Welcome to... _________________________________________________ | \ | S T R A N G E W A Y S > |________________________________________________/ A forum for Morrissey and The Smiths. Volume Two, Number 8 To post to Strangeways, please send mail to Kevin at kkawado@bonnie.ics.uci.edu. Well, welcome to the new year. My apologies for not getting this issue out any earlier. There hasn't been a lot of activity lately, but hopefully this will spark some. I'm making preparations to move Strangeways to another site. I should be graduating in the spring (and will therefore lose access to the internet world). If anyone is interested in moderating Strangeways, please let me know and we'll work on something. On another note, if you have written to Bob about the KROQ Morrissey concert, don't blame him...I haven't sent the tape out to him yet. I will get the tape to him by the end of this week at the very latest and he can start copying it for everyone. Here's a track listing of the concert...it's about 75 minutes, I think. Last of the Famous International Playboys Sister, I'm A Poet November Spawned A Monster Pregnant for the Last Time Alsatian Cousin Interesting Drug Mute Witness My Love Life Piccadilly Palare Driving Your Girlfriend Home Everyday Is Like Sunday Sing Your Life The Loop Suedehead I've Changed My Plea To Guilty Cosmic Dancer (fragment) Disappointed King Leer Our Frank Angel Angel Down We Go Together Asian Rut It was recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon on 8 October 1991. It's a very good concert (better than the U.S. ones that were pretty short). Anyway, that will be out very soon now. =K= <-----> From: Tim Meehan Date: Wed, 4 Dec 91 02:08:44 EST Subject: Reel Around The Fountain lyrics controversy This discussion got started, for some strange reason, on Bong, the Depeche Mode mailing list. I welcome any input into this, as the next best thing to asking SPM himself for lyric interpretation... Quoted from mal11@po.cwru.edu: >I have not heard this......could you please explain? >I think that people don't understand that Morrissey likes to write >from other people's points of view (i.e. females, children, etc.) >hence, Morrissey is called a fag, a pedophile, a child abuser, whatever. >His songs are so much more deeper. Just read the lyrics to November >Spawned a Monster... I quote from Mick Middles' book, "The Smiths - The Complete Story" (C) 1985, 1988 Omnibus Press "The Manchester Evening News reported alleged complaints that "Reel Around The Fountain" (by the 'controversial' group, The Smiths) contained lyrics relating to child molesting. The national dailies loved this and immediately jumped on Morrissey's back in a typical display of hounding. I'm not going to dwell to deeply on this as I personally (and I know many people who feel the same way) can't find one trace of child molestation or anything else distasteful within those grooves." He goes on to say that this incident only heightened awareness for the group. Now, while I agree with him on the point that there is no reference to molestation, I can see where some people may think that it is inferred. It's time the tale were told \ This may be taken as a reference to Of how you took a child > 'making a child old' by exposing him And you made him old / to the adult world of sex. Fifteen minutes with you \ Taking advantage of an opportunity Well, I wouldn't say no / to, well, you know... But take me to the haven of your bed \ Possibly in reference to Was something that you never said / past rejection... Meet me at the fountain \ Maybe like saying "don't worry, Shove me on the patio > it won't hurt, I'll be gentle... I'll take it slowly / Maybe it's my sick mind, but I see where people could read into those lyrics. Personally, I interpret it as Morrissey trying to come on to his girlfriend, that is, if he ever had one... :) I've taken the liberty of posting this to the Strangeways Mailing list as well. I don't really see Bong as the right medium for talking about Smiths stuff. (The address is kkawado@bonnie.ics.uci.edu) *----------------------------------------------------------------------------* |Tim Meehan, Internet: tmeehan@uwovax.uwo.ca | |The University of Western Ontario, BITNET: tmeehan@uwovax.BITNET | |London, Canada | | "Where you can live life in style | |Telephone: (519) 645-2398 You can sleep in the closet | | And if you flash him a smile | |Post: 266 Epworth Avenue, Box 1283 He'll take your teeth as deposit." | | London, Ontario, Canada N6A 2M3 -Carter USM, "Sheriff Fatman" | *----------------------------------------------------------------------------* <-----> From: Edward Baichtal Subject: Morrissey's New Book! Date: Sat, 14 Dec 91 22:47:41 PST Well, in October 1992, a new book on Morrissey should come out. It will include pictures by Linder covering his 1991 tour through the world. It will also contain parts written by someone who's name I forgot who Morrissey chose to also write a biography of him. <-----> Date: Tue, 14 Jan 92 00:20:54 -0500 From: Pi Subject: STRANGEWAYS So, where is everyone - in a mysticsal time zone? I just heard now that the rumor that the Mozzer was going to buy a house in Athens, GA is false. I guess Michael reminded him of Steven Street or something. Pi