The Smiths – Death at One's Elbow

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  General Comment:Question: Why did Morrissey warn Glen not to pop round in this slice of rockabilly?
  
  Answer:
  a. Because there's someone here, who'll take a hatchet to your ear
  b. Because you'll slip on the trail of all my sad remains
  
  that's why that's why
  
  It is FUNNY. that's all

  Flag ScottishAngleon May 08, 2012   Link

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    Thanks (I think) for the song. I have two Glenn's in my life...one's not ever very thrilled with me while the other (minus one N) hits on me repeatedly over the Internet. And once you've had one, ya don't want another;) Interesting song (I think:)

    Flag UseSomeoneElseon May 08, 2012  

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    glen with one n sounds better , i no spelling beee i admit

    Flag ScottishAngleon May 08, 2012  
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  General Comment:I think it is about a gay man. Though I believe that he is in love with Glenn who is straight and does not know he is gay. THe frustration of this has made him suicidal as well as homicidal.

  Flag farfignuegenon March 27, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:He has been wronged by this Glenn fellow and the frustration has rendered him hateful in a way he can't deal with, so he'd rather off himself.

  Flag Rathatespeopleon October 22, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:PLOSION got it dead on.
  
  I like how he's kind of beating around the bush the whole song, saying something but not really saying anything, hiding something. Then the last few lines kind of hint that it has to do with him, and he comes out with it. THAT'S WHY. THAT'S WHY. Then wants to run away from it, goodbye my love, GOODBYE MY LOVE. That's what I think anyway. :0

  Flag HWOntoFireon September 25, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:Barbara Glenn?
  
  "Bill Bast was now living in New York, and he and Jimmy began seeing a lot of each other. With Bill, Dizzy Sheridan, and another 'insolvent outsider' Barbara Glenn (whom Dean nicknamed 'my neurotic little shit') it seemed that Jimmy had finally found his companions"
  -the book James Dean Is Not Dead by Morrissey

  Flag laurelinwyntreon November 17, 2007   Link

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  General Comment:The title of this song is from the Joe Orton Diaries.

  Flag marquiceriseon December 28, 2005   Link

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  General Comment:Death at One's Elbow is sung from the perspective of a gay man calling his lover (or leaving a stream of conscious suicide letter) with homocidal threats. The singer has been wronged by his lover -- hence "There's somebody hear who really, really loves you" as opposed to whomever the lover is cheating on him with (shades of TONY THE PONY, anyone?). The singer's murderous rage gives into self-pity as he sings "The frustration it renders me Hateful..." and then proceeds to kill himself in the final verse. This is not one of my favorite Smiths songs as the music is the slightest of the majestic Marr canon. I think Moz's lyrics make up for it though and in a way the maniacal Rock A Billy underscoring provides a certain giddy macabre to the already death-drenched mood of STRANGEWAYS, HERE WE COME. I'm sure conspiracy theorists who believe "I Won't Share You" is Morrissey's parting words to Marr could also look at this, the previous track as also reflective of a relationship gone awry by unrealistic expectations and a "wandering eye" -- but that's getting pretty out there. I mean, despite their not knowing that STRANGEWAYS was the last album, doesn't each track ring with a certain sad inevitability?

  Flag davidbeauyon September 19, 2005   Link

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  General Comment:This is what i thought:
  Morrissey loves this girl who really loves Glenn. Morrissey is sad, and the frustration renders him hateful, so he's the one who wants to take a hatchet to poor glenn's ear.
  
  But then again, i can more than relate.

  Flag plosionon December 10, 2004   Link

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  General Comment:suicide?

  Flag z0MbiEon June 29, 2004   Link

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  General Comment:Warning Glenn to not come back home because it will be weird..either tremendous love or violence.

  Flag KILBYon March 11, 2003   Link

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