"I Like You" -- newest in a line of songs addressing Johnny Marr, yes? I think it is...

I thought this as well. And this bit backs it up:

Magistrates who spend their lives
Hiding their mistakes
They look at you and I, and
Envy makes them cry, Envy makes them cry.
 
Good thoughts, I was wondering who it might be about.
 
> I thought this as well. And this bit backs it up:

> Magistrates who spend their lives
> Hiding their mistakes
> They look at you and I, and
> Envy makes them cry, Envy makes them cry.

Exactly. Plus the earlier line:

"you were going through/something I had just about scraped through"

could also easily refer to the court case/royalties issue, though Marr didn't go through the fight that Moz went (is still going) through.

I think it's a strong case. So far we have these Marr-themed songs:

Angel...
Disappointed
Billy Budd
I Like You

Any I'm missing?
 
> Angel...
> Disappointed
> Billy Budd
> I Like You

> Any I'm missing?

Are we including Smiths days as well? Because "I Won't Share" you was quite obviously about Marr.
 
> Exactly. Plus the earlier line:

> "you were going through/something I had just about scraped
> through"

> could also easily refer to the court case/royalties issue, though Marr
> didn't go through the fight that Moz went (is still going) through.

> I think it's a strong case. So far we have these Marr-themed songs:

> Angel...
> Disappointed
> Billy Budd
> I Like You

> Any I'm missing?

I often suspected He Knows I'd Love To See Him as well.

Never thought of I Like You like that but it does make sense. Thanks.
 
> Angel...
> Disappointed
> Billy Budd
> I Like You

none of those songs are about marr.
 
> Exactly. Plus the earlier line:

> "you were going through/something I had just about scraped
> through"

> could also easily refer to the court case/royalties issue, though Marr
> didn't go through the fight that Moz went (is still going) through.

> I think it's a strong case. So far we have these Marr-themed songs:

> Angel...
> Disappointed
> Billy Budd
> I Like You

What about He knows I'd love to see him, surely the most direct Marr reference ever made

> Any I'm missing?
 
> none of those songs are about marr.

yes, he admitted angel is about marr in an interview (i'm a nerd)
personally i've always thought i like you must be about a new relationship...i was thinking perhaps maybe a commentary on his involvement with some of the the new bands he's been associated with? (franz, libertines) i'm probably incredibly wrong (it wouldn't be the first time), but the lyrics always led me to believe that they were about a fresh and new friendship he'd just started.
 
Re: "I Like You" it's about alain whyte

especially that line, "you're not right in the head"
 
> yes, he admitted angel is about marr in an interview (i'm a nerd)
> personally i've always thought i like you must be about a new
> relationship...i was thinking perhaps maybe a commentary on his
> involvement with some of the the new bands he's been associated with?
> (franz, libertines) i'm probably incredibly wrong (it wouldn't be the
> first time), but the lyrics always led me to believe that they were about
> a fresh and new friendship he'd just started.

he did an interview in which he stated that he has only written one song about Marr. I believe that song was He Knows I'd Love To See Him, not angel. I could be wrong but I know for a fact that he has only written one song about Mr. Marr and I Like You is very obviously not about Marr at all.
 
Billy Budd is the obvious song dedicated to Johnny Marr ever.
Recorded in 94, it talks "since i took up with up, 12 years gone" = 1982

quite obvious
 
> What about He knows I'd love to see him, surely the most direct Marr
> reference ever made

I always imagined that was about his Dad.
 
> yes, he admitted angel is about marr in an interview (i'm a nerd)
> personally i've always thought i like you must be about a new
> relationship...i was thinking perhaps maybe a commentary on his
> involvement with some of the the new bands he's been associated with?
> (franz, libertines) i'm probably incredibly wrong (it wouldn't be the
> first time), but the lyrics always led me to believe that they were about
> a fresh and new friendship he'd just started.

Yes, I agree. I think it's definitely about someone new. I always think of someone like Courtney Love. Someone a bit screwed up and self destructive who he's trying to comfort by offering unconditional friendship.

Angel is the only song he's ever said was about Marr, and at the time he said it was the only song he'd ever written about Marr.
 
FAO Clownbait: Further proof Budd is about Marr...

In certain editions of Herman Melville's collected stories, "Billy Budd" appears next to the poem "John Marr". Definitely the kind of reference Morrissey likes.

http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Billy%20Budd

http://s1.amazon.com/exec/varzea/ts/exchange-glance/Y01Y1354455Y4151185/104-3697445-4019915
 
Yo Guinea...

Did you ever go by Alain Whyte's house to give him our best?

The line "you were going through/something I had just about scraped through" could refer to depression, but the magistrates line has no connection to Alain.

It'd be interesting if Alain had been verbally abusing Moz. (cf. "Why'd you think I let you get away/With the things you say to me"). Hmm...
 
Re: Yo Guinea...

I Like You was written at least 2 years ago and possibly even longer. As far as we know Alain's problems are relatively recent. Its not about Alain.

It may be about Marr but maybe not. The magistrate thing is not necessarily anything to do with the person in the song anyway. Its clear that Magistrates and law courts were something Mozzer had on his mind.

Anyone think it could actually be about noone at all?? Just a song???

For the record, Angel is definately about Johnny Marr, Billy Budd possibly is, I though He Knows I'd Love To See Him was but now someone mentions his father I'm inclined to think that instead. So that would make 2 songs about his dad anyway!
 
Re: Yo Guinea...

> Anyone think it could actually be about noone at all?? Just a song???

Definitely the most likely I think. Like the majority of his songs.
 
nonsense and unfounded speculation

none of these songs have anything so specific that they could be demonstrated to be about johnny marr, or about any other specific person...

"i won't share you" might very well have been about ol' johnny, but you folks don't have much to base your assertions on with these other tracks...

why can't you just get over johnny marr?
 
Re: nonsense and unfounded speculation

> why can't you just get over johnny marr?

I was never under him. I'm much more of a Morrissey-solo fan, and analyzing lyrics is part of enjoying his music. Yes, it's possible that "I Like You" is about nobody in particular, but we do know that Morrissey does write songs referring to real people, and YATQ is one of his most direct efforts yet. In a recent interview Morrissey talked about how "All the Lazy Dykes" is about someone he knows personally and is trying to encourage to visit The Palms, so why not "I Like You"?
 
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