The Smiths - Pretty Girls Make Graves

[makesenseofthistv]

Anytime any indie band thinks they are touching base on a new topic....think again..the smiths have already touched it with two fingers and a pinky.

One of the many....many great songs from their catalog....enjoy, appreciate...etc.

[YouToldWho]

Great Song

[js14352]

Life sure comes easy for the beautiful.

[TheManInBlack2003]

@js14352 I wouldn't say that...

[melissa13699]

i love morrissey, have all his albums, all the smiths albums, but what does insufficient "womanhood" have to do with male impotence/inability to perform? i hope that morrissey is being ironic or self-deprecating. if not, as a pretty devoted female fan, this lets me down.

[ColdOasisU2]

only Johnny Marr could end a song like that...

[queenmagic1982]

i receive the smith complete box for christmas i have listened the four studio albums when i heard that song i'm fallin in love of that song til the first listening it's so beautiful long live the smiths

[75yakuza]

Magnifique chanson! D'apres un poeme de Jack Kerouac d'ailleurs, je crois.

[Louielounge]

"I lost my faith in womanhood"

[afreijat]

i was thinking about loads of bullshit.. and then i turned this song on and now i'm just alive.

[76Littlebudha]

one of my favourite music from the smiths...simply genious.

[sneezweez88]

morrissey is beauty<3

[Kiwi72uk]

That last 40 seconds of guitar.. fuck..

[TheGhostwriter09]

@Kiwi72uk

My sentiments exactly! If it's possible to surpass perfection, Johnny Marr surely did it there.

[dean24uk]

great poetry.. no thats not the word..it runs deeper then poetry, just unique,

[js14352]

Haha story of my life

[kurtywurty85]

makes me want to stick my face in a radiator. and eat cheese. and cry. and drink coffee. I hate coffee.

[bellehantise]

"I could have been wild, I could have been free but nature played this trick on me."

[BoyGenteel]

One of the best songs ever written about asexuality. Notice that he desires the woman romantically, but can't go along with her sexual advances, because his "Native Son" will not rise for anyone. But the song is clearly about asexuality and not homosexuality, because he DOES desire her as a romantic partner, as evinced by his envy at the man "who takes her hand."

Way too many people conflate love with sex. They seem to accept sex without romantic love. Well, this is just the opposite of that.

[sidDkid87]

@BoyGenteel Spot on!

[mrsolofeo]

@BoyGenteel If he desires the woman, then he is not asexual. It's not that he doesn't want to be involved intimately with her, but that he is a passive male who doesn't know how to be assertive towards the woman.

He feels uncomfortable with the woman's playful advances, but is too insecure to escalate the relationship to a romantic level--so he's in a quandary of his own making.

When the woman finds another lover, he just becomes resentful and goes off with his tail between his legs.

[BoyGenteel]

@mrsolofeo We may disagree on the content of the song (I think the part about "not rising for anyone" is an anatomical metaphor, myself), but your first sentence is not true. A person can be asexual but still desire a romantic partner. (I am case in point.) Asexual is not the same thing as "aromantic."

[mrsolofeo]

@BoyGenteel Thanx for the clarification, but it is difficult for me to understand the concept of asexuality. I think that we as humans are genetically programmed to be sexual creatures.

[BoyGenteel]

@mrsolofeo Some people are; some people aren't.

[thewrathofbombast]

@mrsolofeo I like this that you say.

[SX1995able]

@mrsolofeo Sounds like me.

[queenmagic1982]

@BoyGenteel ok ok i don't understand how 's a man can be in love of a woman without to sleep & have a sexual relationship ? it's really weird ok it' maybe the case or the choice of morrissey respect for him , i love that song very much

[swedeseed]

@BoyGenteel i think you have analyzed this song exactly..good comments indeed

[captaindaring]

Anybody that thinks U2 "sucks"--by the way, nice mature descriptive word-- just doesn't have an ear for music, period. Hey, we can't save everyone.

[tomeeeee1]

Are people becoming more sociopathic over time, cuz women love sociopaths, kuz they are confident and empty. haha.

