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Morrissey to get tattooed? "City Life" mention

posted by davidt on Friday December 01 2000, @09:00AM

Nobby's Left Boot '68 writes:

Manchester's entertainment guide (Nov 22-Dec 7) "City Life." In this month's edition there is an article on Louis Molloy, a well known celebrity tattoist from Middleton. Suprisingly half way through the article this popped up.

"I don't do faces or genitals or things that I know people are going to regret. Like I had that Linder Sterling in once doing some photojournalism. She said Morrissey wants one."

Louis stabs a finger in the direction of his jugular.

"Loveheart on his neck."

How lovely.

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Morrissey to get tattooed? "City Life" mention | Log in/Create an Account | Top | 45 comments | Search Discussion

The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.

Better than a Swallow (Score:1)

What is the significance of a swallow tatoo anyhow. I had a feeling that it was a British Merchant Navy tatoo.

But then again, perhaps a swallow on your neck means that you do.

David T (different) -- Friday December 01 2000, @09:04AM (#5305)
(User #256 Info)
david_t[at]boltblue.com

Swallow meaning? by Anonymous (Score:0) Friday December 01 2000, @08:23PM
- Re:Swallow meaning? by An Klestar (Score:1) Sunday December 03 2000, @12:45AM

Re:Better than a Swallow (Score:3, Insightful)

Swallow is a euphamism for a a hickey. "He drew a swallow on my neck" carries the imagery of artwork/tattoo, to obfuscate the double entendre true meaning that "he gave me a hickey". And is probably a reference to Morrissey's former personal assistant Jake Walters, who had an affection for fake tattoos. And with whom it's rumored Morrissey had an affair. Listen to the song again, you'll definately see that it means a hickey.

I think there are a trilogy of Jake songs. "Best Friend On The Payroll", "Swallow On My Neck", and "Now My Heart Is Full" chronicling the progression of the relationship.

Benji -- Saturday December 02 2000, @01:01AM (#5333)
(User #1807 Info)

[ Parent ]

Re:Better than a Swallow by Mozzarella (Score:1) Saturday December 02 2000, @01:56PM

Re:Better than a Swallow by DannyDangerous (Score:1) Saturday December 02 2000, @02:37PM

Re:Better than a Swallow by Benji (Score:1) Saturday December 02 2000, @03:32PM

Re:Better than a Swallow by suzanne (Score:1) Saturday December 02 2000, @04:30PM

Re:Better than a Swallow by Benji (Score:1) Saturday December 02 2000, @07:04PM

Re:Better than a Swallow (Score:2, Interesting)

I agree with you mostly, however, I always felt that Morrissey wrote about observations and not just about his own life. Meaning, perhaps this is something that happened to someone he knows or even something he has seen in a movie or read in a play. I don't know, I have no idea what goes on in Morrissey's life. All I know is I can identify those songs with my life - and that's what matters to me.

hand in glove -- Saturday December 02 2000, @10:58PM (#5356)
(User #827 Info)
Art is the tree of life. Science is the tree of death. - William Blake

[ Parent ]

Re:Better than a Swallow (Score:3, Insightful)

he was describing his friends in the first song.

Let me interpret as I see:

it looks like he was hanging around some really depressive friends whose only link is their depression and lack of other friends.

He tries again, and now he is happy. He is so happy that he can't even explain it and is at loss for words.

He says they "underact and express depression" in the way that a group does when they find out their friend is suddenly happy and they aren't. It implies a bit of jealousy, and he ends the song by asking if they will bother stopping by now that he's the big man of the group with a life and they are still loafing oafs with nothing better going on.

"Swallow..." was a b-side to "Sunny". "Swallow.." could have been written after Vauxhall while he was still happy, and before he wrote the rest of Southpaw. "Sunny" was the break up of "We've been missing you, tell us how your life is better" tagged with a song about how he enjoyed acting "foolish and childish" when he was in love. Kind of like, "hey, remember the good times?"

