i always wondered if Billy Budd was about Johnny Marr?
First of all the guitar work is reminiscent of Marrs work on The Queen is Dead (song rather than Album)
and the lyrics:
Say, Billy Budd
So you think you should ?
Oh, everyone's laughing
Say, Billy Budd
So you think that you should ?
Everyone's laughing !
Since I took up with you
Things have been bad
Yeah, but now it's 12 years on
Now it's 12 years on
Yes, and I took up with you
I took my job application
Into town
Did you hear ? They turned me down
Yes, and it's all because of us
Oh, and what was in our eyes
Oh, what was in our eyes, yeah
I said, Billy Budd
I would happily lose
Both of my legs
I would lose both of my legs
Oh, if it meant you could be free
Oh, if it meant you could be free
This came out in 1994 - about 12 years after their first meeting....
Or it might be nothing of the sort!