The HUGE (hopefully) Morrissey "Mozzer" (and of course The Smiths) Thread!!!!!!

[girlhappy]

OH HELLO
I am the ghost of Troubled Joe
Hung by his pretty white neck
Some eighteen months ago
I travelled to a mystical time zone
And I missed my bed
And I soon came home

They said :
"There's too much caffeine
In your bloodstream
And a lack of real spice
In your life"


I said :
"Leave me alone
Because I'm alright, dad
Surprised to still
Be on my own..."


Oh, but don't mention love
I'd hate the strain of the pain again
A rush and a push and the land that
We stand on is ours
It has been before
So it shall be again
And people who are uglier than you and I
They take what they need, and just leave


Oh, but don't mention love
I'd hate the pain of the strain all over again
A rush and a push and the land that
We stand on is ours
It has been before
So why can't it be now ?
And people who are weaker than you or I
They take what they want from life


Oh, but don't mention love
No - no, don't mention love !
A rush and a push and the land that
We stand on is ours
Your youth may be gone
But you're still a young man
So phone me, phone me, phone me
So phone me, phone me, phone me


Oh, I think I'm in love
Oh, I think I'm in love
Oh, I think I'm in love (think I'm in love)
Urrgh, I think I'm in lerv
Oh ...


What a mystical song. It is pretty hard to get meaning behind words. What do you think? Is it literally his land or some teritory he is trying to win?

 

[girlhappy]

i just found this brilliant interpretation of this song (my fav.Smiths song) i thought I"d share:
To me, 'A Rush and A Push', seems to be about the exhaustive effects of touring and the push for musical domination. Morrissey seems to be saying, 'if people uglier and with considerably less talent than you or i have acheived fame and fortune, then why the hell can't we? (meaning the band).
However, there's also the disallusionment with fame; i have no idea if 'troubled Joe' is a real person, but i see it as a reference to Morrissey (and other frontmen ... i.e. Joe Bloggs, the ordinary bloke turned famous) being pilloried for things he'd said in the press, for songs he'd written and for things he'd done. He returns home physically and mentally exhausted, to concerned family and friends who think he ought to have found happiness / companionship with fame: 'surprised to still be on my own'. Yet, he still finds the strength for a rallying cry to his band and his followers (comparisons with Robin Hood unintentional) that if they were to strive even harder they could take this country for their own (or at the very least, rule the airwaves).
He exhorts those who care about him not to mention love because if he were to think about it, it would destroy his desire to do anything; music and the band are replacements for love and his need to be loved by millions is a replacement for the close love of a soul mate. But i can never work out if the person he wants to phone him is just one, or one of many; is he reaching out to the fans (using the masculine to denote all), or has he really got his sights set on one person with whom he has studiously tried to avoid a relationship, only to give in at the last? This would account for the cry of disgust: 'Urrgh, i think i'm in love'. Indeed, 'young man' may be himself, the object of desire someone different. But in the end it amounts to one thing, if he were to settle down and be happy, then the music is over. The land that we stand on is ours only as long as we share the righteous anger and sense of uniqueness to make it so ... fall in love and we're doomed.

 

[Irishteen]

That's actually a brilliant interpretation of the song, I doubt I would of ever though about it in that way ever, but yeah, after reading that it all is makes sense now. Thanks, for tracking that down.

 

[girlhappy]

Yes, i never thought about it in that way either...so ,i was so amazed by this interpretation. I liked this song from the very fist time i listened to it, but at this moment i can see its brilliance more and more. Only Moz could do that
Btw. did you watch "Who put the M in Manchester "DVD? He sings it so beautifully in that concert.

 

[Irishteen]

Yeah, you're right, Moz is one of the greatest lyricists in music ever, few could ever compare to him.

and No, I haven't seen the DVD yet, but looking forward to when I finally do

 

[girlhappy]

Bono: I remember hearing "How Soon Is Now" for the first time. You can always tell a truly great song when you can't speak after you've heard it, you have to pull over your car for fear of crashing. Edge was an immediate Smiths fan, right from "This Charming Man," and I got into him as a humorist. I remember us playing Manchester Poly, way back, and he was around. He's certainly a lot more interesting than the indie stable he came from. I loathed that scene. But Morrissey -- he's like Oscar Wilde in a Ford Escort.

 

[girlhappy]

Q: Morrissey -- good or great?

