A Matter of Opinion- Lyrics?

[Christopher Marlowe]

Anyone see this posted in the marketplace? Someone said they'd give a kidney for 'A Matter of Opinion' and then someone replied with what looks like a set of lyrics. Any ideas if they are genuine? Another completely different set of lyrics were posted on the main pages a while ago, so at least one- if not both- is fake, but this one? I dunno. I thought the rehearsal tape was too muffled, but maybe it's from a handwritten lyric.

Could it be Joycey making mischief, or maybe Simon Goddard stirring interest in his new book? Expert opinions please.

http://www.morrissey-solo.com/discuss/indexm.cgi?read=13936

[Hmmmm]

What is 'tripe'?

[The Lord]

No these are not the real lyrics.

[Christopher Marlowe]

> No these are not the real lyrics.

Are you saying that because you HAVE the real ones, or that's just your gut feeling/considered opinion?

[The Lord]

> Are you saying that because you HAVE the real ones, or that's just your
> gut feeling/considered opinion?

The Lord knows.

[Christopher Marlowe]

> The Lord knows.

Anyone out there with a less enigmatic and divine answer?

[mickey luv]

... if you look in NME story earlier in year, it specificically quoted the first line as -

Sit by the fire with your books and pretend THAT YOU'RE active

while our bullshitter friend, The Mole, cocked up by starting

Sit by the fire with your books and pretend TO BE active

... so nil points to The Mole for bad research, but a nice try.

[Christopher Marlowe]

> ... if you look in NME story earlier in year, it specificically quoted the
> first line as -

> Sit by the fire with your books and pretend THAT YOU'RE active

> while our bullshitter friend, The Mole, cocked up by starting

> Sit by the fire with your books and pretend TO BE active

> ... so nil points to The Mole for bad research, but a nice try.

And as we know, the NME is always so stunningly accurate.

Aah, from your header I was hoping for a definite trashing so I could rest easy in my bed, but I don't think that's as conclusive as you say.

Morrissey is well known for singing different versions of his lyrics, and a song that seems like it never got past the rehearsal stage was possibly still in flux. Plus, Mike Joyce claims that the lyrics are difficult to make out on the rehearsal tape, so this could be a case of someone transcribing what they think they hear differently, or it could be from a separate source entirely, like a different rehearsal or a set of hand-written lyrics.

I'm still waiting to be convinced either way. Personally, I think it's odd because if it's an early Smiths song, it seems to soon for a critic-hating song from Morrissey. Surely they were critics darlings then? Though I suppose it only takes one nasty review.

[Papa Lazarou]

> ... if you look in NME story earlier in year, it specificically quoted the
> first line as -

> Sit by the fire with your books and pretend THAT YOU'RE active

> while our bullshitter friend, The Mole, cocked up by starting

> Sit by the fire with your books and pretend TO BE active

> ... so nil points to The Mole for bad research, but a nice try.

Why would someone go so far as to write a fake lyric and get the one bit everyone know wrong? I feel it may be real just a variation.

Is there some computer program we can run it through to compare against known Moz lyrics? You know, so it can come back and say: Not Genuine Morrissey- too many adverbs or something?

[mickey luv]

I think the line about biscuits is the giveaway. It's arse - and far too long for proper Morrissey at that stage. It's like a Southpaw-era ramble. And the critic hating thing, you're right. This is the Hitler diaries kids! Maybe when the book is out we'll know the truth?

[Papa Lazarou]

> I think the line about biscuits is the giveaway. It's arse - and far too
> long for proper Morrissey at that stage. It's like a Southpaw-era ramble.
> And the critic hating thing, you're right. This is the Hitler diaries
> kids! Maybe when the book is out we'll know the truth?

Um, you may be right about the other stuff but biscuits?
If you're refering to the word 'Bics', I think he (or whoever) means pens. A Bic is a brand-name of a cheap pen in the UK, like a biro.

[Tingle]

> What is 'tripe'?

ugh, I think it's the lining of an animal's stomach that some people eat. But then again in this context it means 'rubbish'.

[Shakespeare's Brother]

Seem plausible, but who is the Mole?

Usual sources for leaks are studio personnel, but if this was very early days it might only ever have been played at rehearsals- probably in some garage?

Only The Smiths themselves (was membership settled on Moz, Marr, Rourke, Joyce at this point?)would have been present- with the possible additions of manager Joe Moss, and any hangers-on/friends- though I get the impression that Smiths rehearsals were a 'closed shop' so maybe not. Anyone present could have taped the song, although only Joyce has declared possession and supposedly has not passed it on- although he has played it at the least to Goddard.

If all the Smiths have a similar box of tapes stashed somewhere it is possible that an unscrupulous acquaintance may have stolen a tape. Who would even notice- I hardly imagine Moz and Marr listen to this stuff on a daily basis. The other option is that someone stole or copied the original lyric sheet.

Of course the other option is that it's a complete fake! Who knows- not many believed 'Striptease' would ever surface!

[Mike Joyce]

That sounds familiar, I think I can confirm it is the real thing. Let me just look in my tape library...Hang on a minute! It's gone! Bastards- that was my retirement nest-egg!

A Fake Mike Joyce

[Evelyn Tremble]

> ... if you look in NME story earlier in year, it specificically quoted the
> first line as -

> Sit by the fire with your books and pretend THAT YOU'RE active

> while our bullshitter friend, The Mole, cocked up by starting

> Sit by the fire with your books and pretend TO BE active

So, which version of Stretch Out And Wait is a hoax then? They have completely different opening lines!

[Someone who's heard it.]

Simon Goddard played me it - once - after frisking me for hidden recording devices first and swearing me to secrecy (which I am now breaking, oops). I can confirm these lyrics are fake as there wasn't a lot of singing and it's quite a short song and half the words were hard to make out as Morrissey's singing was very gruff and low. I'll be guts for garters is this gets out....

[Hand In Glove]

> If all the Smiths have a similar box of tapes stashed somewhere it is
> possible that an unscrupulous acquaintance may have stolen a tape. Who
> would even notice- I hardly imagine Moz and Marr listen to this stuff on a
> daily basis. The other option is that someone stole or copied the original
> lyric sheet.

From having spoken to Mike about the rarities, I gather he has alot of stuff that Morrissey & Marr don't have, which is probably one of the reasons why Morrissey & Marr won't sanction the use of the tapes because Mike would recieve payment for them (i.e they can't supply WEA with similar tapes). I think he'll be the only one to have a copy of "A Matter Of Opinion" with vocals.