| The Smiths – Hand in Glove Lyrics | 9 years ago |
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At least some of this song is inspired (like many of Morrissey's lyrics) by Shelagh Delaney's seminal Kitchen Sink drama A Taste of Honey. The part of the narrative explored in this song is concerned with the doomed romance between the spirited but sexually inexperienced teenaged protagonist Jo and the older black sailor, Jimmy. Certain lines from the song are entirely lifted from the play including the repeated line “I’ll probably never see you again”. Other lines are more subtly paraphrased; when Morrissey sings “And if people stare then people stare/ oh I really don’t know and I really don’t care” he is simply reworking the following piece of dialogue from the play, which follows Jimmy’s attempt to kiss Jo in public: Jimmy: Afraid someone'll see us? Jo: I don't care. Jimmy: Say that again. Jo: I don't care. Given that the play was first staged in 1958 it’s unsurprising that a public display of affection between racially mixed couple was considered a social taboo. |
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| Dead Kennedys – Kill The Poor Lyrics | 9 years ago |
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By this point in history most of the heavy industries in the USA were in the process of upping sticks and leaving to countries where labour is far cheaper. This is why the upper classes as represented in this song are comfortable with the idea of a society in which most of the poor are massacred; as by this stage they are largely surplus to requirement. This exodus of industry to "more competitive labour markets" is also the reason why there are so many "jobless millions" to be "whisked away". . Whilst this issue is not mentioned in the song it is impossible to look at issues such as inner city poverty and unemployment in America without factoring it in. Basically the rich have created the neutron bomb to sort out the problems they have created. DK are kings of angry irony. Great song. |
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| Belle & Sebastian – Expectations Lyrics | 9 years ago |
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Whilst you're cleaning up the mess the teacher's looking up your skirt" Brilliant line. Sad, funny and unflinchingly real. |
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