Mozza proposed this song to his band, mentioning only the title and Boz Boorer is reported to have said 'You're going to get us into a lot of trouble' but the band, loyal as ever, went along with it and created, in my opinion, one of the best stompers that he's ever created.
He famously played this song, wrapped in a Union Jack, with several National Front members at the front of the audience and it was NME's coverage of this (rather criticising poor Mozza) that lead to his refusal to speak to them for over ten years!
It's definitely not racist. Moz seems to enjoy flirting with the controversy that people create through their failure to read the lyrics properly. Songs like 'We'll Let You Know' and 'Asian Rut' also share the 'racist' label, simply because people can't see the fact that he's being deliberately ironic and sometimes just patriotic! Where's the harm in loving your country?!
Joe Strummer's brother, David Mellor, was into the National Front in his youth, shortly before committing suicide. Perhaps the specific reference is to him, but either way, I think Thierry hits very close to the mark on the overall meaning. I can't honestly believe there are people who listen to Morrissey without having any sense of irony (though I suppose the ones tagging him 'racist' have probably never actually listened to the songs). and no, there's no way he's being "patriotic"/nationalist here, the point is quite the opposite.
Joe Strummer's brother, David Mellor, was into the National Front in his youth, shortly before committing suicide. Perhaps the specific reference is to him, but either way, I think Thierry hits very close to the mark on the overall meaning. I can't honestly believe there are people who listen to Morrissey without having any sense of irony (though I suppose the ones tagging him 'racist' have probably never actually listened to the songs). and no, there's no way he's being "patriotic"/nationalist here, the point is quite the opposite.
Mozza proposed this song to his band, mentioning only the title and Boz Boorer is reported to have said 'You're going to get us into a lot of trouble' but the band, loyal as ever, went along with it and created, in my opinion, one of the best stompers that he's ever created. He famously played this song, wrapped in a Union Jack, with several National Front members at the front of the audience and it was NME's coverage of this (rather criticising poor Mozza) that lead to his refusal to speak to them for over ten years! It's definitely not racist. Moz seems to enjoy flirting with the controversy that people create through their failure to read the lyrics properly. Songs like 'We'll Let You Know' and 'Asian Rut' also share the 'racist' label, simply because people can't see the fact that he's being deliberately ironic and sometimes just patriotic! Where's the harm in loving your country?!
Joe Strummer's brother, David Mellor, was into the National Front in his youth, shortly before committing suicide. Perhaps the specific reference is to him, but either way, I think Thierry hits very close to the mark on the overall meaning. I can't honestly believe there are people who listen to Morrissey without having any sense of irony (though I suppose the ones tagging him 'racist' have probably never actually listened to the songs). and no, there's no way he's being "patriotic"/nationalist here, the point is quite the opposite.
Joe Strummer's brother, David Mellor, was into the National Front in his youth, shortly before committing suicide. Perhaps the specific reference is to him, but either way, I think Thierry hits very close to the mark on the overall meaning. I can't honestly believe there are people who listen to Morrissey without having any sense of irony (though I suppose the ones tagging him 'racist' have probably never actually listened to the songs). and no, there's no way he's being "patriotic"/nationalist here, the point is quite the opposite.