I think of this song as Morrissey's attempt to write an 'epic' song about the rough side of London that he either read about or fantasized about. But I don't think it quite works. While the music is great- heavy, sinister, kind of claustaphobic- I think the story is kind of muddled. In my opinion, Morrissey says it best when he uses the least words- such as in the song- "Used to be a Sweet Boy", he let's the music and simple images speak volumes for him.
I think ultimately with the Maladjusted album, and why many fans to consider it to be one of his lesser works is that his heart really wasn't in it for writing songs for a general audience. He seemed to be going through a mid-life crisis of sorts and had too many scores to settle and too many things to come to term with 'Sorrow Will Come in the End', 'Ammunition', 'Trouble Loves Me' and in my opinion- songs about his parents 'Papa Jack' and 'Alma Matters'. I think this introspection started with Southpaw Grammar (also not considered to be one of his more popular albums). Even a fun songs like Roy's Keen and Dagenham Dave (from SG) play more like inside jokes than songs his fans could not really relate to. The one song on the album that is a throwback to his earlier, more freewheeling ironic days is 'Satan Rejected My Soul.' Fortunately Morrissey learned to loosen up again and made a smashing comeback with 'You are the Quarry.'
I think of this song as Morrissey's attempt to write an 'epic' song about the rough side of London that he either read about or fantasized about. But I don't think it quite works. While the music is great- heavy, sinister, kind of claustaphobic- I think the story is kind of muddled. In my opinion, Morrissey says it best when he uses the least words- such as in the song- "Used to be a Sweet Boy", he let's the music and simple images speak volumes for him.
I think ultimately with the Maladjusted album, and why many fans to consider it to be one of his lesser works is that his heart really wasn't in it for writing songs for a general audience. He seemed to be going through a mid-life crisis of sorts and had too many scores to settle and too many things to come to term with 'Sorrow Will Come in the End', 'Ammunition', 'Trouble Loves Me' and in my opinion- songs about his parents 'Papa Jack' and 'Alma Matters'. I think this introspection started with Southpaw Grammar (also not considered to be one of his more popular albums). Even a fun songs like Roy's Keen and Dagenham Dave (from SG) play more like inside jokes than songs his fans could not really relate to. The one song on the album that is a throwback to his earlier, more freewheeling ironic days is 'Satan Rejected My Soul.' Fortunately Morrissey learned to loosen up again and made a smashing comeback with 'You are the Quarry.'