The Smiths A-Z: "I Won't Share You"

[BookishBoy]

Next up in our Smiths A-Z project is this, the last song on the Strangeways Here We Come album of 1987.

The song was never played live by the Smiths but was unexpectedly resurrected by Morrissey at three North American shows in 2019.

What do we think?

 

[That's Enough For Me]

Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful

The ultimate goodbye song.

 

[Watson]

My goodness...one of the most beautiful and tender songs every written. TEFM says the "ultimate goodbye song" and I wholeheartedly agree. What makes it even more perfect is the "Has the Perrier gone straight to my head?" line...even whilst saying farewell Moz adds a hilarious little bon mot. Just wonderful.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

thank god for that dusty old autoharp that was lying around unused at the studio for years that Johnny tuned up and suddenly from it, this song magically emerged.

Street cried the first time he heard it, and they realized later that it’s actually the same chords as Ask, but slowed down. To paraphrase from Simon Goddard’s ‘Songs that Saved...’

 

[butley]

I’ve never quite been able to connect with this song. It seems a bit garbled lyrically.

 

[BookishBoy]

Johnny, on the song's "meaning":

"I just heard a really lovely tune first off. I was happy that we had another unusual little 'star in our galaxy' or whatever. That's what it was like, this other little thing that just beamed down. The lyrics were brought to my attention by somebody, even before we got out of the studio. There were raised eyebrows and, 'Whadya think of that then?'. But it was all in a day's work for me really, still is. If I was bothered by it I'd say, 'Well I ain't anyone's to f***ing share, me" but that's really the truth. If, in fact, that sentiment was directed towards me then quite rightly I feel quite good about it. It's nice. It's okay. I'm not arsed about it."

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

Johnny, on the song's "meaning":

"The lyrics were brought to my attention by somebody, even before we got out of the studio. There were raised eyebrows and, 'Whadya think of that then?'.

But it was all in a day's work for me really, still is. If I was bothered by it I'd say, 'Well I ain't anyone's to f***ing share, me" but that's really the truth. If, in fact, that sentiment was directed towards me then quite rightly I feel quite good about it. It's nice. It's okay. I'm not arsed about it."

Strange that there were people around Johnny ready to tell him this song was about him. I wonder how often that happened after Morrissey would lay down a vocal for each new song.

It happened in the studio, so was everyone vying for Morrissey’s attention? Was it out of jealousy that others were pointing out to Marr that they think this song was about him?

 

[ErsatzHawkChad]

Anyone get a su-su-su-su-su-suuu-sugar town vibe from the main chord prog? Only more minor-sounding. Burnt sugar, maybe?

 

[Nikita]

I adore it. I cried when I heard it in NY in 2019. I never understood what he sang at the end though ("I want the freedom and ... ?).

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

I adore it. I cried when I heard it in NY in 2019. I never understood what he sang at the end though ("I want the freedom and ... ?).

the guile”

 

[Anonymous]

Strange that there were people around Johnny ready to tell him this song was about him. I wonder how often that happened after Morrissey would lay down a vocal for each new song.

It happened in the studio, so was everyone vying for Morrissey’s attention? Was it out of jealousy that others were pointing out to Marr that they think this song was about him?

Someone who interviewed the Severed Alliance writer Johnny Rogan said that Mike and Andy used to tease Johnny about Morrissey's lyrics.

 

[j*e*t]

I recalled seeing this photo (18th September 2019) of Chrissie and Johnny backstage at The Roundhouse in London when Morrissey sang I won't Share You on tour in October 2019. I wouldn't like to say that there's a connection though!

 

[Deleted member 30524]

I have strangeways in the car and play it loud at the mo. But I’m afraid that this song does nothing for me and never has.
I don’t think it’s a bad song as it does have a certain charm to it.

 

[Vegan Cro Spirit .444]

I recalled seeing this photo (18th September 2019) of Chrissie and Johnny backstage at The Roundhouse in London when Morrissey sang I won't Share You on tour in October 2019. I wouldn't like to say that there's a connection though!

there it is.

6o fing years old with a stupid tat
on his neck

6o yrs old, the twat. but WAIT
all the teenagers wear a dumb
tat on the neck

ITS COOL IM COOL
(very embarrassing)

what shanda

 

[Amy]

Absolutely perfect. A beautiful, gentle, almost eerie song that never ages - Moz saying goodbye.

The note I wrote
As she read, she said

... "This is not a rant or an hysterical bombast..."

 

[Amy]

Johnny, on the song's "meaning":

"I just heard a really lovely tune first off. I was happy that we had another unusual little 'star in our galaxy' or whatever. That's what it was like, this other little thing that just beamed down. The lyrics were brought to my attention by somebody, even before we got out of the studio. There were raised eyebrows and, 'Whadya think of that then?'. But it was all in a day's work for me really, still is. If I was bothered by it I'd say, 'Well I ain't anyone's to f***ing share, me" but that's really the truth. If, in fact, that sentiment was directed towards me then quite rightly I feel quite good about it. It's nice. It's okay. I'm not arsed about it."

He really does come out with some evasive, laddish twaddle when he wants to.
Beautiful song, extremely sad and revealing sentiment about losing someone you love, and he says "I'm not arsed about it."
Poor Moz, f***ing hell.

 

[SuedeMoz]

Johnny, on the song's "meaning":

"I just heard a really lovely tune first off. I was happy that we had another unusual little 'star in our galaxy' or whatever. That's what it was like, this other little thing that just beamed down. The lyrics were brought to my attention by somebody, even before we got out of the studio. There were raised eyebrows and, 'Whadya think of that then?'. But it was all in a day's work for me really, still is. If I was bothered by it I'd say, 'Well I ain't anyone's to f***ing share, me" but that's really the truth. If, in fact, that sentiment was directed towards me then quite rightly I feel quite good about it. It's nice. It's okay. I'm not arsed about it."

While I'm mixed on Strangeways, I adore this one. If it is about Johnny then it's Morrissey baring his heart and soul, trying to hold onto something he knows is fleeting. While they've said the Strangways sessions were an overall nice experience, it's obvious the tension had been building. I wonder if Morrissey taking so long to play it solo is an indication of how personal it is to him?

 

[Lujissey]

The song is nice but I prefer many other songs, but the value is elvado by the story around the lyrics, which Moz supposedly wrote for Don Johnny. How far does reality or fantasy go with the story of the two? Does anyone know

 

[Anonymous]

We all know it's about Morrissey's unrequited love for Mike Joyce, really.

 

[SuedeMoz]

I adore it. I cried when I heard it in NY in 2019. I never understood what he sang at the end though ("I want the freedom and ... ?).

I want the freedom and the guile

I feel like I've never quite understood the line.