One of Morrissey's idols is Oscar Wilde who he has included in more than one song, "Cemetery Gates" is one song that jumps to mind, and I think this song is about Wilde as well.
After a long affair with the Marquess of Queensbury's son Alfred Taylor, Wilde was imprisoned for "posing as a somdomite." Public perception turned on Wilde and a few years later when he got out of prison he was no longer welcome in London. Wilde's wife wouldn't even see him or let him see his children whom he loved fondly, having even written several childrens books for them. He left England and trooped around Eruope for a while, even met up with Alfred Taylor again but it didn't work out. Prison did a number on Wilde and he was very weak. He ended up living in Paris, where he eventually died.
Wilde's imprisonment is said to be the end of the Victorian Era in Literature.
Wilde would have been "in the absence of your (Alfred Taylor's) love
So he threw his arms around Paris, at least that's how I interpreted the song.
I have a different take.
One of Morrissey's idols is Oscar Wilde who he has included in more than one song, "Cemetery Gates" is one song that jumps to mind, and I think this song is about Wilde as well.
After a long affair with the Marquess of Queensbury's son Alfred Taylor, Wilde was imprisoned for "posing as a somdomite." Public perception turned on Wilde and a few years later when he got out of prison he was no longer welcome in London. Wilde's wife wouldn't even see him or let him see his children whom he loved fondly, having even written several childrens books for them. He left England and trooped around Eruope for a while, even met up with Alfred Taylor again but it didn't work out. Prison did a number on Wilde and he was very weak. He ended up living in Paris, where he eventually died. Wilde's imprisonment is said to be the end of the Victorian Era in Literature. Wilde would have been "in the absence of your (Alfred Taylor's) love So he threw his arms around Paris, at least that's how I interpreted the song.