It's a gay awakening song. He's out for a ride and breaks down, gets picked up by a charming man who tells him to break off his engagement to a woman and go out with him. The "haven't got a stitch to wear" always reminds me of an older man with money, and the young man implying that he'd go out with the dude if he buys him some clothes. "Will nature make a man of me, yet?" is another reference to sexuality, and it ties into other lyrics of his like, "On the day came if I felt a 'natural' emotion, I'd get such a shock I'd probably jump in the ocean". It sounds kinda fucked up and self-hating, but that was what it was like when he was growing up.
Might be on your list already but 'Heaven knows I'm miserable now' by The Smiths is another good one. Also 'There is a light that never goes out' and 'Still ill'
Morrissey does the words, Marr does the guitars. My favourite Morrissey lyrics include: "And the pain was enough to make a shy bald buddhist reflect and plan a mass murder " - Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before "How can you stay with a fat girl who says would you like to marry me, and if you like you can buy the ring? " - William, It Was Really Nothing "So I broke into the palace, with a sponge and rusty spanner. She said said 'I know you and you cannot sing', I said 'that's nothing you should hear me play piano!' - The Queen Is Dead "Spending warm summer days indoors. Writing frightening verse to a bucktooth girl in Luxembourg " - Ask (probably their most instrumentally positive sounding song, lyrically 50/50 positive and negative.) All of their tunes have excellent lyrics.
Now I know how Joan of arc felt! A boy is stabbed and his money is grabbed. Making Christmas cards with the mentally Ill. The list in endless, greatness beyond anything I have ever heard so will again, a true one off genius.
“William, it was really nothing” , “There is a light that never goes out” , “Nowhere Fast” & “Heaven knows I’m miserable now”. All great Smiths tracks!
2 geniuses at work working separately then bringing it together.. marr would produce the music with the band on a tape hand it to Morrissey whod scroll thru his poems to see what works..
I already suscribe to your channel and you are doing a interesting job reacting to great songs, wonder if you could react to Morrissey as solist : Morrisey - Why dont you find out for yourself / Morrissey - Speedway / Morrissey - Im not sorry. thank you and cheers from Perú
I applaud your effort to react and understand this song. But it seems you really missed the point. Its not a child's tale and its in no way sad or depressing. Seems maybe you, and the reviewer you're quoting, are both ignoring the obvious gay meaning (its not really even subtext) and the wonderful, romantic experience its clearly describing (you got the romance but missed the advice to dump the chick and enjoy the charming man, etc). So, more simply its about a young man meeting an older, more experienced man and having his eyes opened - and of course getting his pants charmed off. (bad pun intended) Its a very common coming of age story for young gay men and its a trope Morrissey explored repeatedly with the Smiths - Handsome Devil, Reel Around the Fountain, William It was Really Nothing, etc. Appreciate the effort and keep going with the channel.
![The Smiths - Ask [Reaction]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/HYDbvqjQ-ys/mqdefault.jpg)
![The Smiths - Ask [Reaction]](/img/tr.png)
![The Smiths - The Queen is Dead [REACTION]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/xJICD_sPiac/mqdefault.jpg)
![The Smiths - Still Ill [Reaction]](/img/1.gif)
Between the bassist, the drummer,and the guitarist this is one of the tightest group of their era.
The guitarist is Johnny Marr and he played guitar on modest mouse's album we were dead before the ship even sank.
It's a gay awakening song. He's out for a ride and breaks down, gets picked up by a charming man who tells him to break off his engagement to a woman and go out with him. The "haven't got a stitch to wear" always reminds me of an older man with money, and the young man implying that he'd go out with the dude if he buys him some clothes. "Will nature make a man of me, yet?" is another reference to sexuality, and it ties into other lyrics of his like, "On the day came if I felt a 'natural' emotion, I'd get such a shock I'd probably jump in the ocean". It sounds kinda fucked up and self-hating, but that was what it was like when he was growing up.
Might be on your list already but 'Heaven knows I'm miserable now' by The Smiths is another good one. Also 'There is a light that never goes out' and 'Still ill'
Thanks for the suggestions! Actually haven't seen these requested yet.
Marcos Reviews Stuff still ill made me feel something I’ve never felt when I first heard it
Morrissey does the words, Marr does the guitars.
My favourite Morrissey lyrics include:
"And the pain was enough to make a shy bald buddhist reflect and plan a mass murder " - Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before
"How can you stay with a fat girl who says would you like to marry me, and if you like you can buy the ring? " - William, It Was Really Nothing
"So I broke into the palace, with a sponge and rusty spanner. She said said 'I know you and you cannot sing', I said 'that's nothing you should hear me play piano!' - The Queen Is Dead
"Spending warm summer days indoors. Writing frightening verse to a bucktooth girl in Luxembourg " - Ask (probably their most instrumentally positive sounding song, lyrically 50/50 positive and negative.)
All of their tunes have excellent lyrics.
Now I know how Joan of arc felt! A boy is stabbed and his money is grabbed. Making Christmas cards with the mentally Ill. The list in endless, greatness beyond anything I have ever heard so will again, a true one off genius.
“William, it was really nothing” , “There is a light that never goes out” , “Nowhere Fast” & “Heaven knows I’m miserable now”. All great Smiths tracks!
Great band
I know it's over is a phenomenal song - depressing of course!
The Smiths - Pretty Girls Make Graves
A great (albeit really short) song by the Smiths is Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want...
2 geniuses at work working separately then bringing it together.. marr would produce the music with the band on a tape hand it to Morrissey whod scroll thru his poems to see what works..
Check out , The Queen is Dead, magnificent lyrics in the title song.
Hey man, I would like to see /hear your thoughts to the b side of this single. It's called Jeane. It has quickly become a favorite of mine. Thanks!
Hometown by Cleopatrick is awesome you should consider that!
Cool! I'll add it to my list!
I already suscribe to your channel and you are doing a interesting job reacting to great songs, wonder if you could react to Morrissey as solist : Morrisey - Why dont you find out for yourself / Morrissey - Speedway / Morrissey - Im not sorry.
thank you and cheers from Perú
Funny, American analysing The Smiths
It's about a book about an Irish pantry boy who was accused of stealing a ring..
Funny this charmed song isn't the one they chose for Charmed
Are you Duncan tRussell
I applaud your effort to react and understand this song. But it seems you really missed the point. Its not a child's tale and its in no way sad or depressing. Seems maybe you, and the reviewer you're quoting, are both ignoring the obvious gay meaning (its not really even subtext) and the wonderful, romantic experience its clearly describing (you got the romance but missed the advice to dump the chick and enjoy the charming man, etc). So, more simply its about a young man meeting an older, more experienced man and having his eyes opened - and of course getting his pants charmed off. (bad pun intended) Its a very common coming of age story for young gay men and its a trope Morrissey explored repeatedly with the Smiths - Handsome Devil, Reel Around the Fountain, William It was Really Nothing, etc.
Appreciate the effort and keep going with the channel.
Brilliantly put my friend, the one and only smiths, never bettered musically or lyrically.
You missed about 90% of the gay subtext from the song.
Spot on @James Callaway.
Tbf on first listen did anyone lol
How can you miss out on the fact that the lyrics are filled with sexual innuendo and have a gay subtext all the way through?
theres no such song called the charming man,think you mean this charming man.get it right.
Honest mistake friend, my apologies.