Essentially, all the donkeys do is work for their masters. That is their whole life, they're left with no sense of self, room for emotion or objection. They have no choices or say in their situation - they're born into drudgery with no way out. They don't see the 'bigger picture', don't know what they're doing (in the small-scale or the large-scale). They know no real truths.
Donkeys could be compared to the working class I suppose, as in other Manics songs where they have indulged in the 'working class anthem'. Most notably Design For Life. There are actually some related lines in both songs. 'No emotion never feel / And drown themselves in whatever' versus 'We don't talk about love / We only wanna get drunk'. The discussion of the subject's lack of dignity, cleanliness, truth, or respect. The plight of the donkey and working class labourer could be comparable - but the song could also apply to disenfranchised others.
Almost reminiscent of a particular poem the band cited a few times; Tennessee Williams' 'Lament For The Moths'. The difference being that the moths are written as fragile, beautiful creatures that drop dead seemingly without cause - whereas the donkeys are hardened, submissive and not so elegant. All the same, there are parallels. Donkeys too seems to adopt the tone of a 'lament', for the beautiful or gentle or those taken advantage of / for granted, treated badly or suffering despite all they do.
The metaphor of the donkeys has some degree of versatility, I can't say for sure what it's supposed to represent. But that's what I think.
Essentially, all the donkeys do is work for their masters. That is their whole life, they're left with no sense of self, room for emotion or objection. They have no choices or say in their situation - they're born into drudgery with no way out. They don't see the 'bigger picture', don't know what they're doing (in the small-scale or the large-scale). They know no real truths.
Donkeys could be compared to the working class I suppose, as in other Manics songs where they have indulged in the 'working class anthem'. Most notably Design For Life. There are actually some related lines in both songs. 'No emotion never feel / And drown themselves in whatever' versus 'We don't talk about love / We only wanna get drunk'. The discussion of the subject's lack of dignity, cleanliness, truth, or respect. The plight of the donkey and working class labourer could be comparable - but the song could also apply to disenfranchised others.
Almost reminiscent of a particular poem the band cited a few times; Tennessee Williams' 'Lament For The Moths'. The difference being that the moths are written as fragile, beautiful creatures that drop dead seemingly without cause - whereas the donkeys are hardened, submissive and not so elegant. All the same, there are parallels. Donkeys too seems to adopt the tone of a 'lament', for the beautiful or gentle or those taken advantage of / for granted, treated badly or suffering despite all they do.
The metaphor of the donkeys has some degree of versatility, I can't say for sure what it's supposed to represent. But that's what I think.