THE PUBLIC IMAGE LYRICS

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freeyourself

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THE PUBLIC IMAGE

When I'm dead
it will be read
here lies the Public Image
five percent human being
and ninety-five image

What you see is what you get
and what you get may well be worth seeing
but, just be careful
when you walk on those old broken stones
because they are my feelings

If I smile
do not be swayed
I simply serve the Public Image
when all have gone
just one remains
Thank God for the Public Image

What you see is what you get
and what you get may well be worth seeing
but, just be careful
when you walk on those old broken stones
because they are my feelings

Scrape beneath the surface and
you will find more Public Image

I used to have
a childish dream
until I had it kicked from me
I tried to pass myself off
as a human being
but the truth soon exposed me

I had a love
and she was very kind
but she was no match
for the Public Image

What you see is all there is
and what there is may well be worth seeing
but, just be careful what you say
about people like me
because we don't take it lightly
 
Re: Thank you

> THE PUBLIC IMAGE

> When I'm dead
> it will be read
> here lies the Public Image
> five percent human being
> and ninety-five image

> What you see is what you get
> and what you get may well be worth seeing
> but, just be careful
> when you walk on those old broken stones
> because they are my feelings

> If I smile
> do not be swayed
> I simply serve the Public Image
> when all have gone
> just one remains
> Thank God for the Public Image

> What you see is what you get
> and what you get may well be worth seeing
> but, just be careful
> when you walk on those old broken stones
> because they are my feelings

> Scrape beneath the surface and
> you will find more Public Image

> I used to have
> a childish dream
> until I had it kicked from me
> I tried to pass myself off
> as a human being
> but the truth soon exposed me

> I had a love
> and she was very kind
> but she was no match
> for the Public Image

> What you see is all there is
> and what there is may well be worth seeing
> but, just be careful what you say
> about people like me
> because we don't take it lightly

They are beautiful

I'm tempted to pop to HMV on my way home. It's just that it's so coooold tonight.
 
Re: THE PUBLIC IMAGE LYRICS -- interpretations?

Is it me, or is he writing rather a lot about death these days? Also what do ya'all make of his claims to be more image than human being? I like this part:

I had a love
and she was very kind
but she was no match
for the Public Image

The whole song is very intriguing -- the piano is very nice too.

> THE PUBLIC IMAGE

> When I'm dead
> it will be read
> here lies the Public Image
> five percent human being
> and ninety-five image

> What you see is what you get
> and what you get may well be worth seeing
> but, just be careful
> when you walk on those old broken stones
> because they are my feelings

> If I smile
> do not be swayed
> I simply serve the Public Image
> when all have gone
> just one remains
> Thank God for the Public Image

> What you see is what you get
> and what you get may well be worth seeing
> but, just be careful
> when you walk on those old broken stones
> because they are my feelings

> Scrape beneath the surface and
> you will find more Public Image

> I used to have
> a childish dream
> until I had it kicked from me
> I tried to pass myself off
> as a human being
> but the truth soon exposed me

> I had a love
> and she was very kind
> but she was no match
> for the Public Image

> What you see is all there is
> and what there is may well be worth seeing
> but, just be careful what you say
> about people like me
> because we don't take it lightly
 
Intelligence attracts intelligence

From what I gather (I've put feelers out before) - very very very few give a shit (or they're too thick to care) about lyrical interpretation. Sad.

Re: your interpretation.
Yes I like that bit too.

Every second b-side is contains direct references to his demise.
Symphonies, 1958, Friday and this amongst others.
Is it another vain obituary?
Or is he trying to become a dead legend whilst still alive
(as in achieve the iconic status he would get if he did kick the bucket )

I think he may be saying that stardom and personal love life don't mix
for him and that he has given almost every fibre over to projecting himself as
an artist instead. Is that fake or real?

> Is it me, or is he writing rather a lot about death these days? Also what
> do ya'all make of his claims to be more image than human being? I like
> this part:

> I had a love
> and she was very kind
> but she was no match
> for the Public Image

> The whole song is very intriguing -- the piano is very nice too.
 
Intelligence attracts pseudo intellectuals

> From what I gather (I've put feelers out before) - very very very few give
> a shit (or they're too thick to care) about lyrical interpretation. Sad.

> Re: your interpretation.
> Yes I like that bit too.

