A measly 8 comments under this song!? Musically this is one of Morrissey's finest songs and definitely one of my favourites but I guess there is not much lyrics to work with.
The title is obviously a play on the term Alma Mater which means "Nourishing Mother". The term is also used in connection with the Virgin Mary, as well as a term used in ancient rome for the mother goddess and more commonly in the modern era as the anthem for a University or educational establishment.
Morrissey is also quoting A Taste of Honey - a "kitchen sink drama" written by Shelagh Delaney in the late 1950s as marquecerice correctly pointed out in his/her post. Morrissey was obviously a big fan and used Delaney's photo on the album cover artwork for Louder Than Bombs and also for the single Girlfriend in a Coma while he was in The Smiths.
The play itself was hard hitting drama with a frank social commentary on single parenthood, poverty, class, race, gender and sexual orientation.
I got this off wikipedia:
"A Taste of Honey is set in Salford in northwestern England in the 1950s. It tells the story of Jo, a seventeen-year-old working class girl, and her mother, Helen, who is presented as crude and sexually indiscriminate. Helen leaves Jo alone in their new flat after she begins a relationship with Peter, a rich lover who is younger than her. At the same time Jo begins a romantic relationship with Jimmy, a black sailor. He proposes marriage but then goes to sea, leaving Jo pregnant and alone. She finds lodgings with a homosexual acquaintance, Geoffrey, who assumes the role of surrogate father. Helen returns after leaving her lover and the future of Jo's new home is put into question".
In my opinion then Morrissey's title and play on the term "Alma Mater" (or Nourishing Mother) is an ironic one. The mother in this play was a working class alcoholic who pursued frivilous love affairs with little regard for her teenage daughter Jo who she abandons for a young rich lover. Therefore this song is a simple one written from the viewpoint of Jo's character claiming that "to someone somewhere" a caring and nurturing mother may be something or someone they need but not her!
A measly 8 comments under this song!? Musically this is one of Morrissey's finest songs and definitely one of my favourites but I guess there is not much lyrics to work with.
The title is obviously a play on the term Alma Mater which means "Nourishing Mother". The term is also used in connection with the Virgin Mary, as well as a term used in ancient rome for the mother goddess and more commonly in the modern era as the anthem for a University or educational establishment.
Morrissey is also quoting A Taste of Honey - a "kitchen sink drama" written by Shelagh Delaney in the late 1950s as marquecerice correctly pointed out in his/her post. Morrissey was obviously a big fan and used Delaney's photo on the album cover artwork for Louder Than Bombs and also for the single Girlfriend in a Coma while he was in The Smiths.
The play itself was hard hitting drama with a frank social commentary on single parenthood, poverty, class, race, gender and sexual orientation.
I got this off wikipedia: "A Taste of Honey is set in Salford in northwestern England in the 1950s. It tells the story of Jo, a seventeen-year-old working class girl, and her mother, Helen, who is presented as crude and sexually indiscriminate. Helen leaves Jo alone in their new flat after she begins a relationship with Peter, a rich lover who is younger than her. At the same time Jo begins a romantic relationship with Jimmy, a black sailor. He proposes marriage but then goes to sea, leaving Jo pregnant and alone. She finds lodgings with a homosexual acquaintance, Geoffrey, who assumes the role of surrogate father. Helen returns after leaving her lover and the future of Jo's new home is put into question".
In my opinion then Morrissey's title and play on the term "Alma Mater" (or Nourishing Mother) is an ironic one. The mother in this play was a working class alcoholic who pursued frivilous love affairs with little regard for her teenage daughter Jo who she abandons for a young rich lover. Therefore this song is a simple one written from the viewpoint of Jo's character claiming that "to someone somewhere" a caring and nurturing mother may be something or someone they need but not her!
Thanks, PrettyPettyThief, for sharing your opinion, and I agree this is a fabulous tune musically.
Thanks, PrettyPettyThief, for sharing your opinion, and I agree this is a fabulous tune musically.
I'm still getting my arms around the lyrics, and your post is aged, as am I~!
I'm still getting my arms around the lyrics, and your post is aged, as am I~!
Nonetheless Alma Maters sits up at the top of my play list, for its musical freedom, so far. Your interpretation helped quite a bit.
Nonetheless Alma Maters sits up at the top of my play list, for its musical freedom, so far. Your interpretation helped quite a bit.
Wayne
Wayne