Cemetry Gates

A twisting paradoxical story of literary plagiarism unfolds into one of Morrissey's largest ever borrowings : the "All those people .... I want to cry" section is ripped wholesale from the film "The Man Who Came To Dinner", which is also the source of Morrissey alias Sheridan Whitehead. The words Morrissey has heard said a hundred times (maybe less, maybe more) come from Shakespeare's Richard III. Morrissey paradoxically both caustically dismisses Wilde ("weird lover Wilde") and champions him above Keats and Yeats, generally conservatively considered to be the more "important" poets. This song echoes Morrissey's memories of visiting Southern Cemetery in Manchester with his greatest friend, Linder Sterling. This cemetry, by the way is absolutely huge. His mention of a "dreaded sunny day" is surely a tongue-in-cheek lyrical landmine for those who accuse him of being miserable all the time. The mis-spelling of "cemetery" is a MozMistake, as opposed to any dire pun on the word "try", thank god.

A crucial distinction no one has made so far is that Yeats and Keats were unabashedly emotional in their poetry, never satirical, whereas Oscar Wilde is almost the definition of satire. This plays a very important role in the song.

Wilde is a man whose whole life was satire, purposefully. This gave him a constant ironic advantage. From when he moved to England and intended on inhabiting fully the role of "English gentleman," though he was Irish, homosexual and not born into the gentleman life, his life was an entirely tongue-in-cheek decision to be someone with a "big nose who knows", the whole time writing stuff which showed you could never know everything nor be correct indisputably. This song seems at least partly, to me, to be about the very American, but more generally just plain modern, misconception that "cynicism and naivete are mutually exclusive," that simply because you are ironic and humorous and therefore will usually come out looking like the smarter one who wins, you do not necessarily win, and you certainly don't necessarily know more.

How deliciously ironic that Corrupted-tomato has ripped his interpretation, word for word, from the excellent LASID fansite.

Remember : there's always someone, somewhere, with a big nose, who knows and trips you up and laughs when you fall ;-)

This song's just so clever. Even some of the smaller lines are outstanding in themselves, not just the plagerism theme. 'and we gravely read the stones' - just a fantastic play on words that stands out and always makes me smile

I think it's a contrast between the big romantic poets, Keats and Yates, and Wilde, the king of wit. The person he's going to the cemetery with is romantic and charming, but Morrissey is witty and his romance isn't always perfect - see Unhappy Birthday or Girlfriend in a Coma. Therefore, while Keats and Yates are on their side with their blind and poetic romance, Wilde is on his making witty observations.

Morrissey wands the cemetery in search for poetic inspiration, emulating his idols lifestyles and weird ways of thinking (Wilde). A companion of Morrissey these days, being a fake and a poseur of Morrissey's own style, likes more conservative and mainstream poets and cites someone's words as their own, revealing his mediocrity.

All those people, all those lives Where are they now? With loves, and hates And passions just like mine They were born And then they lived And then they died It seems so unfair I want to cry

A reference to The Man Who Came To Dinner. A powerful and universal idea that can be found in important texts. For example, this theme resonates highly with the "Alas, poor Yorrick, I knew him" speech in Shakespeares Hamlet. Where Hamlet contemplates his own mortality.

"Here hung those lips that I have kissed I know not how oft. Where be your gibes now? your gambols? your songs?"

It's a wonderful thing when the pain of human experience is affirmed in songs and plays you love.

Oscar on plagiarism: "When I see a monstrous tulip with four petals in someone else's garden, I am impelled to grow a monstrous tulip with five wonderful petals, but that is no reason why someone should grow a tulip with only three petals."

Oscar did like to "borrow," so maybe that's one of the ways he's on the narrator's/Morrissey's side.

I don't know why people can call Moz unhappy and miserable when he has songs like this. He's clearly taking the mickey out of himself.

And just in case no one knew the last line of the song is....

"Because weird lover Wilde is on mine"

I always used to think that he said either Shut up or Sugar and i'd sing accordingly. It is Sure though.

Originality, authenticity, and the weight of the past are among the themes the song explores. The references to Keats, Yeats, and Wilde imply that the vocalist is talking about the importance and influence of literary figures, with Keats and Yeats standing in for one viewpoint and Wilde for the vocalist's own perspective. The vocalist also expresses their dismay at the idea of plagiarism, taking words and thoughts that are not your own, and the idea that there's always someone who knows the truth and will trip you up if you fall.

"A dreaded sunny day, so let's go where we're wanted" suggests seeking out a place where one is accepted and appreciated for who they are; the line "A dreaded sunny day, so let's go where we're happy" implies seeking out a place where a person can be themselves.