So this has been.my favorite song of OTEP's since it came out in 2004, and I always thought it was a song about a child's narrative of suffering in an abusive Christian home. But now that I am revisiting the lyrics, I am seeing something totally new.
This song could be gospel of John but from the perspective of Jesus.
Jesus was NOT having a good time up to and during the crucifixion. Everyone in the known world at the time looked to him with fear, admiration or disgust and he was constantly being asked questions. He spoke in "verses, prophesies and curses". He had made an enemy of the state, and believed the world was increasingly wicked and fallen from grace, or that he was in the "mouth of madness".
The spine of atlas is the structure that allows the titan to hold the world up. Jesus challenged the state and in doing so became a celebrated resistance figure. It also made him public enemy #1.
All of this happened simply because he was doing his thing, not because of any agenda he had or strategy.
And then he gets scourged (storm of thorns)
There are some plot holes here but I think it's an interesting interpretation.
Frankly, Mister Shankly, this position I've held
It pays my way and it corrodes my soul
I want to leave, you will not miss me
I want to go down in musical history
Frankly, Mister Shankly, I'm a sickening wreck
I've got the twenty-first century breathing down my neck
I must move fast, you understand me
I want to go down in celluloid history, Mister Shankly
Fame, fame, fatal fame
It can play hideous tricks on the brain
But still I'd rather be famous
Than righteous or holy
Any day, any day, any day
But sometimes I feel more fulfilled
Making Christmas cards with the mentally ill
I want to live and I want to love
I want to catch something that I might be ashamed of
Frankly, Mister Shankly, this position I've held
It pays my way and it corrodes my soul
Oh, I didn't realise that you wrote poetry
I didn't realise you wrote such bloody awful poetry, Mister Shankly
Frankly, Mister Shankly, since you ask
You are a flatulent pain in the ass
I do not mean to be so rude
Still, I must speak frankly, Mister Shankly
Oh, give us your money
It pays my way and it corrodes my soul
I want to leave, you will not miss me
I want to go down in musical history
Frankly, Mister Shankly, I'm a sickening wreck
I've got the twenty-first century breathing down my neck
I must move fast, you understand me
I want to go down in celluloid history, Mister Shankly
Fame, fame, fatal fame
It can play hideous tricks on the brain
But still I'd rather be famous
Than righteous or holy
Any day, any day, any day
But sometimes I feel more fulfilled
Making Christmas cards with the mentally ill
I want to live and I want to love
I want to catch something that I might be ashamed of
Frankly, Mister Shankly, this position I've held
It pays my way and it corrodes my soul
Oh, I didn't realise that you wrote poetry
I didn't realise you wrote such bloody awful poetry, Mister Shankly
Frankly, Mister Shankly, since you ask
You are a flatulent pain in the ass
I do not mean to be so rude
Still, I must speak frankly, Mister Shankly
Oh, give us your money
Lyrics submitted by weezerific:cutlery
Frankly, Mr. Shankly Lyrics as written by Johnny Marr Steven Morrissey
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
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You’re all wrong.
Frankly Mr Shankly is about the head of Rough Trade Records, Geoff Travis. The label which The Smiths were signed to at the time.
Morrisey was upset about the deal the band were on, and the basic fact that they weren’t making any money. So he wrote a song making fun of Geoff Travis, and disguised it as a letter to the fictional “Mr Shankly”.
However, he gave it away (probably purposefully) with the line.
“I didn’t realise you wrote poetry. I didn’t realize you wrote such bloody awful poetry”.
Geoff Travis apparently used to write poetry, and for many years previous to the song sent it to Morrissey (a fellow poet), for his opinion.
Morrisey ends the song with
“Now give us money”
Which was basically the reason he was so upset with him. He felt the band were being cheated financially
On the 25th anniversary of the album, Geoff Travis gave an interview to the NME, where he said he had no idea it was about him, until he heard the line about “poetry”, where he burst into laughter (they were actually friends, and Morrissey intended it as light hearted)
Yeah, that was basically what has been said before. Calm down with your "you're all wrong"s.
@ceej1979 Don't know about them being friends: Morrissey's autobiography suggests otherwise...
@ceej1979 while it's nice to explain all this, you're ALL wrong is a bit much. A lot of people commented on similar themes without knowing the specifics. Frankly Mr. Ceej1979, very few people were in that band and went through that specific experience with those specific people but there are thousands and thousands of people who still can relate to the song as they have analogous experiences and feelings.
@ceej1979 Well, no one is "wrong", lyrics can be interpreted in many ways. One of the reasons I love The Smiths is because people can give meaning to them in their OWN way.
@AlexanderDumbass I just read the autobiography and I agree they weren’t friends. However Morrissey’s version of events is that Geoff Travis was treating him really badly and ripping him off but Geoff didn’t see it that way and couldn’t understand why Morrissey was so pissed off with him despite there being a court case etc. Interesting that Geoff claims to have laughed at hearing the line about his terrible poetry. If Geoff really did laugh that shows a lot of character because that would be an incredibly hurtful thing to hear about your work from someone you admire. Maybe he just says he laughed but actually he was fuming.