Bit of a cop-out this week.It's the one song I can never bring myself to play. Reckon I've maybe done so three times in 25 years and one of those would have been by error when I couldn't find the remote to press the skip function.
mp3 : The Smiths - Meat Is Murder
The band's militant views on this have caused me huge discomfort for years. I am just someone who could not live on a meat-free diet. And I do envy those who can.
Mrs Villain has been a vegetarian for almost all her life, while Jacques the Kipper is another who has been meat-free for as long as I've known him (which is 20+ years now).
I squirmed when I first played this track way back when I bought the LP in 1985. I played it one more time a few days later and I was still squirmy. I vowed I wouldn't play it again. Other than once many years later when I had the CD on, I've stuck to that vow. I went to download it from the i-tunes library and remembered that I had never ever uploaded it onto the PC until now for fear of it coming on randomly. And when I uploaded it just now, I deleted it immediately from the library.
It's an irrational fear of the music I know. But I can't help it.
I hated it when the band played it live and I hated it when Morrissey played it live. I remember once watching some tribute or charity gig on telly one night when Chrissie Hynde joined Johnny Marr on stage and they gave the song a rendition. I turned over for the duration.
So, I cant offer any opinion on Meat Is Murder. But if I'm to complete the task of putting all known songs by the band on TVV over an extended period of time, I cant shirk away from posting it.
13 comments:
Not their best song indeed. I remember Robert Smith, who stated that "If Morrissey says not to eat meat, then I'll eat meat".
Sorry, I like meat too much also.
http://www.lastfm.fm/user/arturobandini2
Very interesting JC... and makes me wonder-out-loud if you have any other tracks ike this - that is, a song by a band/artist you like that you just can't play for whatever reason? One of mine is 'Brilliant Trees' by David Sylvian. If I ever did play that song now, by accident, I think it would finish me off for good (the album is grand, but that one song... well, if you know it you'll guess why I imagine).
I can't say that this turned me to vegetarianism, but it did make me aware of the issue.
As you said not a brilliant song but it was effective.
I wish I still had my bootleg tape of the Smiths doing this live & in concert at the Aberdeen Capitol sometime autumn 1985. Recorded from way, way back in the stalls, someone thinks it'll be a good idea to make a sheep noise. Then someone else. Then... you're ahead of me here. Childish, indeed, but sadly, the song lends itself too easily to such playground raspberrying.
I still respect them for being so baldly direct, mind. Even if, like yourself, I can only feel a distance from the end result. A sincere misfire?
yrs
DMcA
Great call! This one song is the reason Meat is Murder is the least likely of all Smiths LPs to make it on my turntable, doing a disservice to the rest of the album's content.
I have to agree with erawk - it's possibly one of my least favourite Smiths' songs; although as a vegetarian, it had an impact on me.
And yes, the least likely of the four studio albums to make it onto my turntable or iPod also.
In terms of Colin's challenge; the band that spring to mind are New Model Army. their songs 'Shot 18' and 'Archway Towers' spoil the otherwise brilliant albums 'No Rest For The Wicked' and 'Thunder and Consolation' prespectively.
Your post prompted this: http://acidted.wordpress.com/2010/11/07/gary-clail-beef/
Of course one doesn't have to be vegan to enjoy The Smiths, but we're speaking about one song inparticular, which it appears to me that people who eat flesh find uncomfortable to listen to, and I can only conclude that this is because, on some level, they feel a degree of guilt and shame regarding their eating habits.
I realise that the majority of people who eat flesh feel neither of those things, and positively revel in the fact that animals are viciously slaughtered, and suffer unimaginable torments at the hands of their captors, so that you, and others who share your proclivities, can have a sandwich, but I would have thought that those who identify themselves as admirers of Morrissey's work are, fundamentally, sensitive and compassionate people, who would recognise the brutality of the meat industry and would want no part in it.
No one in popular music had tackled this, still, hugely controversial subject with such direct ferocity before, and to compare Morrissey's Art with that of a shameless populist who writes in banal cliches is disingenuous, and makes me wonder how you can appreciate any of Morrissey's work, if you can't see any beauty in this song.
You make no mention of the music, which is elegaic and beautiful and compliments Morrissey's lyrics perfectly, so I think it's safe to assume that it's simply the lyrical subject matter that you find so unappealing, and the reason for that is obvious, as I pointed out in my first comment.
I've never heard a vegetarian say that they hate this song (apart from that 'Ed' guy above, which I find unfathomable)
Thanks, as ever, for all the welcome contributions. A few things I'd like to say in response to ambitious outsider.
Yes, there is the occasional eeling of guilt, but not shame, that I am fond of meat and fish. That is what I was trying to convey in the original post.
But I think its a bit OTT to say that flesh-eaters positively revel in such things. Most folk dont think about it at all - its a force of habit.
"I would have thought that those who identify themselves as admirers of Morrissey's work are, fundamentally, sensitive and compassionate people, who would recognise the brutality of the meat industry and would want no part in it."
That, I'm afraid to say is just nonsense. You might not like the fact but it is permissable to be a fan of the great man's work AND enjoy a sausage sandwhich.
I've no idea what you're on about re me comparing Morrissey's art to a shameless populist...
As for the charge laid against me making no mention about the music, I will plead guilty. After all, I do admit I dont listen to the song so I cant possibly comment at all on whether the music is elegaic and beautiful or if it is a dirge....
And lay off Ed. He's one of the most sincere blokes on Planet Earth. Just because he's a veggie doesnt mean to say he has to automatically like 'Meat Is Murder'.
I was just wondering that myself, actually: who is the 'shameless populist' you refer to AO? I didn't follow that bit. For what it's worth I think it's an amazing piece of music - challenging, inventive and instantly recognisable. And though it was individually responsible for me being a youthful and committed vegetarian, for a while, it was not enough to keep me at that particular culinary and lifestyle-choice table (though I am eating veggie moussaka as I type this).
Please concentrate on the salient points, which are that you only object so strongly to the song because you are incurable carnivores who cannot see beyond your own vile appetites.
A few days ago, someone left a message on my facebook page saying how they hated the song 'Meat Is Murder', and that it reminded them of Bono, at his most po-faced and puritanical. What I posted here was what I originally posted in response to him, as i didn't wish to waste anymore time or energy trying to convince incurable philistines such as yourself of the horrific nature of your actions.
As I said, ignore the parts that don't apply, but don't let that detract from the issue, which is that you only single this song out as 'sub-standard', not because it actually is, but because the lyrics are too close to home, and too near the bone.
'Incurable philistine'??
Get a grip on reality AO.
And please note, at no point did the original posting say the song was 'sub-standard'.
Get a grip?
I suggest you re-read your original post. Not much of a 'grip' of any description there.
Do you know how animals die?
Do you care how animals die?
Your answers would appear to be yes and no, so yeah, 'incurable philistine' seems appropriate.
I'm not surprised you can't bear to listen to Meat Is Murder while you're busy tucking into your death sandwich.
There are innumerable good reasons to listen to Meat Is Murder, it's just a shame your lack of moral fibre prevents you from finding one.
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