> Every second b-side is contains direct references to his demise.
> Symphonies, 1958, Friday and this amongst others.
> Is it another vain obituary?
> Or is he trying to become a dead legend whilst still alive
> (as in achieve the iconic status he would get if he did kick the bucket )

> I think he may be saying that stardom and personal love life don't mix
> for him and that he has given almost every fibre over to projecting
> himself as
> an artist instead. Is that fake or real?

That was very nearly an interesting & civilised post broken, (except for the "too thick to care" bit) well done you!
 
Get a life, please

You are obsessed - too obsessed to contribute a relevant thought.
I am not the personality you suggested.
Farewell, me bollix.

> That was very nearly an interesting & civilised post broken, (except
> for the "too thick to care" bit) well done you!
 
Re: Get a life, please

> You are obsessed - too obsessed to contribute a relevant thought.
> I am not the personality you suggested.
> Farewell, me bollix.

If someone looks like, acts like, writes like & smells as badly as Broken, then they are Broken.

It really is that simple.

Unless of course they are 'Quentin'.....
 
Are you sure this character isn't yourself?

as in the film "Fight Club".
'cos this is f**king puerile shite.
Full stop.

> If someone looks like, acts like, writes like & smells as badly as
> Broken, then they are Broken.

> It really is that simple.

> Unless of course they are 'Quentin'.....
 
I'm starting with the man in the mirror motherf***er!

What I have already suggested not withstanding.....

You're use of the strange derivation from the word bollocks, namely 'bollix' leads me to wonder if perhaps you are in fact the small intense lunatic with mad staring eyes known as Father Neil Horan....

This would be a shame as I usually enjoy 'his' contributions enormously.

So in conclusion, you are either :

1. Father Neil Horan (the only other poster on the board to use the word 'bollix. Is it an Irish expression?)

2. you are another of broken's many aliases.

or 3. Father Neil is also one of Broken's aliases, which, as I said, would be a terrible shame cos I kinda liked the good Father.

I'll expect more obfuscation from you in response to this post.

And you have the audacity to suggest that I should "get a life"!!

I am who I say I am & I already have a life thank you.

Why can you not decide on one screen name & use it to express yourself by telling the truth about who you are while occasionally being funny or interesting?

Maybe you won't be so lonely then.
 
"I am a Rock" by Simon & "Barf Uncle". Very Droll. Aren't I Clever.
 
Re: Intelligence attracts intelligence

I thought it was quite funny that you noticed the b-side correlation. I noticed it with Friday Mourning, but I thought I was reading maybe a bit too much into it. Interesting.

>>I think he may be saying that stardom and personal love life don't mix
for him and that he has given almost every fibre over to projecting himself as
an artist instead. Is that fake or real? >> Real, I think, but real as in legitimate. I don't know that it is 100% one way or the other, though; I don't think anything with Morrissey is as cut-and-dried as that...

I too, have tried to discuss lyrical interpretation on here, but it rarely works. Why? Again, many people don't see (or want to see) the many layers in the songs; instead, they want to (again) over-simplify them to fit their personal agendas of who Morrissey is/should be/wants to be.
 
Re: Intelligence attracts intelligence

I agree. According to some on here every song Morrissey has ever written is about Johnny Marr.

As far as the Public Image is concerned could it not be Morrissey speaking from the point of view of someone else? It's not necessarily about him. I keep thinking about Prince Charles for some reason.
 
Re: Intelligence attracts intelligence

Yet another song about Prince Charles?!? Well, it's not TOO far-fetched...
("I say, Charles don't you ever crave to appear on the front of the Daily Mail dressed in your mother's bridal veil?")
 
Re: Intelligence attracts intelligence

Also, on IHFJ there's "by Friday life has killed me"...."Friday Mourning"
Every b-side there's a "death disc" or something akin to.
"When I'm dead" in The Public Image, - we're walking over presumably his grave (broken stones).

"I tried to pass myself off as a human being but the truth soon exposed me", he says. Very clever...if he's not a "human being" then what is he, what is the truth?. Is he an alien?. Maybe Jones is onto something talking about the royalty thing. "God Save The Queen, she ain't no human being", etc.
"Public Image Ltd." being Johnny Rotten's former band.
That's enough on that, tho' before this turns into a Diana conspiracy thing.

