Morrissey A-Z: "I Can Have Both"

[BookishBoy]

Maybe it's an eerily prescient song about Keir Starmer's "ability" to appeal to Labour and Tory voters at the same time...

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

A gem of a song, criminally left off Maladjusted at the last moment for Wide to Rceive. Love the Boz’ Smiths-jangle on this one, and the lyrics.
One of his finest songs from 1997 and one of his best ever b-sides.

9,6

Didn’t know that. They’re both great. It must have been a coin toss between them. I think Morrissey made the right choice, for Wide To is musically more interesting, a little different than the expected chug and jangle.

 

[Deleted member 29421]

The more I think about it, the more he probably was stating the obvious. I assumed this song was about bisexuality when I first heard it but then I read more into it as time went on. He may just be saying that love chooses you and if you're not capable of falling in love with someone of your own gender then you're not capable of love at all.

 

[GirlAfraidWillNeverLearn]

Didn’t know that. They’re both great. It must have been a coin toss between them. I think Morrissey made the right choice, for Wide To is musically more interesting, a little different than the expected chug and jangle.

As much as I love this one, I must say Wide To Receive is superior and I love it even more. There about five songs from this era that I feel very strongly about, each unparalleled in its own way.

 

[Glamorous Glue]

Should have put this one instead of Papa Jack. This is My Love Live part 2. Still doesn't beat Wide to Receive. Opinions. lol.

 

[GirlAfraidWillNeverLearn]

The more I think about it, the more he probably was stating the obvious. I assumed this song was about bisexuality when I first heard it but then I read more into it as time went on. He may just be saying that love chooses you and if you're not capable of falling in love with someone of your own gender then you're not capable of love at all.

The language he uses really does strongly suggest that it's about sexuality (as also mentioned in the article). The line about the small boy being brainwashed that Mayfly mentioned, but also "I've not been feeling myself tonight" - it's all very suggestive and the sweet shop metaphor makes sense too.

 

[Deleted member 29421]

The language he uses really does strongly suggest that it's about sexuality (as also mentioned in the article). The line about the small boy being brainwashed that Mayfly mentioned, but also "I've not been feeling myself tonight" - it's all very suggestive and the sweet shop metaphor makes sense too.

'I've not been feeling myself tonight' always struck me as funny. It could be taken literally as 'I've not been touching myself tonight'

 

[Anonymous]

To be fair, it's hard to get too passionate when choosing between a Dairy Milk and a Snickers.

That's what this song is about, right?

It’s about Johnny and Angie Marr. 😉

 

[BookishBoy]

'I've not been feeling myself tonight' always struck me as funny. It could be taken literally as 'I've not been touching myself tonight'

Oh that's definitely a Morrissey double entendre, I'm sure you're right!

 

[ThePoliticalRevolution]

Talking about 'touching'. I Keep Mine Hidden mentions 'where to be' touched' meant to be 'mental'. In the UK we say people are 'touched' if they're not quite right in the head. I don't know whether this has the same meaning in other countries.

Cant believe you don't want to be my friend anymore @Dale Wharfe. This is a mistake.

 

[ThePoliticalRevolution]

Cant believe you don't want to be my friend anymore @Dale Wharfe. This is a mistake.

But I am not gonna pressure you @Dale Wharfe. Thats not my style.

 

[ThePoliticalRevolution]

I always thought I was your friend, Politi. I don't recall us falling out. There may be times I don't respond to you because I wake up half dead not remembering what I've said the night before and am too anxious to view my notifications, before I delete everything.

Do you need a hug from your old Politi, @Dale Wharfe ? Because I THINK YOU REALLY DO.

 

[ThePoliticalRevolution]

We're in the wrong thread. We'll have a cuddle in the 'whatever you're thinking' room.

A hug is NOT the same as a cuddle. I have to think about that one a bit. I AM A THNKER.

 

[ThePoliticalRevolution]

I'll talk about whatever I want, WHEREVER I want. FREE SPEECH!

 

[Verso]

One of my absolute favorites. Much like "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before," there's something so ecstatic about that simple, one-finger guitar solo that ends the track. I find it interesting that the choice was between this and "Wide to Receive" given that they're, in my opinion, the two most explicitly queer songs from the Maladjusted sessions.

 

[GirlAfraidWillNeverLearn]

One of my absolute favorites. Much like "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before," there's something so ecstatic about that simple, one-finger guitar solo that ends the track. I find it interesting that the choice was between this and "Wide to Receive" given that they're, in my opinion, the two most explicitly queer songs from the Maladjusted sessions.

That's true. I hadn't thought about that before.

Roy's Keen is also pretty queer though. Very thinly veiled play of words...

 

[Verso]

That's true. I hadn't thought about that before.

Roy's Keen is also pretty queer though. Very thinly veiled play of words...

"Roy's Keen" is certainly queer in the traditional definition: bizarre from start to finish.

 

[GirlAfraidWillNeverLearn]

I guess what I'm trying to say is that although sex is handy for making babies, it can also be enjoyed for what it is. It's not exclusive. Your hands were made for plucking berriesbut you use them for so much more than that today. Just because tools are made for a specific reason, it doesn't mean you can't utilise them in other ways. I feel the same about sex.

And there are also other ways of reproducing these days...

 

[Anonymous]

Maybe it's a song about wanting to do it with twins?

 

[SqueezingMySkull]

This is not only one of my all-time favorite Morrissey songs, it is probably the one most often quoted in everyday conversation. I can't possibly be the only one, right?