decipher "a swallow on my neck"

[niall]

hi all

whats the meaning behind
"he drew a swallow on my neck
and more i will not say"

or the whole song for that

I just love this song so much
(and only quite recently)

Regards

niall

[Vince Everett]

> hi all

> whats the meaning behind
> "he drew a swallow on my neck
> and more i will not say"

It used to be popular among thugs, football hooligans, villains and ne'er do wells in the 70's to have a crude drawing of a swallow tattooed on either side of their neck, by either one of their mates, or at a crummy little back street tattoo parlour..
So I interpret this as being another "homo-erotic" lyric, with the thug in question being the object of Morrissey's affections, so much so that he let's him tattoo his neck in the said fashion, although it was predominantly young, working-class males who were for all intents and purposes, heterosexual, who would, and still do, tattoo each other in this fashion.
I'm sure you can use your imagination for the meaning behind "and more I will not say", the innuendo is quite obvious.

> or the whole song for that

The song appears to depict a slice out of the life of the petty criminals, hoodlums and unemployable pissheads, who don't think about life too deeply, they are mostly concerned with where their next drink is coming from and how they are going to get the money for their next session in the pub.
These types never really "grow-up" in the accepted sense, and subsequently their lives resemble one long adolesense, where taking the consequences of their actions for other people never really occurs to them.
Morrissey has long admired the way these types can live without the constant need to evaluate their lives or justify their existence, and it is a subject he has visited many times, in songs such as "Nobody Loves Us" and "Teenage Dad On His Estate" for instance, although there are other layers to peel back and examine in these lyrics, which is why Morrissey is the greatest lyricist of his generation, without doubt, and in my humble opinion, the best lyricist ever.

A SWALLOW ON MY NECK
I have been smashed again
With the men from the Old Valhalla Road Crematorium
Boring them with the same old patter.

I am a simple man
Not much to gain or lose
And I don't know why I held out so long for me and you.

Until he drew a swallow on my neck
And the more, I will not say
He drew a swallow deep and blue
And soon, everyone knew.

Then I was wrecked again
With the men full of bluff and honour
From a well-known funeral parlour.

I am a simple man
Not much to gain or lose
"Older and wiser" never applies to me.

And so he drew a swallow on my neck
And more, I will not say
He drew a swallow deep and blue
And soon, everyone knew.

You have been telling me
That I have been acting childish
Foolish, foolish, and childish
I know, I know, I know!
I know, I know, but I don't mind
I don't mind
I don't mind
Oh, I don't mind, ah...

[Martin Maher]

Quite a few people said here a few years back that to draw a swalllow on someones neck is also a slang term in quite a few places for a hicky. That really accentuates the homo erotic undertones of the song.
My interpretation of the song is that is about Mozzers old love Jake Walters, who had a liking for fake tattoos (on the neck and other places also).

> hi all

> whats the meaning behind
> "he drew a swallow on my neck
> and more i will not say"

> or the whole song for that

> I just love this song so much
> (and only quite recently)

> Regards

> niall

[Vince Everett]

> These types never really "grow-up" in the accepted sense, and
> subsequently their lives resemble one long adolesense, where taking the
> consequences of their actions for other people never really occurs to
> them.

I don't know how this excuse for a sentence got past my proof reader......
Perhaps it should have said :

"These types never really "grow-up", in the accepted sense, and subsequently, their lives resemble a kind of extended adolescence, and the fact that their actions often have consequences for other people never really occurs to them."

Slightly better. Perhaps.

[Vince Everett]

I cut 'n' pasted these lyrics in and I've just noticed an error...
Oh dear, why did I ever get involved in this thread.....

> With the men full of bluff and 'honour' - - - "ardour" isn't it?
> From a well-known funeral parlour.

[Vince Everett]

> Quite a few people said here a few years back that to draw a swalllow on
> someones neck is also a slang term in quite a few places for a hicky. That
> really accentuates the homo erotic undertones of the song.
> My interpretation of the song is that is about Mozzers old love Jake
> Walters, who had a liking for fake tattoos (on the neck and other places
> also).

I think Jake may well have been an inspiration, the time-frame suggests it.
It depends which came first I suppose, Jake or the 'swallow' lyrics.

[an innocent bystander]

tis a love bite (among other more literal connotations.)

> hi all

> whats the meaning behind
> "he drew a swallow on my neck
> and more i will not say"

> or the whole song for that

> I just love this song so much
> (and only quite recently)

> Regards

> niall