I thought that this time around, I would analyse a song from Morrissey’s solo career, rather than a "Smiths" Song, due to the fact that many of the people I know seem oblivious to it (regardless of it’s overwhelming fame and success). "Piccadilly Palare" is a song that I’ve known for years but have only just begun to appreiciate it’s lyrically passionate and typically "Morrissien" beauty. Before I begin, it would help if I gave a breif summery about the song’s theme. The Song is based on the life of rentboys (Male prostitutes) in the 60’s, A life both feared and envied from Morrissey’s Point of View, But more about that later.
The phrase "Off the rails" is used to describe someone who has stopped obeying the general rules of a society, whether these rules are what parents place before their children, or that the government place on the public. This shows that the protaganist of the story is no longer bound by such rules. The next line shows that the protaganist is also happy with his position of being unruly and wild, "and off the rails, I was happy to stay" which brings Morrissey’s opinion of ABSOULUTE freedom from society to hand. That being "Off the rails" is not neccessarily a bad thing. "GET OUT OF MY WAY" can be easily defined as being another trait of our outlandish protaganist’s opinion.
The protaganist is described as being "On the rack" (On the game?) showing that he is up for prositutuion. "Easy meat and a reasonably good buy" is a comical way of expressing his availability as a prositute once more "Easy meat" (Suggests body or cock) "Good buy" (implies that he neds to be purchased)
In order to understand the chorus of the song, you need to understand what "Palare" actually is. "Parlare" was a slang language used mainly by homosexuals in the 60’s. Naming it the "Piccadilly Palare" links the set place of the song in with the subject (because London was the main area in which rentboys recieved "buissness" and is therefore where the song is set) "The Piccadilly palare was just silly slang" introduces the concept of this slang language through the eyes of our protaganist, therefore to the listener. Describing it as "Silly slang" shows that our protaganist is very light-hearted about the subject, which again shows his confidence in his job and lifestyle. "Between me and the boys in my gang" is a clear representation of our protaganist’s position as a rentboy. The fact that this exclusivly gay language is shared "between" him and the "boys in my (his) gang, shows that he is part of a click of other gay rentboys in the form of a gang. (Which was custom to ensure their saftey)
This is where it gets slightly complicated. The next verse is spoken in "Palare" so I’ve set up a translation key...
bona - good
drag - clothes
vada - see, look at
eek - face
riah - hair
When translated, this verse spells out...
"So Good to Look at. OH YOU
Your lovely Face and
Your lovely Hair"
This shows typical flirting that is traversed between the protaganist and "The boys in his gang" The "OH YOU" is a stereotypical phrase used by gay men, if you didn’t already know. This verse introduces the main idea of Palare (gay slang) which again portrays to the listener that the characters are indeed gay rentboys.
The "Ancient trade" that the boys in the gang "plied" to eachother suggests that they have completely abandoned all rules of normal society "Where we threw all life’s instructions away". The "exchanging" of "lies and digs" suggest that they have subjected themselves to a life of boarder-line criminality and corruption (if yet a little fufilling) "my way". "Trade" is also gay slang for sex (or the act of sex).
The song now tweaks itself in a little more negative direction about the life of a rentboy. " Cause in a belted coat Oh, I secretly knew That I hadn’t a clue" The "belted coat" simply represents the kind of bondage outfit that might be suited to some of our protaganists clients. The way our protaganist "secretly knew that he hadn’t a clue" shows his uncertainty and perhaps fear in his current lifestlye, amongst all the corrupted glories it holds. The whisper of (No, no. No, no, no. You can’t get there that way. Follow me...) represents the quiet voice of society yeilding them to get back on the rails and in tune with a proper lifestyle. This is returned by the main chorus kicking in and kicking out the comment made by the laws of society
The description that the protaganist gives about how he and the boys in his gang "exchange Palare" show (to an extent) just how much he adores his gang members and the "Off rails" lifestyle he leads. He says that the "Good sons" (those bound by the laws of society) dont understand the special bond that this corrupted, yet enthralling lifestlye brings him. "You wouldnt understand, Good sons like you never do". This could also be interpreted as a childish dig at those more fortunate than himself for being part of the society that keeps them safe and well looked after. This could be a desperate plea for help from our protaganist.
For a final time, the song takes a hairpin swerve to the negative side of our protaganists lifestyle/prediciment by asking "Why he smiles when he thinks about Earls court?" Earls court is a famous landmark in central London, and is therefore relevent to our protaganists life. Society asks "Why he smiles" for the warped and distorted lifestyle he has led so far. He is also quseton "why he cries about the battles he fought and lost" implieing that he has never won any personal gains in his so-called "happily Off the rails" lifestyle. So why is it so great we ask?
