Scandinavia Lyrics

Lyric discussion by cinesis 

Cover art for Scandinavia lyrics by Morrissey

This is one of Morrissey's most profound and poetic songs. Its first stanza is an allusion to political correctness - replace the locations with African locales:

"Crime in Uganda; I despise each syllable in "Africa". Let the people burn, Let their children cry and die in blind asylum."

But Morrissey knows he can't be called racist for maligning Scandinavia.

"And I praise the god who made you. Stab me in your own time in Scandinavia. Uncomplaining I'd die in Scandinavia."

This is a racial acknowledgment. Morrissey is saying "Thank god for Nordic peoples!" Further, he acknowledges their racial superiority over he himself, as an Irish / English Celt, with the line "Stab me in your own time in Scandinavia."

How the Hell did you interpret this song as a neo-Nazi call to eugenics? Serious misinterpretation here...

Although it is very ambiguous, on first listen I thought it may have had some reference to the pureness of the Scandinavian race. Which is what brought me to here to see what others thought.

I hope the comment above was intended as a joke. Morrissey is not racist. It refers directly to the Swedish national Anthem, wich has the words " I want to live and I want to die in Scandinavia (Norden)"

"Pinned to a crime"... someone who is angry of an inujstice to him. Ranting about how he despise the country. Then finds love in this country, and changes his views. I think it also refers to accused Swedish "serial killer" Tomas Quick, who was in fact pinned to a lot of murders in Norway, but was completely innocent. In our mythology,...