[thewrathofbombast]

I think this song is about a man unable to fill the "role" he's supposed to fill. I wouldn't say it's about homosexuality, but rather a fear or clumsiness when it comes to sex and fear of not impressing the other person; something that the other man can do.

And as with everything Morrissey, this song is about loneliness and being unable to communicate with another person.

[mrsolofeo]

@thewrathofbombast I like your interpretation of this song. I think Morrissey feels ashamed because he cannot be the man that the woman who desires him wants him to be--and that is taking control in a relationship.

[gambitmo]

@mrsolofeo Exactly, I think this is a better representation of the song. The whole penis metaphor ("I will not rise") and asexuality is too simplistic. It's about him not being able to be what she wants him to be. I prefer the interpretation of shyness though. He doesn't easily give in to lust because he's not as physical as her ("she wants it now", "I'm too delicate").

[mrsolofeo]

@gambitmo Exactly--the whole shyness/passive male issue comes into play here.

It is very difficult for passive males, because of shyness, to assert themselves in initiating a romantic relationship with women--which is what women expect males to be--dominant and assertive.

[Lonewolfy101]

i just realized the last lyrics say

"the sun shines out of our behinds" :)

[Iscream4Irene]

@Lonewolfy101 amazing isn't it? :)

[Afereth]

I dont know if he is gy or not I know that I am straight and sometimes I feel disgusted with women as I am sure women feel disgusted with men sometimes. Usually after a nasty break up. Is Morrisey gay? dunno and i dont care All I know is his music is damn good

[musicjunkie5861]

Everyone needs to face it Morrissey is "Gay" in a interview he did, he say he is "Asexual" what ever the hell that means. This charming man, love that song but really our you listening to the lyrics? If you ever got a chance the Smiths live you know what I'm talking about.

[mrsolofeo]

@musicjunkie5861 I think Morrissey tried to craft a mystique of sexual ambivalence. But, as you point out, he pretty much lays it all out if you listen to his lyrics--and that is that of a homosexual man with perhaps some heterosexual yearnings.

[une6fille6attriste6]

A penis hahahahaha what is wrong with you? XDDDDDsashasvices....hahahahah­a

I love ths song.

I love the Smiths.

They are honest. They show us there is nothing to be ahhamed of....digg out our most terrible humiliations and make songs about them.

The best waz to become comfortable with them and confront them-

[MissKenzieLoVe]

"Pretty Girls Make Graves" is definitely a line from a Kerouac book. I think it's in Dharma Bums actually

[rocksteady1312]

@MissKenzieLoVe true dat, just read it. They would have been friends fo'sho'izzle

[loulabellaa]

Which album is this from? :)

[carloszelaya95]

@loulabellaa their self titled one :)

[HisEmptyHouse]

I love this song because it's basically an antithesis for the trillions of stupid courtship ritual and sex love songs. Here's a song from the perspective of a man who has opted out of that nonsense and thinks himself better than that.

[Paios]

@HisEmptyHouse nnnnope?

[thewrathofbombast]

@HisEmptyHouse Absolutely!

[thewrathofbombast]

But he also suffers because of that... I don't know if he thinks himself better all the time.

[CallumT02]

The song title makes sense all the ''Pretty girls'' are the ones who lead you on and make you stressed..

[sarabower1]

the bass is brilliant

[druidmacarthur]

Great song!!! Now let's fight!!!

[paulohenss]

He is gay. Can you all accept that? He chose celibacy, but it don't change the fact that he is homossexual.

[MelancholyApples]

@paulohenss celibacy?

[golpsmith]

@paulohenss And what if he is gay or not? Mr. P.S. Morrissey is a genius, gay or not.

[it234561]

@golpsmith you're right :)

[Spiritualized1]

@paulohenss oh really?

[fadeintoyou77]

@paulohenss

Wouldn't be too sure about that.

The female vocal on this track is one Annalisa Jablonska, an early girlfriend of our Moz.

The song could be about her among others.

[thewrathofbombast]

@paulohenss He's never said he's gay, right? So how do you know?

[CassiusFA]

I always saw this as a song about mozza having a girl pretty much offer herself to him, but he declines, and she moves swiftly onto another.