This is a spiteful attack at the conscience of our protaganist which makes him think and become fully aware that "It could all end tomorrow" Implieing that he could become warn out and useless as a prostitute and be left for dead (or perhaps involving rape or STI’s). He also questions that "it could go on forever" which implies that he would ware away his life, counting for nothing until the day he dies. It is understood that either way he is "doomed" to a shameful end. This emphisises that what our protaganist takes for granted, won’t neccessarily count for anything or even last in years to come.
The final mockery made to our protaganist is the repition made quitely above the music, "Bona Drag" or "Good Clothes" as we now know it. (Bona Drag is also the name of the album in which this song is present). It seems to mock and sum up his lifestyle and bring it to a close within only 2 simplistic words, ironically said in Palare.
What begins as an upbeat song about the joys of a life "Off rails" and free of society turns into a condemnent of our rentboy protaganist. This song shows both the joys and horrors of a life "Off the rails" and corrupted which also represent Morrissey’s admirations and fears about the 60’s rentboy lifestyle. It shows that corruption does not neccessarrily mean bad or wrong, yet it should be approached with caution. It also represents again, a very popular theme in terms of Morrissey’s work which is Instinct vs logic (freedom vs society) and this songs sings about both sides remarkably.
A highly sexual and elaborate begining to a near perfect album.
I loved your reply. I was going to add mine, but it was extremely close! Once, as a young man was oblivious to the whole title Piccadilly Palare. It didn't question anything about it. But listening to it as an adult, things went a different way. I'm a fan of tattoos and i wanted something from his music that I could have tattooed. A friend (who is also a Morrissey fan) said she always thought it would be cool if someone had "so bona to vada"
I loved your reply. I was going to add mine, but it was extremely close! Once, as a young man was oblivious to the whole title Piccadilly Palare. It didn't question anything about it. But listening to it as an adult, things went a different way. I'm a fan of tattoos and i wanted something from his music that I could have tattooed. A friend (who is also a Morrissey fan) said she always thought it would be cool if someone had "so bona to vada"
So I did a search and found the meaning. Then Polari (or...
So I did a search and found the meaning. Then Polari (or Palare) was a personal interest, and so I've been reading up on those terms. After my research, I decided to continue the tattoo to include, "your lovely eek and your lovely riah." Anyway - your description was cool!
Bona does mean good but also nice or lovely. In the old BBC Radio Show Around the Horne Julian and Sandy would often greet Kenneth Horne with “How bona to vada your eek!” — How nice to see your face
Bona does mean good but also nice or lovely. In the old BBC Radio Show Around the Horne Julian and Sandy would often greet Kenneth Horne with “How bona to vada your eek!” — How nice to see your face
I thought that this time around, I would analyse a song from Morrissey’s solo career, rather than a "Smiths" Song, due to the fact that many of the people I know seem oblivious to it (regardless of it’s overwhelming fame and success). "Piccadilly Palare" is a song that I’ve known for years but have only just begun to appreiciate it’s lyrically passionate and typically "Morrissien" beauty. Before I begin, it would help if I gave a breif summery about the song’s theme. The Song is based on the life of rentboys (Male prostitutes) in the 60’s, A life both feared and envied from Morrissey’s Point of View, But more about that later.
The phrase "Off the rails" is used to describe someone who has stopped obeying the general rules of a society, whether these rules are what parents place before their children, or that the government place on the public. This shows that the protaganist of the story is no longer bound by such rules. The next line shows that the protaganist is also happy with his position of being unruly and wild, "and off the rails, I was happy to stay" which brings Morrissey’s opinion of ABSOULUTE freedom from society to hand. That being "Off the rails" is not neccessarily a bad thing. "GET OUT OF MY WAY" can be easily defined as being another trait of our outlandish protaganist’s opinion.
The protaganist is described as being "On the rack" (On the game?) showing that he is up for prositutuion. "Easy meat and a reasonably good buy" is a comical way of expressing his availability as a prositute once more "Easy meat" (Suggests body or cock) "Good buy" (implies that he neds to be purchased)
In order to understand the chorus of the song, you need to understand what "Palare" actually is. "Parlare" was a slang language used mainly by homosexuals in the 60’s. Naming it the "Piccadilly Palare" links the set place of the song in with the subject (because London was the main area in which rentboys recieved "buissness" and is therefore where the song is set) "The Piccadilly palare was just silly slang" introduces the concept of this slang language through the eyes of our protaganist, therefore to the listener. Describing it as "Silly slang" shows that our protaganist is very light-hearted about the subject, which again shows his confidence in his job and lifestyle. "Between me and the boys in my gang" is a clear representation of our protaganist’s position as a rentboy. The fact that this exclusivly gay language is shared "between" him and the "boys in my (his) gang, shows that he is part of a click of other gay rentboys in the form of a gang. (Which was custom to ensure their saftey)
This is where it gets slightly complicated. The next verse is spoken in "Palare" so I’ve set up a translation key...
bona - good drag - clothes vada - see, look at eek - face riah - hair
When translated, this verse spells out...