Bono: I remember hearing "How Soon Is Now" for the first time. You can always tell a truly great song when you can't speak after you've heard it, you have to pull over your car for fear of crashing. Edge was an immediate Smiths fan, right from "This Charming Man," and I got into him as a humorist. I remember us playing Manchester Poly, way back, and he was around. He's certainly a lot more interesting than the indie stable he came from. I loathed that scene. But Morrissey -- he's like Oscar Wilde in a Ford Escort.

 

[Irishteen]

nice quote, when was that interview?

By the way, have you heard the b-side on Moz's new single?

 

[1stepcloser]

Was This Charming Man or Hand In Glove the simths first single?

If it's this charming man, then i challange any other band ever to have put out a better debut single.

 

[Irishteen]

Hand in Glove was their first, reaching only #124

This Charming man was their first "hit" reaching #25

 

[girlhappy]

nice quote, when was that interview?

By the way, have you heard the b-side on Moz's new single?

I dont know when was that interview. I like that quote a lot. Do you mean Sweetie pie (b -side)?Or live versions of some old songs? If i get Sweetie pie ,I"ll pass it to you.

 

[girlhappy]

The other two are late nite, Maudlin street and Speedway

 

[Irishteen]

I managed to get a hold of single with Sweetie-Pie on it, but wasn't able to find the other two

Want me to upload it for you, if you don't have it?

 

[girlhappy]

Yes, i would greatly appreciate it! I didnt see your offer until now!

 

[dazzlingamy]

Heres a question do you listen to The Msiths more the solo Morrissey? Because I love LOVE Morrissey, but i definately listen to Smiths songs more then just Moz songs. I sometimes find myself zoning out on Moz songs, but still absolutely adore The Smiths songs!

 

[girlhappy]

Well, Amy , i must admit i prefer Moz at the moment. I love the Smiths very much but i feel like Moz solo is closer to me at the moment. i REALLY like what he is like nowadays. His strong integrity, confidence, but still rebel...like he says( everybody knows i dont belong). Vauxhall and I is maybe his best work ,but the last two albums are just brilliant. I am sorry that i cant say the same for u2 boys. He is just comfortable with himself and he helped me a lot to accept my own "being outsider" thing. I like his honesty and admiting that he suffers depression, has been rejected, unloveable, and still making art out of it. I saw him live this year and i am also very impressed by Who put M in Manchester DVD. I mean, this man is just genius. i am so glad that u2 put him in Window in the skies video.

 

[Irishteen]

The b-sides to I Just Want To See The Boy Happy, remove the space between the words

http://www.save file.com/projects/1062626

Don't know if I posted this before but, here's 9 tracks of Morrissey live from Marlay Park, it was a radio broadcast, and I was there in the front row, again remove the space between the words

http://www.save file.com/projects/619441




I listen to Morrissey more normally but at the moment I have been listening to the Smiths a bit more, you can see my listening habits here http://www.last.fm/user/Shorty11857/

 

[jimmmm]

Does anyone know a download site where I can get There Is A Light, The version from who put the M. In Manchester, surely the best ending to any concert ever anywhere in the whole wide world, solar system, cosmos,universe, & even Manchester!

 

[Irishteen]

I don't know, you could probably find it on a bit torrent site somewhere

 

[girlhappy]

The other two(b-sides)
http://www. .com/file/na3t2k
Speedway (one of my favourite Moz songs ever)
http://www. .com/file/9yd7it
Late night, Maudlin, street
Dont cry to much when yu hear this

 

[girlhappy]

Speedway
And when you slam
Down the hammer
Can you see it in your heart ?
All of the rumours
Keeping me grounded
I never said, I never said that they were
Completely unfounded

So when you slam
Down the hammer
Can you see it in your heart ?
Can you delve so low ?
And when you're standing
On my fingers
Can you see it in your heart ? ... ah ...
And when you try
To break my spirit
It won't work
Because there's nothing left to break
Anymore
All of the rumours
Keeping me grounded
I never said, I never said that they were
Completely unfounded


You won't sleep
Until the earth that wants me
Finally has me
Oh you've done it now
You won't rest
Until the hearse that becomes me
Finally takes me
Oh you've done it now
And you won't smile
Until my loving mouth
Is shut good and proper
FOREVER


All of the rumours
Keeping me grounded
I never said, I never said that they were
Completely unfounded
And all those lies
Written lies, twisted lies
Well, they weren't lies
They weren't lies
They weren't lies


I never said
I never said
I could have mentioned your name
I could have dragged you in
Guilt by implication
By association
I've always been true to you
In my own strange way
I've always been true to you
In my own sick way
I'll always stay true to you

I am not sure i completely understand the lyrics (as usual with Moz) but i feel somehow very much related to this song. Anyone knows better?

