I KEEP MINE HIDDEN questions

[LoafingOaf]

A web site w/ Smiths lyrics gives us these for I KEEP MINE HIDDEN, and the notes which follow....I have two questions at the end, so scroll down.

http://www.compsoc.man.ac.uk/~moz/lyrics/othersmi/ikeepmin.htm
>>>>>>>>>
Hate, love and war
Force emotions to the fore
But not for me, of course
Of course
I keep mine hidden
Oh ...

I keep mine hidden
But it's so easy for you
Because you let yours flail
Into public view
Oh, oh ...

Yellow and green
A stumbling block
I'm a twenty-digit combination to unlock
With a past where to be 'touched'
Meant to be 'mental'

Ooh, I keep mine hidden
The lies are so easy for you
Because you let yours slide
Into public view
Oh ...

Use your loaf !

The last song ever recorded as a proper group, Morrissey must have infuriated Marr by doing a music-hall light-hearted song exactly when Marr wanted to move into different musical territory. Indeed, if a song was responsible for the break-up of The Smiths, this was it.
For those not acquainted, "Use your loaf" means "think about it" and is cockney rhyming slang ("loaf-and-bread" - "head").
"Yellow and green" probably refers to a pair of loons he used to own (see Quotes). Morrissey still shines through with clever lyrics, such as his pun on "touched".
This song ended up as a B-side to Girlfriend In A Coma.

 

[Cinderella]

Re: Answered for what it's worth...

> 1. Is "Use your loaf" really what he says? I've
> always wondered what that last line was!

Yup, people actually use this - up north too -

> 2. What is does this guy mean by saying "yellow and
> green" refers to a pair of loons? Eh? I think yellow and
> green means Moz felt afraid (because of his past where it was
> mental to be touched) and jealous (of those who don't keep it
> hidden).

I've got no idea about the loons, and this next idea is totally my own, to me it makes perfect sense and I think goes nicely with the feel of the song, so for what it's worth I always thought Yellow and green was like cowardly and inexperienced...you know people always say oh he's yellow if they think someone is gutless, or they're green (as in unripe yes? It's used loads in texts by Shakespear for that meaning) if someone seems new to something or seem somewhat innocent of a situation...

Afraid and innocent...a stumbling block...keeping everything hidden etc, etc and on.

A couple of years back here in the uk there was this series on women singers of the sixties, sandie shaw, marianne Faithful, Cilla Black...And Moz was on a couple of them, chatting away for a few minutes or so, sat in the drivers seat of a silver golf i believe, looking of course superb. Any way on the programme about Cilla Black he was saying how he insisted on doing a cover of Work is a Four Letter Word - which, again, johnny didn't appreciate the style of, and I remember Morrissey wriggling about and chuckling whilst saying..."so unbeknown to Cilla Black she was a main cause in the break up of the smiths!" I don't know how serious this was if at all but Morrissey certainly seemed filled with glee and amusement at the concept of this.

 

[Lifeguard Sleeping]

An I KEEP MINE HIDDEN Answer

> 2. What is does this guy mean by saying "yellow and
> green" refers to a pair of loons? Eh? I think yellow and
> green means Moz felt afraid (because of his past where it was
> mental to be touched) and jealous (of those who don't keep it
> hidden).

I remember reading somewhere that "loons" were flared trousers (i.e. "pantaloons"). He'd had a brief flirtation with the glam scene.

 

[LoafingOaf]

Re: Answered for what it's worth...

> I've got no idea about the loons, and this next idea is totally
> my own, to me it makes perfect sense and I think goes nicely
> with the feel of the song, so for what it's worth I always
> thought Yellow and green was like cowardly and
> inexperienced...you know people always say oh he's yellow if
> they think someone is gutless, or they're green (as in unripe
> yes? It's used loads in texts by Shakespear for that meaning) if
> someone seems new to something or seem somewhat innocent of a
> situation...

> Afraid and innocent...a stumbling block...keeping everything
> hidden etc, etc and on.

I never thought about green as unripe, inexperienced. Yeah, that fits perfectly. I was thinking green with envy, but I like yours more.

> A couple of years back here in the uk there was this series on
> women singers of the sixties, sandie shaw, marianne Faithful,
> Cilla Black...And Moz was on a couple of them, chatting away for
> a few minutes or so, sat in the drivers seat of a silver golf i
> believe, looking of course superb. Any way on the programme
> about Cilla Black he was saying how he insisted on doing a cover
> of Work is a Four Letter Word - which, again, johnny didn't
> appreciate the style of, and I remember Morrissey wriggling
> about and chuckling whilst saying..."so unbeknown to Cilla
> Black she was a main cause in the break up of the smiths!"
> I don't know how serious this was if at all but Morrissey
> certainly seemed filled with glee and amusement at the concept
> of this.

Yeah, Johnny Marr didn't like doing that song. They probably would've broken up anyway, but it seems to have been a contributing factor.

 

[LoafingOaf]

Re: An I KEEP MINE HIDDEN Answer

> I remember reading somewhere that "loons" were flared
> trousers (i.e. "pantaloons"). He'd had a brief
> flirtation with the glam scene.

Yeah, the web site refers to some quotes by Morrissey. I looked at those and he mentioned that during his T. Rex period he wore yellow and green loons or whatever. I really don't think that has anything to do w/ the song though!

 

[Cinderella]

Re: That's ok...

> I never thought about green as unripe, inexperienced. Yeah, that
> fits perfectly. I was thinking green with envy, but I like yours
> more.

You're welcome...see flattery will get you everywhere with me! : )

> Yeah, Johnny Marr didn't like doing that song. They probably
> would've broken up anyway, but it seems to have been a
> contributing factor.

And didn't Johnny marr choose the wisest career path of the two!! (Ohh meow!)