[EdJClarke]

3:02 onwards, my favourite part of the song. Love this version

[phenomenus01]

:/

[Sapsie]

@phenomenus01

Eloquent.

[DatabaseError]

@Sapsie

Exquisite.

[PeruBNU]

I think this song is also about insecurity: The Moz WANTS to fuck the womans brain out, but he's just not built that way... maybe because his penis is really, really small and he feels ashamed and not confortable at all with the woman(I could have been wild/ And I could have been free/But Nature played this trick on me) . It made him unable to be the stud that the woman was expecting. Beautiful, deep song!!

[musicjunkie5861]

@PeruBNU "The leather run's smooth on the passenger seat" "Hand and glove the sun shine's out from our behines" "15 minutes with you". "I love songs, and would like to think he's singing to women. But he's not!

[ruthlessmada]

Every ambigious angle of this song has been covered ...So i will only say if you look at modern women or modern sexuality all together ..There's no room for being a fragile human being or confusion ...Morrissey structures all of his songs this way .... This song along with ..These things take time , Girl afraid etc are all declarations of celibacy and not understanding the world of intimacy .

[mrsolofeo]

@ruthlessmada True, I think Morrissey was deeply afraid of intimacy--particularly with women. Whether he had meaningful relationships with women--who knows.

However, it is difficult for a sensitive, passive male to express intimacy with women--who expect their lovers to dominate and be assertive

In a homosexual relationship a passive male can play the submissive role--and let the dominate male take control. With Morrissey, I think he prefers to have someone else be in control.

[stevobath]

@mrsolofeo Not all women want to be dominated.Thats a rather stereotypical attide & belief. I do however agree with the whole thing about Morrissey being afraid of intimacy.I also think he is uncomfortable in his own shoes,so to speak.Also,although I love his lyrics etc,I think his musings are that of an asshole.Like the music but not how he comes across!

[mrsolofeo]

@stevobath But you must admit that most women expect men to initiate and be the assertive one in relationships.

In this song, Morrissey is a passive male who cannot initiate a relationship with a woman who obviously desires him.

Does a passive male then allow an assertive male to take control? Having given the woman over to a more assertive male--does Morrissey then seek solace in the arms of a dominant male lover--I wonder?

But I agree, Morrissey can be preachy and sanctimonious at times.

[mnhypercam]

so goood

[asmithstributeband]

Search:

'A Smiths Tribute Band- Pretty Girls Make Graves Live '

For our live version of this song. Many thanks

[evelskunny]

sounds like men at work,

[sleezy06]

DRAKE

[vixxen99]

its gonna b a smith weekend=]

[ChocolateBox88]

the tittle alone makes this amazingly awesome

[rj689]

the smiths, radiohead, u2 the best alternative bands

[vampirearistocracy]

@rj689 I'm going to make myself believe that I read The Cure instead of U2..

[toribjork10]

@rj689 yeah, U2 sucks...

[GuitarHeroPhenomSux]

The rhythm for this song sounds alot like "Down Under" by Men at Work.

[vixxen99]

can t get enough=]=]]]]]]]]

[vixxen99]

his voice is soo sweet hes sooo beautiful=]=]

[Prowlerintruder]

As much as I love this song , it's about being a Lil biiiiitttccch

[thecooltactition81]

@Prowlerintruder haha so true (put it in laymen's terms)

[BlueSharkBoy434]

See this kids? You hear that amazing voice? That's REAL. It's not Autotune... I knoooow. Unbelievable right? Well this was an era when music was awesome.

Seriously, I hope kids get a chance to listen to classics such as The Smiths instead of all Hip Hop and Autotuned songs Like RB and JB.

Good luck to the new generation children

[Ralisseca11]

Absolutely love this song <3

[uzickimajmunac]

that guitar on the end....

[fitzochris]

@uzickimajmunac ...is awesome and doesn't last long enough! More!

[buddhabder]

@uzickimajmunac Yes, especially the bit at the very end when he changes the notes... ...sublime.

