i think it could be an ironic comment on romanticism. it seems to contrast the reality of sex and relationships in the contemporary, adult world, to morrissey's wistful romanticism, recalled particulalry in the final lines: 'send me your pillow, the one the you dream on'. The fact that these lines come from a 60's song reinforces the ironic juxtaposition of morrissey's nostalgic romanticism with the crudeness of the chorus, suggesting that morrissey is a fish out of water - a romantic in an unromantic world, his romanticism reduced to irony to get the metaphor across. perhaps this sums up the smiths' work as a whole.
For me it is also about the shattering of illusions: 'as anthony said to cleopatra, as he opened a crate of ale'. This great romantic story is sardonically cut to down to size. Morrissey has 'just discovered' that the world is not the romantic place he 'dreams on'. It is reminiscent of later Morrissey tracks such as 'Used To Be a Sweet Boy' on Vauxhall and I. That is not to say that it is a melancholy or defeatest song. Wit and irony is a means of defeating the bland and the crude and asserting Morrissey's own brand of romanticism.
@desijames Thanks, I was hoping someone would make the point about the "Send me your pillow" line. It is the actual cadence of the song melodically and metaphorically.
@desijames Thanks, I was hoping someone would make the point about the "Send me your pillow" line. It is the actual cadence of the song melodically and metaphorically.
From a poetic standpoint I find it brilliant. The raucous repetitive hook dominates the song only to have the true gist of the song delivered as a subtle aside at the end.
From a poetic standpoint I find it brilliant. The raucous repetitive hook dominates the song only to have the true gist of the song delivered as a subtle aside at the end.
i think it could be an ironic comment on romanticism. it seems to contrast the reality of sex and relationships in the contemporary, adult world, to morrissey's wistful romanticism, recalled particulalry in the final lines: 'send me your pillow, the one the you dream on'. The fact that these lines come from a 60's song reinforces the ironic juxtaposition of morrissey's nostalgic romanticism with the crudeness of the chorus, suggesting that morrissey is a fish out of water - a romantic in an unromantic world, his romanticism reduced to irony to get the metaphor across. perhaps this sums up the smiths' work as a whole. For me it is also about the shattering of illusions: 'as anthony said to cleopatra, as he opened a crate of ale'. This great romantic story is sardonically cut to down to size. Morrissey has 'just discovered' that the world is not the romantic place he 'dreams on'. It is reminiscent of later Morrissey tracks such as 'Used To Be a Sweet Boy' on Vauxhall and I. That is not to say that it is a melancholy or defeatest song. Wit and irony is a means of defeating the bland and the crude and asserting Morrissey's own brand of romanticism.
@desijames Thanks, I was hoping someone would make the point about the "Send me your pillow" line. It is the actual cadence of the song melodically and metaphorically.
@desijames Thanks, I was hoping someone would make the point about the "Send me your pillow" line. It is the actual cadence of the song melodically and metaphorically.
From a poetic standpoint I find it brilliant. The raucous repetitive hook dominates the song only to have the true gist of the song delivered as a subtle aside at the end.
From a poetic standpoint I find it brilliant. The raucous repetitive hook dominates the song only to have the true gist of the song delivered as a subtle aside at the end.