had told me I was doing anything like that I would have been horrified. I've always regarded families as well, unbustable you know?"

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059084/

I agree with la-la. I always interpreted it as Morrissey stating that these "awful times" had been during The Smiths era and/or the ending of it. despising the fact that they had broken up, and possibly still a bit upset over it.

" I'm so glad to grow older To move away from those younger years I'm in love for the first time And I don't feel bad "

Again, all I can think of is how Moz is finally older and wiser and realizing his recent past has moved on and he's in love with what he is doing and how it's all going.(Life, Music and such..) He doesnt feel as bad, although he thought he would.

" Let me see all my old friends Let me put my arms around them Cause I really do love them Now does that sound mad ? Captain of games, solid framed I stood on the touchline Hailstones, driven home In a car - no brakes ? I don't mind "

Possibly "all his old friends" could be referring to Mike,Andy, and Johnny before The Smiths, or before their tension between each other got to them. How good friends they were? Although there's been a lot of media attention between the break about how they have had so many differences and feuds, I'm sure he still saw them as friends and says "Now does that sound mad?" meaning I know we broke up, I know, I know, but they are still my friends..

I love this line "In a car - No brakes? I don't mind " Best i can think of this is living for the moment. Life is so good and enjoyable for the first time, Even if he had been in a car with no breaks knowing it'll crash and burn. He'll be fine with it and wouldn't mind, due to the fact that that time, that moment, was the first time he was in love and enjoyed it all.

Anyways, that's my interp of this song.