[uzickimajmunac]

@buddhabder simple and....divine

[alivebytheriver]

"it starts so fast but end so slow"

[thenewmasses]

Yes, Moz! Assault those gender roles! I love you!

[MelancholyApples]

Can someone explain to me what the saying pretty girls make graves means?

[NationdesLumieres]

@MelancholyApples I guess it means men are likely to dig their own graves by falling in love with a pretty girl, because when the lovestory ends, then the grave is wide open. See ?

[MelancholyApples]

@NationdesLumieres i see thanx

[musicjunkie5861]

@MelancholyApples "they break your heart, and make you want to kill yourself"

[amnesiac1975]

A question to British people: "to make grave" is an English way of speaking or was created by Morrissey in this song?

Sorry for my English.

[visforvertigo]

@amnesiac1975 pretty girls make graves comes from the Dharma Bums, by Kerouac

[mangonmoni51006]

my favorite song right nw love it!

[orestes3009]

The finale, with the lyrics of hand in glove coming out (as a conclusion ?) is simply magnificent.

[Riiye]

Johnny Marr is without doubt one of the best guitarists of modern time. When I listen to Morrissey's solo stuff, it's good, but often songs are ruined by unworthy melodies. With The Smiths, every time there's the most incredible rhythm accompanied by Morrissey's brilliance.

[stevobath]

@Riiye Morrisey without Marr just isnt the same.Im really not keen on the solo stuff!

[lankytwang]

It appears I've listened to this song over 330,000 times.

[MrJayr1196]

gotta love me some smiths!

[falsemesiah420]

fukk this song brings bak memories <3 the smithss 

[StefaniSheila]

I am not imagining it. I definitely heard "Hold On To Your Friends" at the end there.

[SOUTHWEST778]

a smile lights up her stupid face hahahahhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[gloryvilla1]

Socrates 1968 he is not saying that -he is saying that women reejcted him because he was effeminate or delicate, and he ended up with a glove (anal sex using condoms) in the the behind ( he obviously is very conflicted about his homosexuality).

[mrsolofeo]

@gloryvilla1 I think Morrissey is very conflicted about his sexuality, and has never been able to accept who he is.

[Lonewolfy101]

@mrsolofeo

Dude 2nd lp: Hatful of hollow

12 track: Accept yourself



[thewrathofbombast]

@gloryvilla1 What are you talking about? Hand in Glove is actually another Smiths' song. "Hand and glove" is a metaphor for perfect love, where the hand fits the glove perfectly. I always thought the line "the sun shines out of our behinds" it's just a funny way to express the happiness they hold inside for being together. Anal sex? Hummmm...

[sashasvices]

Is "sorrows native son" his penis?

[ohmykamote]

@sashasvices hahahahaha maybe, who knows? it's morrissey...

[1gladdis]

@sashasvices I think he might just be making a literary personification, that is, identifying himself as sorrow but hey I could be wrong.

[sashasvices]

@1gladdis I was joking around, I'm sure your interpretation is more accurate ;)

[1gladdis]

@sashasvices Haha, yes I figured that (it made me laugh out loud actually) but some people like 'too clever by half' explanations and sometimes read too much into the lyrics. Smiths lyrics are in fact usually fairly self-explanatory.

[jungsbodyguard]

@1gladdis However, there's nothing wrong with the explanation that the lyrics intentionally have various meanings and connotations, at once. I think that Morrissey as a lyricist is too clever and, more importantly, too self-aware to have missed the base sexual inferences that would be made from, "Sorrows native son, he will not rise for anyone." Especially when considering the context and subject matter of the song.

[1gladdis]

@jungsbodyguard I wouldn't disagree with that but in the end it is all speculation. I suspect we would have to ask him to get the authoritative interpretation.

[Kellogs43able]

no, i definately think morrissey's asexual...plus he's a poetic smartass, which i like...

[esoretal]

Being a woman and listening to this song makes me chuckle.

[mef1975]

"Oh really?" I always thought she said, "I'm pretty..."

[mef1975]

1:25

[spr66]

@theufoclub It's actually Steven Morrissey.

[The1Wall9Flower89]

Saying that I really love this song feels like an understatement for me.