Anyway, Morrissey projects so much of that dark stuff that you become sensitized to the bleakness by necessity after a while and only then you can sort of see other things emerging through the gloom-laden mist. As you say nothing is ever 100% cut and dried with Morrissey, deliberately so. Leading on from this fact, people, as you correctly point out, don't want to discuss the many layers because they want to project only their own selfish agenda onto his words. Strange, isn't it? - but ultimately I guess not surprising.

> I thought it was quite funny that you noticed the b-side correlation. I
> noticed it with Friday Mourning, but I thought I was reading maybe a bit
> too much into it. Interesting.
> for him and that he has given almost every fibre over to projecting
> himself as
> an artist instead. Is that fake or real? > Real, I think, but real as
> in legitimate. I don't know that it is 100% one way or the other, though;
> I don't think anything with Morrissey is as cut-and-dried as that...

> I too, have tried to discuss lyrical interpretation on here, but it rarely
> works. Why? Again, many people don't see (or want to see) the many layers
> in the songs; instead, they want to (again) over-simplify them to fit
> their personal agendas of who Morrissey is/should be/wants to be.
 
Yes, Barf Uncle, you're exactly right. Excellent!

> Also, on IHFJ there's "by Friday life has killed
> me"...."Friday Mourning"
> Every b-side there's a "death disc" or something akin to.
> "When I'm dead" in The Public Image, - we're walking over
> presumably his grave (broken stones).

Yes, exactly! I felt the broken stones were his grave, as well. It's funny how I thought I was the only one who noticed the "Friday Mourning"/"by Friday... life has killed me" parallels -- I just KNEW it was intentional! So many people do tend to completely dismiss any song discussions -- at least in-depth ones. It IS sad, really. There's so much to ponder and reflect upon, hm. But I guess as has been proven time and again, many times it's best and most rewarding to do so alone.

> "I tried to pass myself off as a human being but the truth soon
> exposed me", he says. Very clever...if he's not a "human
> being" then what is he, what is the truth?. Is he an alien?

No, he's a creature in human form! (Sorry, Radio City night 2, you had to be there, I guess. But it was hilarious!) Anyway, here's what I think, and I'm going out on a limb here: I've found that many people, deep down, feel like a complete and utter fraud, some times more than others. One sometimes feels as if someone 'really' knew him, he'd be 'exposed' as not the person everyone thought he was. (Obviously this applies to women such as myself as well, but I hate using 'them' when 'he or she' is grammatically correct, ha ha... uh.)

Maybe
> Jones is onto something talking about the royalty thing. "God Save
> The Queen, she ain't no human being", etc.
> "Public Image Ltd." being Johnny Rotten's former band.
> That's enough on that, tho' before this turns into a Diana conspiracy
> thing.

Jones may be onto something. But I think you're smart to be cognizant of it turning into another Diana conspiracy thing! (Which is surprisingly interesting, if you read about it. Sort of like the Pink Floyd/Wizard of Oz thing.)

> Anyway, Morrissey projects so much of that dark stuff that you become
> sensitized to the bleakness by necessity after a while and only then you
> can sort of see other things emerging through the gloom-laden mist.

Exactly. However, there is a certain pure, untouched beauty in the bleakness of his lyrics I've never seen anywhere, from anyone else, in my life. Ever. It is true, though, that once one looks past that, you see many, many other things emerge. I'm STILL seeing new things.

> As you say nothing is ever 100% cut and dried with Morrissey, deliberately so.
> Leading on from this fact, people, as you correctly point out, don't want
> to discuss the many layers because they want to project only their own
> selfish agenda onto his words. Strange, isn't it? - but ultimately I guess
> not surprising.

You're right, sadly, it's not surprising. As mushy, and -- excuse the pun -- barfish as it sounds, I was really saddened when I realized how many people felt about the whole thing. I started out a Morrissey "purist," and was genuinely, truly surprised at other people's attitudes (not toward me, but toward Moz and the music) when I first met and spoke with other fans. I can't BEGIN to describe my reaction when I first saw this board! But I could go on about that for hours (okay, paragraphs) and this is not the place, because most here wouldn't get it. (They need it in small doses, which is what I try to do.) Also, there are enough mean-natured people on here who will twist what I say and be quite, ah, impolite in their responses.

Ah, a catharsis! Thanks, Barf Uncle. You DO understand, and you're one of the few. Stick around, eh?
 