"So Good to Look at. OH YOU Your lovely Face and Your lovely Hair"
This shows typical flirting that is traversed between the protaganist and "The boys in his gang" The "OH YOU" is a stereotypical phrase used by gay men, if you didn’t already know. This verse introduces the main idea of Palare (gay slang) which again portrays to the listener that the characters are indeed gay rentboys.
The "Ancient trade" that the boys in the gang "plied" to eachother suggests that they have completely abandoned all rules of normal society "Where we threw all life’s instructions away". The "exchanging" of "lies and digs" suggest that they have subjected themselves to a life of boarder-line criminality and corruption (if yet a little fufilling) "my way". "Trade" is also gay slang for sex (or the act of sex).
The song now tweaks itself in a little more negative direction about the life of a rentboy. " Cause in a belted coat Oh, I secretly knew That I hadn’t a clue" The "belted coat" simply represents the kind of bondage outfit that might be suited to some of our protaganists clients. The way our protaganist "secretly knew that he hadn’t a clue" shows his uncertainty and perhaps fear in his current lifestlye, amongst all the corrupted glories it holds. The whisper of (No, no. No, no, no. You can’t get there that way. Follow me...) represents the quiet voice of society yeilding them to get back on the rails and in tune with a proper lifestyle. This is returned by the main chorus kicking in and kicking out the comment made by the laws of society
The description that the protaganist gives about how he and the boys in his gang "exchange Palare" show (to an extent) just how much he adores his gang members and the "Off rails" lifestyle he leads. He says that the "Good sons" (those bound by the laws of society) dont understand the special bond that this corrupted, yet enthralling lifestlye brings him. "You wouldnt understand, Good sons like you never do". This could also be interpreted as a childish dig at those more fortunate than himself for being part of the society that keeps them safe and well looked after. This could be a desperate plea for help from our protaganist.
For a final time, the song takes a hairpin swerve to the negative side of our protaganists lifestyle/prediciment by asking "Why he smiles when he thinks about Earls court?" Earls court is a famous landmark in central London, and is therefore relevent to our protaganists life. Society asks "Why he smiles" for the warped and distorted lifestyle he has led so far. He is also quseton "why he cries about the battles he fought and lost" implieing that he has never won any personal gains in his so-called "happily Off the rails" lifestyle. So why is it so great we ask?
This is a spiteful attack at the conscience of our protaganist which makes him think and become fully aware that "It could all end tomorrow" Implieing that he could become warn out and useless as a prostitute and be left for dead (or perhaps involving rape or STI’s). He also questions that "it could go on forever" which implies that he would ware away his life, counting for nothing until the day he dies. It is understood that either way he is "doomed" to a shameful end. This emphisises that what our protaganist takes for granted, won’t neccessarily count for anything or even last in years to come.
The final mockery made to our protaganist is the repition made quitely above the music, "Bona Drag" or "Good Clothes" as we now know it. (Bona Drag is also the name of the album in which this song is present). It seems to mock and sum up his lifestyle and bring it to a close within only 2 simplistic words, ironically said in Palare.
What begins as an upbeat song about the joys of a life "Off rails" and free of society turns into a condemnent of our rentboy protaganist. This song shows both the joys and horrors of a life "Off the rails" and corrupted which also represent Morrissey’s admirations and fears about the 60’s rentboy lifestyle. It shows that corruption does not neccessarrily mean bad or wrong, yet it should be approached with caution. It also represents again, a very popular theme in terms of Morrissey’s work which is Instinct vs logic (freedom vs society) and this songs sings about both sides remarkably.
A highly sexual and elaborate begining to a near perfect album.
I loved your reply. I was going to add mine, but it was extremely close! Once, as a young man was oblivious to the whole title Piccadilly Palare. It didn't question anything about it. But listening to it as an adult, things went a different way. I'm a fan of tattoos and i wanted something from his music that I could have tattooed. A friend (who is also a Morrissey fan) said she always thought it would be cool if someone had "so bona to vada"
I loved your reply. I was going to add mine, but it was extremely close! Once, as a young man was oblivious to the whole title Piccadilly Palare. It didn't question anything about it. But listening to it as an adult, things went a different way. I'm a fan of tattoos and i wanted something from his music that I could have tattooed. A friend (who is also a Morrissey fan) said she always thought it would be cool if someone had "so bona to vada"
So I did a search and found the meaning. Then Polari (or...
So I did a search and found the meaning. Then Polari (or Palare) was a personal interest, and so I've been reading up on those terms. After my research, I decided to continue the tattoo to include, "your lovely eek and your lovely riah." Anyway - your description was cool!
Bona does mean good but also nice or lovely. In the old BBC Radio Show Around the Horne Julian and Sandy would often greet Kenneth Horne with “How bona to vada your eek!” — How nice to see your face
Bona does mean good but also nice or lovely. In the old BBC Radio Show Around the Horne Julian and Sandy would often greet Kenneth Horne with “How bona to vada your eek!” — How nice to see your face