"Best friend on the payroll" oh no, it's not going to work out. I don't see what is so hidden about this one.

The Operation: "You fight with your right hand, and caress with your lefthand"...hey, jake's a boxer, isn't he? like, hey, you bastard you aren't so special. You broke up with me. Let me pick on your weaker points for a few minutes.

But let's not forget the in-between vauxhall and southpaw release of Boxers complete with the b-side "whatever happens, I love you." If you tell me that this song is about him being depressed and lonely....

and it's accompanied by an endearing romanticization of the life of a boxer. it may not look like it from the words, but don't forget that Morrissey adores the underachievers and the weary and defeated the most. Perseverence in the face of obstacles out of love for the beauty of the work.

suzanne <{suzsch} {at} {sbcglobal.net}> -- Sunday December 03 2000, @01:48AM (#5365)
(User #36 Info | http://www.myspace.com/snootywriter )
I scare dead people.

[ Parent ]

Re:Better than a Swallow by Anonymous (Score:0) Sunday December 03 2000, @05:18PM
Re:Better than a Swallow by Benji (Score:0) Saturday December 02 2000, @11:38PM
Re:Better than a Swallow by hand in glove (Score:1) Sunday December 03 2000, @12:56PM
Re:Better than a Swallow by Benji (Score:1) Sunday December 03 2000, @01:16PM
Re:Better than a Swallow by Benji (Score:1) Sunday December 03 2000, @01:23PM
Re:Better than a Swallow by Anonymous (Score:0) Sunday December 03 2000, @11:59PM

Re: yawn by Anonymous (Score:0) Saturday December 02 2000, @09:48PM

Re: yawn (Score:2, Interesting)

I listened to the songs, taking in the information he offers up so that we all can know something about him. Want to argue how I interpereted that information? Go right ahead.

Keep in mind that all I'm arguing strongly is that "Best Friend On The Payroll" is a song about Morrissey being friends with someone on his payroll. That "Swallow On My Neck" means a hickey, evokes tattoo imagery, and is a love song. And that "Now My Heart Is Full" is in part a breakup song. All that I'm sure about just from hearing the songs. I offer the evidence that Jake Walters was Morrissey's personal assistant during the time "Best Friend" was recorded, and was a good friend. That Jake liked fake tattoos. And that "Now" was recorded right after Jake left Morrissey's employ, and life.

Benji -- Saturday December 02 2000, @10:53PM (#5355)
(User #1807 Info)

[ Parent ]

Re: yawn (Score:2, Informative)

In fairness to Benji, this is not an iconoclastic, odd interpretation of the lyrics. Other people do agree with him about the tattoo and about the Jake relationship (if you look around the web, I think that you will come across the odd interview with band members which sort of bear that out). For the Swallow/Tattoo/Jake connection, for example, see LASID

David T (different) -- Sunday December 03 2000, @11:20AM (#5382)
(User #256 Info)
david_t[at]boltblue.com

[ Parent ]

Re: yawn by robert (Score:1) Monday December 04 2000, @10:42AM
Re: yawn by Anonymous (Score:0) Sunday December 03 2000, @07:44PM
Re: yawn by David T (different) (Score:1) Monday December 04 2000, @03:52AM
Re: yawn by Benji (Score:1) Monday December 04 2000, @10:44PM
Re: yawn by Antonin Crapaud (Score:1) Monday December 04 2000, @11:27PM
Re: yawn by Benji (Score:1) Tuesday December 05 2000, @09:15AM

Re:Better than a Swallow by rusholmeruffian (Score:1) Sunday December 10 2000, @02:35PM

Re:Better than a Swallow by Anonymous (Score:1) Monday December 04 2000, @08:11AM
Re:Better than a Swallow by Anonymous (Score:1) Monday December 04 2000, @08:18AM

Morrissey tats (Score:0, Flamebait)

I have an "m" on my left cheek and a "z" on my right cheek. It spells "moz". Wanna see a picture? You don't mind a little hair or a dingleberry or two do ya?!

