I just finished re-reading John Fowles' great early novel, The Collector, and I am convinced that this song is based on that novel. It is about a man who collects butterflies and when he wins a lottery, decides to buy a house in the country and "collect" a girl he's "in love with" (they made a film of it, too, which I believe Morrissey mentions in another song). The "collector" imprisons her in his basement ("in the room down there / she sat and stared") and claims to be in love with her. The novel explores both perspectives and we come to understand both of them on various psychological and social levels. The first part of the novel is told from his perspective and the second part is from the girl's perspective (girl afraid / boy afraid). It fits so well, and this song has to be one of the most succinct and insightful adaptation I've ever heard/read. He's summed the novel up in two stanzas and two verses while still remaining true to its essence. Brilliant!
Yeah , you´re right about the book reference, but it´s not only that. But despite the plot itself think about the paradox contained in relationships in modern western societies. Is spreaded among men the belief that women are bitches to men who are nice, and only care about money and status, therefore threat them like scoundrels , and is spreaded among women that men are naturally scoundrels, liars or deceivers to girls who are nice. This generalization is commonly reinforec by bad relationships.
Yeah , you´re right about the book reference, but it´s not only that. But despite the plot itself think about the paradox contained in relationships in modern western societies. Is spreaded among men the belief that women are bitches to men who are nice, and only care about money and status, therefore threat them like scoundrels , and is spreaded among women that men are naturally scoundrels, liars or deceivers to girls who are nice. This generalization is commonly reinforec by bad relationships.
and I believe that the general meaning of this song is point out the irony of this paradox where society in general gets more and more bitter and selfish when it comes to love and everybody is thinking that their behavior is their old bad relationship´s fault when there is someone out there blaming them of the same
There´s no algoz or victim when it comes to romantic relationships
And it's that fear that assures nothing will change come the warm, sunny spring and all those beautiful, available, adoring fans the musicians face yearly. As for the winter months, the strong always survive and need no one. Nobody knows how to survive better. Good song. I hope everyone has a very good day with those whom they've chosen to love and share their lives with...
And it's that fear that assures nothing will change come the warm, sunny spring and all those beautiful, available, adoring fans the musicians face yearly. As for the winter months, the strong always survive and need no one. Nobody knows how to survive better. Good song. I hope everyone has a very good day with those whom they've chosen to love and share their lives with...
@annetteabma i just read the collector after seeing your comment months ago when i related to this song on a normal level (you know, not as a kidnapper). i picked up on the political aspects of the collector, but not the fact that it's a metaphor for relationships until coming back and rereading the lyrics. thanks for sharing
@annetteabma i just read the collector after seeing your comment months ago when i related to this song on a normal level (you know, not as a kidnapper). i picked up on the political aspects of the collector, but not the fact that it's a metaphor for relationships until coming back and rereading the lyrics. thanks for sharing
I just finished re-reading John Fowles' great early novel, The Collector, and I am convinced that this song is based on that novel. It is about a man who collects butterflies and when he wins a lottery, decides to buy a house in the country and "collect" a girl he's "in love with" (they made a film of it, too, which I believe Morrissey mentions in another song). The "collector" imprisons her in his basement ("in the room down there / she sat and stared") and claims to be in love with her. The novel explores both perspectives and we come to understand both of them on various psychological and social levels. The first part of the novel is told from his perspective and the second part is from the girl's perspective (girl afraid / boy afraid). It fits so well, and this song has to be one of the most succinct and insightful adaptation I've ever heard/read. He's summed the novel up in two stanzas and two verses while still remaining true to its essence. Brilliant!
Yeah , you´re right about the book reference, but it´s not only that. But despite the plot itself think about the paradox contained in relationships in modern western societies. Is spreaded among men the belief that women are bitches to men who are nice, and only care about money and status, therefore threat them like scoundrels , and is spreaded among women that men are naturally scoundrels, liars or deceivers to girls who are nice. This generalization is commonly reinforec by bad relationships.
Yeah , you´re right about the book reference, but it´s not only that. But despite the plot itself think about the paradox contained in relationships in modern western societies. Is spreaded among men the belief that women are bitches to men who are nice, and only care about money and status, therefore threat them like scoundrels , and is spreaded among women that men are naturally scoundrels, liars or deceivers to girls who are nice. This generalization is commonly reinforec by bad relationships.
and I believe that the general meaning of this song is point out the irony of this paradox where society in general gets more and more bitter and selfish when it comes to love and everybody is thinking that their behavior is their old bad relationship´s fault when there is someone out there blaming them of the same
There´s no algoz or victim when it comes to romantic relationships
And it's that fear that assures nothing will change come the warm, sunny spring and all those beautiful, available, adoring fans the musicians face yearly. As for the winter months, the strong always survive and need no one. Nobody knows how to survive better. Good song. I hope everyone has a very good day with those whom they've chosen to love and share their lives with...
And it's that fear that assures nothing will change come the warm, sunny spring and all those beautiful, available, adoring fans the musicians face yearly. As for the winter months, the strong always survive and need no one. Nobody knows how to survive better. Good song. I hope everyone has a very good day with those whom they've chosen to love and share their lives with...
@annetteabma i just read the collector after seeing your comment months ago when i related to this song on a normal level (you know, not as a kidnapper). i picked up on the political aspects of the collector, but not the fact that it's a metaphor for relationships until coming back and rereading the lyrics. thanks for sharing
@annetteabma i just read the collector after seeing your comment months ago when i related to this song on a normal level (you know, not as a kidnapper). i picked up on the political aspects of the collector, but not the fact that it's a metaphor for relationships until coming back and rereading the lyrics. thanks for sharing