Yeah, I've heard this song is a dig at Natalie Merchant as well. I wonder if this song was released around the time Merchant started her solo career, which would make sense of "have a go" as in have a go at going solo. The irony of the song is that he appears to parody her social commentary style lyrics, while at the same time expressing support for her career "and always I'm her right beside you." Could it be that Morrissey sees parallels between his and Merchants carreers- they were both of popular bands, bands which disbanded around the height of their fame, and he wants Merchant to be successful as he has been successful. Though his lyrics are almost patronizing in the same manner of "The Girl Least Likely To." I wonder if Morrissey was somewhat jealous that the 10,000 Maniacs scored a hit with 'his' song- "Everyday is Like Sunday" or perhaps he did not deem them worthy enough to cover it and maybe that's why he takes swipes at Merchant's songwriting. His line about 'a small baby girl cradeled in your arms, your only contribution' appears to a reference to a particular Merchant or 10,000 Maniac's song and denigrating Merchant's songwriting to having written only one good song. I don't remember any hits referencing a baby girl, but I am not familiar enough with either of their catalogs to know. Seems similar to the swipe Lennon took at McCartney in "How Do You Sleep" - "the only thing you done was 'Yesterday'.
The lines about the pubs opening and closing and traffic lights I interpret to be when and where her songs are likely to be played.
The "we'll never know" line puzzles me. Surely he would know if she had any other hits. But again, this could just be a backhand swipe saying that he is not going to bother to pay attention to her career to know if she has any other successful or notable songs- or maybe he just expected her career to fall flat after her first album.
Yeah, I've heard this song is a dig at Natalie Merchant as well. I wonder if this song was released around the time Merchant started her solo career, which would make sense of "have a go" as in have a go at going solo. The irony of the song is that he appears to parody her social commentary style lyrics, while at the same time expressing support for her career "and always I'm her right beside you." Could it be that Morrissey sees parallels between his and Merchants carreers- they were both of popular bands, bands which disbanded around the height of their fame, and he wants Merchant to be successful as he has been successful. Though his lyrics are almost patronizing in the same manner of "The Girl Least Likely To." I wonder if Morrissey was somewhat jealous that the 10,000 Maniacs scored a hit with 'his' song- "Everyday is Like Sunday" or perhaps he did not deem them worthy enough to cover it and maybe that's why he takes swipes at Merchant's songwriting. His line about 'a small baby girl cradeled in your arms, your only contribution' appears to a reference to a particular Merchant or 10,000 Maniac's song and denigrating Merchant's songwriting to having written only one good song. I don't remember any hits referencing a baby girl, but I am not familiar enough with either of their catalogs to know. Seems similar to the swipe Lennon took at McCartney in "How Do You Sleep" - "the only thing you done was 'Yesterday'.
The lines about the pubs opening and closing and traffic lights I interpret to be when and where her songs are likely to be played.
The "we'll never know" line puzzles me. Surely he would know if she had any other hits. But again, this could just be a backhand swipe saying that he is not going to bother to pay attention to her career to know if she has any other successful or notable songs- or maybe he just expected her career to fall flat after her first album.
Seems to be a pretty biting song overall.