Warren wanted a Beach Boys thing for this one, and Carl Wilson and Billy Hinsche came in, with Carl arranging the vocal parts. The other harmony vocalists (credited as the "Gentlemen Boys") were Jackson Browne, J.D. Souther, Zevon's longtime backers Waddy Wachtel and Jorge Calderon, and Linda Rondstadt/Stone Poneys guitarist Kenny Edwards.
Punctured bicycle
On a hillside desolate
Will nature make a man of me yet?
When in this charming car
This charming man
Why pamper life's complexity
When the leather runs smooth
On the passenger seat?
I would go out tonight
But I haven't got a stitch to wear
This man said, "It's gruesome
That someone so handsome should care"
Ah, a jumped-up pantry boy
Who never knew his place
He said, "Return the ring"
He knows so much about these things
He knows so much about these things
I would go out tonight
But I haven't got a stitch to wear
This man said, "It's gruesome
That someone so handsome should care"
Na, na-na, na-na, na-na, this charming man
Oh, na-na, na-na, na-na, this charming man
Ah, a jumped-up pantry boy
Who never knew his place
He said, "Return the ring"
He knows so much about these things
He knows so much about these things
He knows so much about these things
On a hillside desolate
Will nature make a man of me yet?
When in this charming car
This charming man
Why pamper life's complexity
When the leather runs smooth
On the passenger seat?
I would go out tonight
But I haven't got a stitch to wear
This man said, "It's gruesome
That someone so handsome should care"
Ah, a jumped-up pantry boy
Who never knew his place
He said, "Return the ring"
He knows so much about these things
He knows so much about these things
I would go out tonight
But I haven't got a stitch to wear
This man said, "It's gruesome
That someone so handsome should care"
Na, na-na, na-na, na-na, this charming man
Oh, na-na, na-na, na-na, this charming man
Ah, a jumped-up pantry boy
Who never knew his place
He said, "Return the ring"
He knows so much about these things
He knows so much about these things
He knows so much about these things
Lyrics submitted by Idan, edited by robbieurquhart
This Charming Man Lyrics as written by Johnny Marr Steven Morrissey
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Wrong Chloe.<br /> He's not confused, he's trapped in a car with a creepy gay man who is dispensing creepy pearls of wisdom based on his sexual preferences, and the song is actually about him wishing he'd stayed on his bike..
lol "trapped"+"creepy"...You must live in a scary world.
@Chloe le Fay. Still the best song meaning interpretation ever. Love it. Still make me smile a little knowing smile.
@Chloe le Fay This is the most succinct and obvious interpretation with much fewer assumptions than some of the wordier alternatives I've seen thrown around. I agree with those among us who are frustrated with every single Smiths song being viewed through the lens of homosexuality, but this is one of the times when I think it's clear as day that there is a male-on-male theme.<br /> <br /> @maxdamagus This is such a stupid take, I'm sorry. The overall tone of the song doesn't fit such a dark situation, and honestly this would be a weirdly homophobic scenario for Morrissey to write about. Also him "staying on his bike" was never an option, as made clear by the opening line of the lyric... odd misreading.