Jim Rome -- Friday December 01 2000, @10:18AM (#5307)
(User #720 Info | http://www.jimrome.com/ )
Rome's Smack-tionary coming soon....yeah, this time I mean it.

Re:Morrissey tats by Anonymous (Score:0) Monday December 04 2000, @04:36PM
- Re:Morrissey tats by Jim Rome (Score:1) Wednesday December 06 2000, @01:17PM

Morrissey wants one? (Score:1)

what? Genitals?

Oh, this Manchester-speak. So dense.

S. Mammoth -- Friday December 01 2000, @01:48PM (#5319)
(User #1944 Info)

new trend in morrissey fandom... (Score:0)

oh no.... now watch every "i-shop-at-hot-topic" morrissey fan try to get a loveheart tatoo on their neck - just as they did with silver bracelets and '1oz' pendants!

state of emergency -- Friday December 01 2000, @04:16PM (#5323)
(User #837 Info)
"others conquered love, but i ran..."

please don't ruin your neck with something stupid (Score:0)

what's loveheart all about?

Anonymous -- Friday December 01 2000, @10:10PM (#5330)

Re:please don't ruin your neck with something stup by David T (different) (Score:1) Saturday December 02 2000, @06:28AM

Midlife Crisis? (Score:1, Funny)

Moz, get back to reality!!!!! You are 41 years old and a tatoo would not look good in your precious neck!

Well, anyway, a tatoo on the neck of any person at any age is just horrible.

Anonymous -- Sunday December 03 2000, @02:44PM (#5389)

Re:Midlife Crisis? by Benji (Score:1) Monday December 04 2000, @12:08AM

mm-mm-good (Score:1)

I'd like to "draw a swallow" on Mozzy's neck! I'm not gay, just ka-razzy! Gimma a Passion Peach Jamba!

KennithMullins -- Monday December 04 2000, @09:46AM (#5428)
(User #1365 Info)

Re:mm-mm-good by Anonymous (Score:0) Monday December 04 2000, @02:25PM

Morrissey already has a tattoo (Score:1, Interesting)

About a year ago, I was reading an article in the Evening Standard about Kensington Market closing down (a collection of alternative shops in Kensington High Street, London). Anyway, they interviewed a tatooist who had tatooed some famous people - he was quoted as saying he had given Morrissey a tattoo. Honest. Someone else must have seen the article too? - I assumed it was mentioned on this site at the time.

Anonymous -- Monday December 04 2000, @10:00AM (#5429)

painful (Score:0)

last time I heard this kind of explanation was during bible class.

Next time you'll come up saying that "the boy with the thorn in his side" is about having a tattoo and wanting to remove it?

most imaginative.

Anonymous -- Tuesday December 05 2000, @07:39PM (#5508)

Re:painful by Benji (Score:1) Tuesday December 05 2000, @11:03PM

tastefull tattoos (Score:1)

any tattoo that is tastefull and carefully placed so it won't get to gross with the passage of time is fine with me. if morrissey got a tattoo, it may prove to be quite sexy... but then again...

Maplefreak -- Wednesday December 06 2000, @10:59AM (#5525)
(User #1234 Info)
And the songs we sing, they're not supposed to mean a thing...

Its So Morrissey... (Score:2, Interesting)

if it was kind of tribal or black and medieval looking it could look real tough.
If its something like that, that would definetly add character and brass. Morrissey looks like a Convict lately,and IT could be used as a true defiance to society's standards of macho...
Ive always loved moz cause hes got a real steak of meaness, almost criminal. But still isnt afraid to love,and thats what makes him great.
If we ever learn he is a serial killer,I wouldnt be surprised.

javelin <www.whateverulike.com> -- Sunday December 10 2000, @10:09PM (#5655)
(User #1848 Info)
"I never wanted to kill,Iam not naturally evil"