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On these streets where you were raised
I had a really bad dream
It lasted twenty years, seven months
And twenty-seven days, and I know The Smiths – Never Had No One Ever
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Morrissey on the line to Melody Maker, September 27, 1986:
On The Queen Is Dead, “Never Had No One Ever”, there’s a line that goes When you walk without ease/on these/the very streets where you were raised/I had a really bad dream/it lasted 20 years, seven months and 27 days/Never had no one ever. It was the frustration that I felt at the age of 20 when I still didn’t feel easy walking around the streets on which I’d been born, where all my family had lived – they’re originally from Ireland but had been here since the Fifties. It was a constant confusion to me why I never really felt this is my patch. This is my home. I know these people. I can do what I like, because this is mine.‘ It never was. I could never walk easily.
The idea of a bad dream sets up the listener to hear some sad temporary fantasy, but instead its a metaphorical 20-year dream to represent the feeling of Moz being outcasted into his twenties. If taken literally from the day Morrissey was born (Friday, May 22, 1959), this would put “20 years, 7 months, and 27 days” on Friday, January 18, 1980.
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What is this?
The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.
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The classic Leonard Cohen cover was featured on Jeff Buckley’s lone completed solo album, Grace. Buckley brings a lilting, impassioned presence to the track.
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What is this?
The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.
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The girl Black Francis is referring to is fairly callous and clumsy. Unlike the dainty models walking gracefully down the runway, this girl’s feet slap the floor as she walks.
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When you walk around pretending to be happy, but are really hungry for love.
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What is this?
The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.
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All of the tension between Alex Kapranos and his love interest can be resolved with the right conversation and some good make-up sex.
And looked at the night before
He knew what he had to do
He was responsible
In the mirror
He saw his friend Slint – Don, Aman
What is this?
The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.
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The implication is that when he looks in the mirror, Don realizes that his only friend is himself and resigns himself from society and its social obligations. This could even indicate that he had an epiphany, by which he thought that he should commit suicide, a theme approached in “Washer”, the following track. One could also think that this references “Good Morning, Captain” in which his friend is his old, young self. He’d be then looking at past version of himself, feeling incredibly alone and misunderstood and, at the same time, trying to reconcile everything in his life.
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