I think this song is about an obsessed fan he’s calling “Trouble” who he’s comparing to someone who’s on his mind at midnight, but who doesn’t make an effort to love, need, or chide him. (Although, you really wouldn’t want someone to need or chide you. I guess this person just doesn’t get excited about him the way fans do.) Literal trouble may love him and disrupt the serene balance, but it wouldn’t “need” him.” That’s the giveaway. Morrissey sees music as nourishment like food (see “Messages from Morrissey,” Morrissey Central), life-saving, and sexually gratifying (“Rubber Ring.”) “Still running round on the flesh rampage” is him constantly touring, touching hands, and tearing his shirt off on stage. Morrissey sees singing on stage as “living bodies that actually move” (“Jacky’s only Happy when she’s up on the Stage.”) But it’s not totally fulfilling if he needs consoling.
“The wrong arms” perhaps refers to the desperate grasping embrace of the front row fans because the parties are not on equal footing and that’s why it leaves a disenchanted taste. But he’ll be a fool because he’s not making a better connection. Or perhaps the “wrong arms” are of the person he’s involved with who doesn’t love him like Trouble does. Or maybe they’re all wrong.
“Suedehead” was also about an obsessed fan who broke into his hotel room (he sang “sneak into my room,” but sneaking counts as “breaking” in terms of “breaking and entering.”)
I think this song is about an obsessed fan he’s calling “Trouble” who he’s comparing to someone who’s on his mind at midnight, but who doesn’t make an effort to love, need, or chide him. (Although, you really wouldn’t want someone to need or chide you. I guess this person just doesn’t get excited about him the way fans do.) Literal trouble may love him and disrupt the serene balance, but it wouldn’t “need” him.” That’s the giveaway. Morrissey sees music as nourishment like food (see “Messages from Morrissey,” Morrissey Central), life-saving, and sexually gratifying (“Rubber Ring.”) “Still running round on the flesh rampage” is him constantly touring, touching hands, and tearing his shirt off on stage. Morrissey sees singing on stage as “living bodies that actually move” (“Jacky’s only Happy when she’s up on the Stage.”) But it’s not totally fulfilling if he needs consoling. “The wrong arms” perhaps refers to the desperate grasping embrace of the front row fans because the parties are not on equal footing and that’s why it leaves a disenchanted taste. But he’ll be a fool because he’s not making a better connection. Or perhaps the “wrong arms” are of the person he’s involved with who doesn’t love him like Trouble does. Or maybe they’re all wrong. “Suedehead” was also about an obsessed fan who broke into his hotel room (he sang “sneak into my room,” but sneaking counts as “breaking” in terms of “breaking and entering.”)