The Smiths – Hand in Glove

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  General Comment:Ok, let's just set one thing straight.
  
  Morrissey is consciously trying to keep his sexuality ambiguous. A quick scan of the wikipedia entry about him solves this.
  He has maintained throughout his career in interviews that he is asexual or celibate. It really annoys me when people ignorant enough to say that his lyrics are 'obviously gay' post comments on sites like this. Think of him as a fourth gender.
  
  Thanks

  Flag ChatNoir33on March 21, 2012   Link

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    I agree chatnoir!

    Flag happy7on March 21, 2012  

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    LOL. What happened to the third gender. There are two, even for those who sux at math. Morrisy is male. He fathered a child, I believe. He's either straight or gay. That would be his orientation, not his gender. And I agree with him; it's nobody's business. That's why we don't need parades to celebrate who we sleep with. I'm waiting for the straight pride parade in my town so I can laugh at it, too. As for his independent streak, he's honest and single. He should tell people to shove it. If he were pretending to be in love with someone, than shame on him for being a creepy arrogant ass. Good song, BTW.

    Flagged freetobemeon March 21, 2012  

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    Clarification: I don't laugh at parade participants. I laugh at the concept of a gay pride parade because what makes gays and straights different is simply who they have sex with. We should be celebrating how we're all alike as human beings (our intelligence; talent; creativity; etc) and leaving the sex in the bedroom. I have wonderful gay friends (two of them consider themselves "married" and one couple is practicing Catholic), and I simply feel as Morrisey does: it ain't nobody's business... with my addition of "but mine and God's." There STILL is just two genders. Sometimes there are distortions in the womb, but that doesn't change the number.

    Flagged freetobemeon March 21, 2012  
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  General Comment:The Oscar Wilde reference makes sense - I do tend to see many Smiths song through the lens of a repressed closet gay who has fantasies about older men - but the application can be universal for anyone who feels themselves in a mismatched, possibly transient, relationship of which others disapprove. Great song.

  Flag neilmcon May 12, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:I suppose it's obvious, but nobody has mentioned it yet: "Hand in Glove" sounds like "And in Love," i.e., "when in love..." Of course, when in love everything appears wonderful and the sun shines everywhere! Love is unique to each of us and can sometimes make us look foolish, but who cares when in love anyways! "Hand in Glove" also suggests a snug fit or good match and brings to mind images of two people holding hands... A truly great song title and/or lyric that plays on words/sounds.

  Flag tstasevichon March 31, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:I just thought of this song as being about forbidden love, not necessarily about homosexuality. Yeah, that's one interpretation and it certainly makes sense, but that doesn't have to be it. Regardless, the song is great. The first single from The Smiths and it remains one of their best.

  Flag HyperBullyon March 19, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:also, "the sun shines out of our behinds" ties in very well with "it's not like any other love". ahhh.

  Flag nofxlolon December 16, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:ugh. this is definitely my favourite smiths song. just love how dramatic it is. "no it's not like any other love, this one's different because it's us"...i just think too many people in relationships get in this mindframe, that they think they'll last forever because THEY're different, oh yes. love that line. also "everything depends upon how near you stand to me". dramatic, again. i love stuff like this. just sounds like he's saying when the person he loves isn't standing near him/paying attention to him, that's what his mood depends on. that's my interpretation anyway. brilliant song.

  Flag nofxlolon December 16, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:
  
  it's likely that this song is about homosexuality. alot of morrisseys lyrics seem to be cryptically based around that issue. whether he wrote about his actual experiences or he wrote to peak peoples curiosity doesnt matter to me. one of the great things about this song is that (if you dont read too much into it) the lyrics are cryptic enough so that anyone can apply it to their own lives and love situations.
  and thats what a lot of people look for in song lyrics- something they can relate to.
  =]

  Flag dmdaisyon May 13, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:An interesting song. At first listen, a typical lovesong. But in typical Morrissey style, it's both somewhat absurd/sarcastic and heartfelt. C'mon, "the sun shines out of our behinds?" But it also has some very beautiful sentiments toward the end of the song. So you can definitely see it as a love song, one of Morrissey's most positive (except for the "never see you again" part). I also have the impression that this song could be about wishful thinking. Perhaps the narrator has a brief affair with someone, and imagines the great love that can come out of it, but realizes that nothing with probably happen.
  
  It was their first single, so perhaps in a metaphorical sense, this was them saying, "Here we are! We're not like anyone you've heard before!" Them being covered in "rags" is perhaps about their plain name and appearance...

  Flag ArtOfMeon April 20, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:So I really think this song is about how he's straight and trying to have a normal relationship but people are so against it because they insist he's homosexual.
  
  By the way that is sarcasm and i think its called for because everyone keeps thinking his songs are about his sexuality or more sepecifically, homosexuality.
  
  Refering to the song again, couldn't this be about even and interracial relationship? anything but sexuality. Not that homosexuality doesnt apply but thinking deeper...

  Flag Funky<3Fab89on March 27, 2010   Link

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    Thank you! I'm sick of everybody insisting that every song written by a gay singer is about sexuality. That's total nonsense. Morrissey isn't even openly gay. OK, he probably is, but still, that doesn't mean that's the only subject he could write about. And even if this song does appear to be about homosexuality, that doesn't mean there can't be other meanings. I wish people would open their minds a little.

    Flag HyperBullyon March 19, 2011  
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  General Comment:wow, people take this stuff too literal. it's just another way of morrissey saying he feels it is impossible for anybody to actually like him because he's not even interested in himself...
  
  even though he really is, but he's trying to get attention.
  
  it's true because why else would he write this song?

  Flag gochnatiaon November 24, 2009   Link

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