Like many of Morrissey and Smiths songs, Morrissey develops lyrics open to several interpretations. To many this song will mean (again) homosexual relationships, however in my view (as stated earlier) the obvious interpretation is that the protagonist does not need or want the person in question around. This obviously fails due to the various examples cited in the lyrics. The person has an obsession. As we know as a child and into adolescent Morrissey was an obsessive person - prone to extreme acts of obsession - there are numerous examples - regularly writing to NME, James Dean, 60s girl bands, and so on. Many of the lyrics probably illustrate his behaviour at some time towards his obsessive behaviour and it is known he was particularly obsessive towards JD.
Ref the outro of the song - I originally thought he said it was a good DAY, but have now assumed it is indeed "it was a good lay, good lay..." Again to some this will have sexual connotations, but of course the interpretation of "lay" could be anything - phrase, lyric, poem or song bearing in mind in the song he refers to "read all the things, I'd written about you" and "oh so many illustrations..".
As always his songs are very literate and deliberately left open to interpretation, and mine is that he is writing about his own obsessive behaviour towards another who is expressing this in the song.
Or it just means "it was a good shag"
Incidentally the song is based on Richard Allen's book about violent teenagers - presumably suedehead meaning skinhead - as skinheads (rightly or wrongly) were associated with violent or anti-social behaviour at the time of the song (equiv today is probably "hoodies" those who wear their hoods to cover their faces).
@CharmingMan High five on your interpretation of "good lay", he's just confirmed it during his Tel-Aviv gig, saying that it's not about "s-e-x", it's about a poem.
@CharmingMan High five on your interpretation of "good lay", he's just confirmed it during his Tel-Aviv gig, saying that it's not about "s-e-x", it's about a poem.
@CharmingMan
It's about a person whose father left the family home. When said father visits it makes things hard for the child. As they have to deal with all the emotions when the father goes again.
The father goes into his child's room, and goes through his diary and poem (Lai)
The good "lay " is actually a good "Lai" - a good poem.
@CharmingMan
It's about a person whose father left the family home. When said father visits it makes things hard for the child. As they have to deal with all the emotions when the father goes again.
The father goes into his child's room, and goes through his diary and poem (Lai)
The good "lay " is actually a good "Lai" - a good poem.
I can see why people think its about lovers who have broken up. I never got that from it though. Coming from a broken home , I connected to the father/child...
I can see why people think its about lovers who have broken up. I never got that from it though. Coming from a broken home , I connected to the father/child thing straight away
@CharmingMan the "Good lay" was an ad lib. When Morrissey was asked In an interview what it meant and why? He replied "means nothing really I thought it would appeal to people living in Hull, cause it's what they do."
@CharmingMan the "Good lay" was an ad lib. When Morrissey was asked In an interview what it meant and why? He replied "means nothing really I thought it would appeal to people living in Hull, cause it's what they do."
Like many of Morrissey and Smiths songs, Morrissey develops lyrics open to several interpretations. To many this song will mean (again) homosexual relationships, however in my view (as stated earlier) the obvious interpretation is that the protagonist does not need or want the person in question around. This obviously fails due to the various examples cited in the lyrics. The person has an obsession. As we know as a child and into adolescent Morrissey was an obsessive person - prone to extreme acts of obsession - there are numerous examples - regularly writing to NME, James Dean, 60s girl bands, and so on. Many of the lyrics probably illustrate his behaviour at some time towards his obsessive behaviour and it is known he was particularly obsessive towards JD.
Ref the outro of the song - I originally thought he said it was a good DAY, but have now assumed it is indeed "it was a good lay, good lay..." Again to some this will have sexual connotations, but of course the interpretation of "lay" could be anything - phrase, lyric, poem or song bearing in mind in the song he refers to "read all the things, I'd written about you" and "oh so many illustrations..". As always his songs are very literate and deliberately left open to interpretation, and mine is that he is writing about his own obsessive behaviour towards another who is expressing this in the song.
Or it just means "it was a good shag"
Incidentally the song is based on Richard Allen's book about violent teenagers - presumably suedehead meaning skinhead - as skinheads (rightly or wrongly) were associated with violent or anti-social behaviour at the time of the song (equiv today is probably "hoodies" those who wear their hoods to cover their faces).
@CharmingMan High five on your interpretation of "good lay", he's just confirmed it during his Tel-Aviv gig, saying that it's not about "s-e-x", it's about a poem.
@CharmingMan High five on your interpretation of "good lay", he's just confirmed it during his Tel-Aviv gig, saying that it's not about "s-e-x", it's about a poem.
@CharmingMan It's about a person whose father left the family home. When said father visits it makes things hard for the child. As they have to deal with all the emotions when the father goes again. The father goes into his child's room, and goes through his diary and poem (Lai) The good "lay " is actually a good "Lai" - a good poem.
@CharmingMan It's about a person whose father left the family home. When said father visits it makes things hard for the child. As they have to deal with all the emotions when the father goes again. The father goes into his child's room, and goes through his diary and poem (Lai) The good "lay " is actually a good "Lai" - a good poem.
I can see why people think its about lovers who have broken up. I never got that from it though. Coming from a broken home , I connected to the father/child...
I can see why people think its about lovers who have broken up. I never got that from it though. Coming from a broken home , I connected to the father/child thing straight away
@CharmingMan the "Good lay" was an ad lib. When Morrissey was asked In an interview what it meant and why? He replied "means nothing really I thought it would appeal to people living in Hull, cause it's what they do."
@CharmingMan the "Good lay" was an ad lib. When Morrissey was asked In an interview what it meant and why? He replied "means nothing really I thought it would appeal to people living in Hull, cause it's what they do."