 

[AchtungBono]

(without reading the other replies)

I don't know quite how to tell you this but I read that the BBC in the UK is seriously considering sending Morrissey into the ultimate cheese-fest - namely, to represent Britain in this year's Eurovision.....!!!

 

[patske]

An excellent idea if you ask me...He's a big fan,well at least from the Golden years of Eurovision (60's and 70's)
It would be funny to see Mozzer sitting next to the new Lordi, Dana International, Ruslana and all the other Euro trash "artists"

UK 12 points!!

 

[Irishteen]

Thanks for the links girlhappy

And as for speedway, I'm not really sure, the opening lines and that sound (chainsaw? speeding car?) not quite sure what it is always reminded me of an actual race car driver on a Speedway, but once the song gets started, I get the feeling it might be about all the controversy that was linked with Morrissey in the 90s.

The lines
"All of the rumours
Keeping me grounded
I never said, I never said that they were
Completely unfounded "

Make think this is Morrissey talking back to the media that twisted his words, but that's just a guess.


And as for the Eurovision, I think it would be really cool for Morrissey to be in it, he'd get my vote.

 

[1stepcloser]

Just like to say that lately i've been reading Morrissey and Marr - The Severed Alliance by Johnny Rogan, it's a really great book and i'm not even halfway through it yet

 

[1stepcloser]

Heres a question do you listen to The Msiths more the solo Morrissey? Because I love LOVE Morrissey, but i definately listen to Smiths songs more then just Moz songs. I sometimes find myself zoning out on Moz songs, but still absolutely adore The Smiths songs!

Definitely The Smiths. Morrisseys solo stuff is ok, the early stuff like Suedehead and Everyday Is Like Sunday is excellent but it can't compare to the Morrissey/Marr songwriting team.

Johnny's playing and arrangements are fabulous and are the real backbone behind what made the smiths so great. Shame they had only 4/5 years of recording music together

 

[greenlight7-11]

And as for speedway, I'm not really sure, the opening lines and that sound (chainsaw? speeding car?) not quite sure what it is always reminded me of an actual race car driver on a Speedway

It's supposed to sound like a motorcycle, I think. But they ended up sampling a chainsaw for the sound.

 

[girlhappy]

And when you try
To break my spirit
It won't work
Because there's nothing left to break
Anymore
I must say i could really relate to these lines in this period of my life. I know that the song is named after Elvis movie withNnancy Sinatra (Speedway) and it is about car race
I think your guess could be right, Irishteen. Moz was also fascinated with boxers in the 90s (how typical is that?)

 

[girlhappy]

Definitely The Smiths. Morrisseys solo stuff is ok, the early stuff like Suedehead and Everyday Is Like Sunday is excellent but it can't compare to the Morrissey/Marr songwriting team.

Johnny's playing and arrangements are fabulous and are the real backbone behind what made the smiths so great. Shame they had only 4/5 years of recording music together

I disagree. Vauxhall and I, for example is brilliant Moz solo album as well as Quarry and the last one. I think that Moz has great stuff without the Smiths. (as i said, i even prefer Moz solo at he moment). And he has also brilliant B-sides.I dont think that Every day is like sunday is actually his top.

 

[1stepcloser]

I disagree. Vauxhall and I, for example is brilliant Moz solo album as well as Quarry and the last one. I think that Moz has great stuff without the Smiths. (as i said, i even prefer Moz solo at he moment). And he has also brilliant B-sides.I dont think that Every day is like sunday is actually his top.

Do you actually consider his solo career to be as good as what he did with The Smiths though?

Like is said i think he's made some excellent songs post-smiths but i don't think he'll quite touch what he achieved with the smiths. Mainly due to having the creativity of Marr putting brilliant melodies to his lyrics and having a great rhythm section too. i'll admit i haven't heard loads of his solo career but his recent stuff has only been ok in my opinion, aside from Last Of The Gang To Die, which was a great song.

I like to compare his solo career to Lennon after the Beatles, he had some great songs like Imagine and Instant Karma but he never did anything quite like A Day In The Life or Tomorrow Never Knows again.