"Kegs between legs"; poetic genius or Morrissey's worst lyric?

[Maurice E]

Well, in the entire history of Mozdom, I don't think the reviews for an album have ever centred so much around one lyric; yes it's those kegs!

There's been lots of comment on the lyric but I wondered what the general view was, so how about a quick poll?
I'll try and make the options reasonably objective...

 

[wontlisten]

or... you could shut up.

 

[Hairdresser on Maudlin St]

I don't think this is worthy of a thread

 

[timelessmelody]

Worst Morrissey lyric ever.

 

[Radio Berlin]

genius!

 

[Amy]

it's TERRIBLE

 

[Camilla]

It's really laughable.....HA, HA, HA, HA....OHHH!!!

 

[jeniphir]

Cringe-worthy.

--jeniphir

 

[Raquel]

What I thought was so adorable is when I saw Morrissey sing this lyric in Pasadena, he looked out at the audience said the lyric and then said "yes," with a sheepish grin.
He shares everything!

 

[Kewpie]

According to mozmic dancer, explosive kegs is inspired by a Patti Smith song:

"The Patti Smith song that comes to my mind is "Hey, Joe" from Morrissey's Under the Influence where she talks about the "barbed wire between her legs, ya know.
Is there another song?"

In this case genius steals to me.

 

[M-in-Oz]

I think it looks worse written - than when it is sung on the album.

 

[Not Right in the Head]

According to mozmic dancer, explosive kegs is inspired by a Patti Smith song:

"The Patti Smith song that comes to my mind is "Hey, Joe" from Morrissey's Under the Influence where she talks about the "barbed wire between her legs, ya know.
Is there another song?"

That's utter nonsense. Sure, he's a well-known Patti Smith fan, but just because both lines mention things between legs, it doesn't mean that there was any influence. Who's to say that he wasn't inspired by Black Flag's Loose Nut, with its "A bolt of lightning between my legs"? Or any of the numerous other songs that discuss things being between legs?

 

[Cassius]

I thought it was funny. I don't understand the big deal about it, really. It's not like he said, "I haven't f***ed in 24 years".

 

[celibate]

'boots the grime in your crotch dear' from Sheila take a bow

that was more than 20 years ago, so It doesn't disturb me at all

[yea I made the Sheila line a bit shorter, and not precise]

 

[imogen11]

'boots the grime in your crotch dear' from Sheila take a bow

that was more than 20 years ago, so It doesn't disturb me at all

[yea I made the Sheila line a bit shorter, and not precise]

Um, it's 'boot the grime of this world in the crotch, dear'

 

[Kewpie]

That's utter nonsense. Sure, he's a well-known Patti Smith fan, but just because both lines mention things between legs, it doesn't mean that there was any influence. Who's to say that he wasn't inspired by Black Flag's Loose Nut, with its "A bolt of lightning between my legs"? Or any of the numerous other songs that discuss things being between legs?

Thank you very much for the links of the songs contain "between legs".
However, "Hey, Joe" seems to have stronger influence on "Dear God, Please Help Me".
Other Patti Smith song "Kimberly" is also regarded as the influence on "The Hand Rocks The Cradle" which shows "Hey, Joe" is likely to be the inspiration to the lyrics.

 

[celibate]

Um, it's 'boot the grime of this world in the crotch, dear'

yes I knew, love

i wrote that I shortened the line, but thanks for typing the exact line

mum, Imogen's teasing me

 

[Jones]

I don't really get why people object so much to this line. Morrissey has always written purposely clumsy lines to get people's attention and provoke a reaction. He has always put in purposely "ugly" phrases too. If you object to this line it seems to me you object to Morrissey's lyrical style.

 

[Dave]

Most people keep their kegs between their legs?

 

[Not-so-Mute Witness]

I don't really get why people object so much to this line. Morrissey has always written purposely clumsy lines to get people's attention and provoke a reaction. He has always put in purposely "ugly" phrases too. If you object to this line it seems to me you object to Morrissey's lyrical style.

Well, I certainly think "ugly" is the correct adjective. I cannot listen to this song solely because of this lyric. It horrifies me how someone so eloquent and witty can put "explosive kegs" into a song. Actually, the *whole* song agitates me. I MUCH prefer something like Come Back to Camden... tasteful.