Re: Yes, Barf Uncle, you're exactly right. Excellent!

> Yes, exactly! I felt the broken stones were his grave, as well. It's funny
> how I thought I was the only one who noticed the "Friday
> Mourning"/"by Friday... life has killed me" parallels -- I
> just KNEW it was intentional! So many people do tend to completely dismiss
> any song discussions -- at least in-depth ones. It IS sad, really.

Especially when you see what goes on instead, eh?

> There's
>so much to ponder and reflect upon, hm. But I guess as has been proven
> time and again, many times it's best and most rewarding to do so alone.

You're right Thursday it is rewarding,
but as you probably know in a murky place such as this
it's nice to share these kinds of thoughts now again.

> No, he's a creature in human form! (Sorry, Radio City night 2, you had to
> be there, I guess. But it was hilarious!) Anyway, here's what I think, and
> I'm going out on a limb here: I've found that many people, deep down, feel
> like a complete and utter fraud, some times more than others.

Good point - I like your thoughts.
It is a joy to know someone actually thinks/cares about these things, really!

One
> sometimes feels as if someone 'really' knew him, he'd be 'exposed' as not
> the person everyone thought he was. (Obviously this applies to women such
> as myself as well, but I hate using 'them' when 'he or she' is
> grammatically correct, ha ha... uh.)

> Maybe
> Jones may be onto something. But I think you're smart to be cognizant of
> it turning into another Diana conspiracy thing! (Which is surprisingly
> interesting, if you read about it. Sort of like the Pink Floyd/Wizard of
> Oz thing.)

I've read about 80% of it!. It is bizarre.

> Exactly. However, there is a certain pure, untouched beauty in the
> bleakness of his lyrics I've never seen anywhere, from anyone else, in my
> life. Ever. It is true, though, that once one looks past that, you see
> many, many other things emerge. I'm STILL seeing new things.

> You're right, sadly, it's not surprising. As mushy, and -- excuse the pun
> -- barfish as it sounds, I was really saddened when I realized how many
> people felt about the whole thing. I started out a Morrissey
> "purist," and was genuinely, truly surprised at other people's
> attitudes (not toward me, but toward Moz and the music) when I first met
> and spoke with other fans. I can't BEGIN to describe my reaction when I
> first saw this board! But I could go on about that for hours (okay,
> paragraphs) and this is not the place, because most here wouldn't get it.
> (They need it in small doses, which is what I try to do.) Also, there are
> enough mean-natured people on here who will twist what I say and be quite,
> ah, impolite in their responses.

Most of those people are cowards who have been bullied at one time.
Barbarism begins at home / school and all that.

> Ah, a catharsis! Thanks, Barf Uncle. You DO understand, and you're one of
> the few. Stick around, eh?

I'll fight 'till the last breath.
 
A few more things, Barf Uncle...

> Especially when you see what goes on instead, eh?

Yes, exactly.

> You're right Thursday it is rewarding,
> but as you probably know in a murky place such as this
> it's nice to share these kinds of thoughts now again.

Yes, you're right about that... It does feel good when someone appreciates (heck, even comprehends) what one is saying, especially here. I wish everyone could see the good, the potential for growth and knowledge, that true analyzation brings.

> Good point - I like your thoughts.
> It is a joy to know someone actually thinks/cares about these things,
> really!

Aw, thank you. I mean it. I feel exactly the same way.

> Most of those people are cowards who have been bullied at one time.
> Barbarism begins at home / school and all that.

Here's the one thing I take issue with. I agree with you, yes, they most likely were bullied. But weren't we all, at least all of us here, to some degree? I've always thought (though I've never seen it written anywhere or backed up in any scholarly journal or anything like that) that true understanding, true EMPATHY for other human beings is only truly possible if one has experienced grief firsthand. It's been my experience that the more pain/bitter disappointment/grief one has been through, the more truly, deeply, and authentically one can feel empathy toward others.

I guess it goes the other way, too, eh? But some of the meanest, tritest, shallowest people I've ever met have been the ones who have gone through life smooooth sailing, if that makes any sense. Just a thought...

I really enjoyed reading your post, Barf Uncle. (Even though I laugh aloud every time I type your name -- but that's not a bad thing, is it?)

> I'll fight 'till the last breath.
Thank God. Me, too...
 
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