Burglary & Dolls

Just tidying up my Smiths & Moz stuff today, and it occurred to me I don't have My Early Burglary Years (no real loss, got all the songs anyway), but it occurred to me (sorry if this has been up for discussion before) that the title is one of his puns again.

Mark Simpson said in his book if you want to find out about Morrissey, just listen to the songs. Remember that bit in The Importance... where Moz says, after being questioned about celibacy, that it's over now. Also, he's been seen gallivanting about with ladies recently. Anyway, I'm rambling.

My theory is this - he's talking about songs from the time when he was a 'burglar' in the crude vernacular. Just as Mark Simpson has pointed out, there are many other examples - as I may have mentioned before, I think the two most obvious examples are Shoplifters... and Alma Matters. Anyone agree?

A couple of musical points..

1) Maladjusted is a great song, isn't it?

2) Dig That Groove Baby by The Toy Dolls is a fantastically entertaining album, full of great musicianship and very, very funny songs.

Goodnight all, and I'll see you at the S&G on the 13th with the posse.

Sk.

Unc, what are you saying about "Alma Matters"? It's an example of what? I never really figured what it was about. Ok I understand what an Alma Mater and I know Alma was Baldwin's wife in Corrie. More than that I don't know. Please help the cause against confusedness. Thanks.

> Just tidying up my Smiths & Moz stuff today, and it occurred to me I
> don't have My Early Burglary Years (no real loss, got all the songs
> anyway), but it occurred to me (sorry if this has been up for discussion
> before) that the title is one of his puns again.

> Mark Simpson said in his book if you want to find out about Morrissey,
> just listen to the songs. Remember that bit in The Importance... where Moz
> says, after being questioned about celibacy, that it's over now. Also,
> he's been seen gallivanting about with ladies recently. Anyway, I'm
> rambling.

> My theory is this - he's talking about songs from the time when he was a
> 'burglar' in the crude vernacular. Just as Mark Simpson has pointed out,
> there are many other examples - as I may have mentioned before, I think
> the two most obvious examples are Shoplifters... and Alma Matters. Anyone
> agree?

> A couple of musical points..

> 1) Maladjusted is a great song, isn't it?

> 2) Dig That Groove Baby by The Toy Dolls is a fantastically entertaining
> album, full of great musicianship and very, very funny songs.

> Goodnight all, and I'll see you at the S&G on the 13th with the posse.

> Sk.

> Unc, what are you saying about "Alma Matters"? It's an example
> of what? I never really figured what it was about. Ok I understand what an
> Alma Mater and I know Alma was Baldwin's wife in Corrie. More than that I
> don't know. Please help the cause against confusedness. Thanks.

Well, without going into too much detail (I've been ridiculed for this you know), I think Alma Matters is about his bisexuality, as well as being a pun on Alma Mater.
Firstly - read the quote on the LASID page regarding the song.
Secondly Read the lyrics of the song itself.
Thirdly, yes, Alma in Coronation Street was played by Amanda Barrie, who at the time the song was written had recently come out as bisexual, and of course she's a Manchester icon.
Finally the lyrics say 'in part and in hole' which I take as a reference to genitals of either sex.

So to sum up, he's saying in the song, yes I've done this, and I've done that, but I'm happy with it all.

Well, that's my interpretation.

Sk.
So

I didn't know that about Amanda Barrie. It expalins the song. Yep, the LASID interpretation was good too. Thanks Unc

> Well, without going into too much detail (I've been ridiculed for this you
> know), I think Alma Matters is about his bisexuality, as well as being a
> pun on Alma Mater.
> Firstly - read the quote on the LASID page regarding the song.
> Secondly Read the lyrics of the song itself.
> Thirdly, yes, Alma in Coronation Street was played by Amanda Barrie, who
> at the time the song was written had recently come out as bisexual, and of
> course she's a Manchester icon.
> Finally the lyrics say 'in part and in hole' which I take as a reference
> to genitals of either sex.

> So to sum up, he's saying in the song, yes I've done this, and I've done
> that, but I'm happy with it all.

> Well, that's my interpretation.

> Sk.
> So