question about "at amber"

[like lovers do]

what does it really mean as a tittle, like "pashernate love"? at amber is a ref to what ? something in the Sands hotel? or a state of mind? (not easy to find a correct translation when you're not english ;))

[Danny]

"At Amber" is when you are stopped at the traffic lights.

I presume the character in the song is supposed to be "At Amber" emotionally. He can't go forward with his life because he is socially stunted.

[The Goat]

Amber is the colour of the middle traffic light in the UK.
So you either stop when the lights change to amber from green or you get ready to go when it changes from red to amber, then green for go!

so maybe it is about stopping / getting ready to go (waiting??) and stopping again all the time. That's my interpretation.

The Goat

[mspendl828]

As Goat said, I've always just presumed it's about not quite stopping but not actually going anywhere either. Just being stuck in flux (if that's the right world?).

[Maurice E]

As Goat said, I've always just presumed it's about not quite stopping but not actually going anywhere either. Just being stuck in flux (if that's the right world?).

Flux is used when something is changing i.e. in a state of flux, so don't think that was the word you meant!

At Amber's a great little song. Think the music may have been written by Andy Rourke. Love it when Moz is being non-judgemental! ('it's not low life, it's just people having a good time'). Oh, and there's some nice understatement too (the men and the women are acquainted quite well!).

[mspendl828]

Ah, well I knew it had something to do with movement, just wasn't sure if it was the absence or not.

Thanks for the correction.
http://www.virtualservices.com.au/images/thumbs%20up.jpg

[Mmmmmm]

I've taken it slightly differently. When you arrive at the intersection and the light is "at amber", you've a choice to accelerate (and beat the red light) or stop and wait for it. Its a moment when you decide to press onwards or to hold back.

This seems to work with the lyrics

he might "steam away" as his invalid friend wishes to do

but he feels " I cannot - or, I do not"

while "I'm envying you never having to choose"

Just what he should "steam away" to or from (gelling with the well aquainted men and women perhaps?) or "cannot" do is unclear to me, though he IS in a seedy hotel with lots of people drinking and having a good time.

[Maurice E]

Might be wrong about this but I think the lyric is actually 'steal away' i.e. to sneak away surreptitiously. Slightly different feel to 'steam away'.
Think I'm in danger of becoming the forum pedant!


I've taken it slightly differently. When you arrive at the intersection and the light is "at amber", you've a choice to accelerate (and beat the red light) or stop and wait for it. Its a moment when you decide to press onwards or to hold back.

This seems to work with the lyrics
he might "steam away" as his invalid friend wishes to do
but he feels " I cannot - or, I do not"
while "I'm envying you never having to choose"
Just what he should "steam away" to or from (gelling with the well aquainted men and women perhaps?) or "cannot" do is unclear to me, though he IS in a seedy hotel with lots of people drinking and having a good time.

[mspendl828]

There's a little look at the song on It May All End Tomorrow which is an interesting view;

"Moz is talking to an invalid friend on the telephone, complaining about all the minor inconveniences of his life - the cold room, the slime & grime, the low-life tenants - when his friend gets frustrated and tells him that he's ungrateful and he shouldn't complain all the time about such pathetic little things because at least he can walk and go places and do things! And then Morrissey reminds his friend that there's more than one way to be an invalid; there's the psychological as well as the physical; and that, in a sense, they are the same. hence the title "At Amber" - at a yellow light, neither moving forward nor fully stopping. Rather like an invalid - somewhere between living and dying."

[Ryan.]

What do you think of this song?

I love it.

[this you surely knew]

I love it too! One of my favourites at the moment.

[Kewpie]

http://forums.morrissey-solo.com/showthread.php?t=65223;)

[sonof77]

Made me want to go to the Sands hotel.

[this you surely knew]

Good to know what the title means. I have been wondering. I really like this song, brilliant lyrics, especially when the invalid friend would steam away.. :p

[baron]

One of my favorites on MEBY.

[Chartres]

One of Streets finest works... and they're all excellent.

[unruly_girl]

I LOVE this song! :)

Oh, my invalid friend
In our different ways we are
The same ...

[WHY!]

There's a little look at the song on It May All End Tomorrow which is an interesting view;

"Moz is talking to an invalid friend on the telephone....."

Thank you for that explanation! I always wondered what this song is all about! The lyrics are brilliant, as usual. ;)

[Tomi]

I was curious about this too and remember coming across this transcript of a radio interview:
http://motorcycleaupairboy.com/interviews/1998/radio.htm where Morrissey provides a fairly straightforward, if non-committal explanation to the title.

Interviewer: Track two is called "At Amber" and I have to ask you what does "At Amber" mean to start with?

Moz: What does it mean? It means... In England traffic lights are red, amber, and green which they're not here, and amber is being in a state of flux, neither going nor stopping, it's somewhere in the middle.

Interviewer: Now, do you drive over here?

Moz:I drive over here, yes. I find it easier to drive here and when I go back to England I begin to make really silly mistakes.

Interviewer: Like driving on the other side of the road?

Moz:Well, yes, yes. Sometimes I begin on the wrong side, which is your side, and it's catastrophic really. But it's easier to drive here.


The rest of the interview is quite amusing too. :)

[Please]

Is it not about the dichotomy between being disabled physically and disabled mentally.

Morrissey has recieved a fan letter, or a letter from a someone who isn;t a fan questioning what Morrissey has to be so miserable about. 'if i had your limbs for a day, i would steam away' Telling Morrissey that he would have something real to worry about if he was physically disabled, and he is lucky to be able to walk.

But Morrissey replies claiming the grass is not always greener on the other side.

[MILVA]

what does it really mean as a tittle, like "pashernate love"? at amber is a ref to what ? something in the Sands hotel? or a state of mind? (not easy to find a correct translation when you're not english ;))

Seeing not a single soul seemed interested in your Pashernate question, I'd make it mine.

"Pashernate" is a reference to one of the Carry On-stars (Bernie Bresslaw) who made a single in 1958 called "Mad Pashernate Love". It did quite well, contrary to everyone's expectations.

BB, much more comical than his well-breasted counteracronym, died June 11, 1993, of a heart attack.

Pashernate Love, included as b-side to "You're the 1 for me fatty", was written before Bresslaw's passing, though.

And there go the conspiration theories.

Since you, ehm, "arsked"...

[MozzaBedfordSpur]

"If I had your limbs for a day, I would steam away."

Lyrical genius :D

[Spineless Swine]

As Goat said, I've always just presumed it's about not quite stopping but not actually going anywhere either. Just being stuck in flux (if that's the right world?).


Moz: What does it mean? It means... In England traffic lights are red, amber, and green which they're not here, and amber is being in a state of flux, neither going nor stopping, it's somewhere in the middle.

There you go mspend it was the right word you clever so and so.

When I first heard the song I assumed it was a Boorer or Whyte track and quite suprised that it was one of Streets, it doesn't have the same pop sensibility as his other work. Did anyone else think this?