I sure we can all agree that Moz reads alot.
Throughout his lyrics, he has constantly dropped sublte references & sometimes blatant knowledge of some great books he's read.
I am however, going to politely disagree with "Yer Ma". I will agree about the use of the word "underground" in both the book and song title. I'm sorry, but I have read "Notes From the Underground"(I am an avid Dostoevsky reader)& find no more obvious similarities.
I found the lyrics above (especially when Moz mentions being an insect) more akin to Kafka's "Metamorphosis". When Kafka wrote the story, it was rumored that he was gay. Back then buggery was a crime, and when he wrote "Metamorphosis", turning into an insect and being ostrasized by his family, was a metaphor. The metaphor is obvious. He most likely was writing about the horrible abuse, dishonor, often confinement in prison, & isolation many Gays (Like O. Wilde) endured.
Now, back to Mr. Morrissey. His affirmation, and joyous proclamation of being proud of his insect self is something Franz Kafka didn't really do. That theory aside, the lyrics are much more than just a pplay on words/writers. I think the song is about growth/acceptance/rebellion, after enduring self-loathing for being born gay, uh, I mean an insect. I think Morrissey is chanting, "I'm Queer, I'm I'm Here, I'm Proud...Get used to it!"
You're wrong "frankenchristie". The opening line of this song is almost identical to that of Notes from Underground as is the title. In fact if translators called the book Notes from Under the Floorboards it would stop readers from conflating 'underground' with 'anti-establishment' or 'outside society's norms' when in fact its meaning is much more literal. I agree that it also references Metamorphosis but am a bit dubious about this being a reference to homosexuality. I'm glad to hear that Morrissey didn't write this since the Dostoyevsky and Kafka references smack of intellectual pretension which he doesn't normally fall prey...
You're wrong "frankenchristie". The opening line of this song is almost identical to that of Notes from Underground as is the title. In fact if translators called the book Notes from Under the Floorboards it would stop readers from conflating 'underground' with 'anti-establishment' or 'outside society's norms' when in fact its meaning is much more literal. I agree that it also references Metamorphosis but am a bit dubious about this being a reference to homosexuality. I'm glad to hear that Morrissey didn't write this since the Dostoyevsky and Kafka references smack of intellectual pretension which he doesn't normally fall prey to. PS if your username is a reference to Dead Kennedys...props!
I sure we can all agree that Moz reads alot.
Throughout his lyrics, he has constantly dropped sublte references & sometimes blatant knowledge of some great books he's read. I am however, going to politely disagree with "Yer Ma". I will agree about the use of the word "underground" in both the book and song title. I'm sorry, but I have read "Notes From the Underground"(I am an avid Dostoevsky reader)& find no more obvious similarities. I found the lyrics above (especially when Moz mentions being an insect) more akin to Kafka's "Metamorphosis". When Kafka wrote the story, it was rumored that he was gay. Back then buggery was a crime, and when he wrote "Metamorphosis", turning into an insect and being ostrasized by his family, was a metaphor. The metaphor is obvious. He most likely was writing about the horrible abuse, dishonor, often confinement in prison, & isolation many Gays (Like O. Wilde) endured. Now, back to Mr. Morrissey. His affirmation, and joyous proclamation of being proud of his insect self is something Franz Kafka didn't really do. That theory aside, the lyrics are much more than just a pplay on words/writers. I think the song is about growth/acceptance/rebellion, after enduring self-loathing for being born gay, uh, I mean an insect. I think Morrissey is chanting, "I'm Queer, I'm I'm Here, I'm Proud...Get used to it!"
You're wrong "frankenchristie". The opening line of this song is almost identical to that of Notes from Underground as is the title. In fact if translators called the book Notes from Under the Floorboards it would stop readers from conflating 'underground' with 'anti-establishment' or 'outside society's norms' when in fact its meaning is much more literal. I agree that it also references Metamorphosis but am a bit dubious about this being a reference to homosexuality. I'm glad to hear that Morrissey didn't write this since the Dostoyevsky and Kafka references smack of intellectual pretension which he doesn't normally fall prey...
You're wrong "frankenchristie". The opening line of this song is almost identical to that of Notes from Underground as is the title. In fact if translators called the book Notes from Under the Floorboards it would stop readers from conflating 'underground' with 'anti-establishment' or 'outside society's norms' when in fact its meaning is much more literal. I agree that it also references Metamorphosis but am a bit dubious about this being a reference to homosexuality. I'm glad to hear that Morrissey didn't write this since the Dostoyevsky and Kafka references smack of intellectual pretension which he doesn't normally fall prey to. PS if your username is a reference to Dead Kennedys...props!