[alinalove777]

@theufoclub Actually it's just Morrissey. He hates when anyone calls him Stephen

[socratic1968]

He's basically saying that women are a pain in the ass and that he naturally prefers the company of men.

[joydivision808]

11 ppl should be in a grave 

[mrbelmont2000]

@joydivision808 how can u like both joy and smiths???

[joydivision808]

@mrbelmont2000 both from manchester all great bands come from there

[corbeau909]

@mrbelmont2000 Certainly. I know I do.

[AbsintheColour]

@mrbelmont2000 Love them both as well. Why limit yourself, right?

[jwilks1111]

@mrbelmont2000 It's pretty simple. They're both great.

[ilikegreengiraffes]

@theufoclub Oh dear.

[hay765919]

quite true moz - pretty girls DO make graves!!! I should know

[MrBobbySasquatch]

Words can't describe how much i love this song

[Maestro13193]

once again, how did they make this song??? amazing!

[FuttBucker667]

only the smiths can get away with rhyming wait with delicate.

[daddyohhh99]

it's actually Steven, not Stephen...please

[TheAquagoddess]

I want to do a cover for this song! That would be so fun!!

[MrBobbySasquatch]

@joaomzkt indeed

[MrBobbySasquatch]

@joaomzkt It doesn't inply that he's gay right? Cuz no one even knows if he's gay or not.. he's like A- sexual

[BoyGenteel]

@MrBobbySasquatch That's what he was at the time this song was written. "Sorrow's native son" may refer to part of his anatomy, one "that will not rise for anyone." I consider this song a brilliant explanation of asexuality. The speaker is interested in romance with the young woman, just not sex. If he were gay (in the song), he wouldn't care as much when the other guy "takes her song," but he is in fact quite jealous, because he DID want her romantically, just not sexually.

[AnadyrVostok91]

@BoyGenteel God damn.... well said sir.

[theMasterChiefRules]

@BoyGenteel No songs were taken but there was a hand.

[Renegademaster15]

@BoyGenteel Most people just can't wrap around that aspect of The Smiths exploration of sexuality I think

They think that if you're shy and awkward etc. it must mean that you are a closet gay :)

[thewrathofbombast]

@Renegademaster15 Agree! 

[bloodzombite]

@BoyGenteel brilliant man, brilliant!



[dutchessclove]

@BoyGenteel i figured thats what he was talking about i explained to my mother when she heard me playing this song

[MrBobbySasquatch]

@joaomzkt yea thanks

[MrBobbySasquatch]

no one wants to tell me what that might mean? " And sorrows native son, he will not smile for anyone" ...

[VertigoSpray]

@theufoclub actually, it's Steven Patrick Morrissey, don't correct people unless you know what IS correct. Douche.

[Ihatethisugh1]

one of their coolest songs, it's got a hard edge to it.

[MrBobbySasquatch]

love this song, fucking poetry at its best

[MrBobbySasquatch]

@theufoclub Oh really!

[assemblage23]

one of their favorites. espacially love the guitar in the end

[bassplayer1617]

@theufoclub No, it's Steven Morissey. He was right.

[RainJetSprinklers]

@theufoclub

No, It's Steven not Stephen. Go look on Morrissey solo or about any other website. Morrissey has been quoted saying (in reference to starting The Smiths): "I eradicated Steven which seemed to make perfect sense. Suddenly I was a totally different person. Now when I meet pre-Smith people who call me Steven, I sit there and wonder who they're talking about. I always despised the name Steven, though being spelt with a 'v' rather than a 'ph' made life slightly more tolerable."

[IntellectualParadox]

I think this song describes a few of my male friends well. There's this expectation that young men, at least, are always in it for the sex, only interested in appearances. I think Morrissey is rejecting that, as he wants the emotion and romance too, but this girl won't give him that.

[MrBobbySasquatch]

@IntellectualParadox Tell me about it lady, we all aren't horny savage dogs :/

[cherylann1977]

the table is rumbling, the glass is moving, no i was not pushing that time. it spells s-t-e-v-e-n (patrick morrissey). there you go.

[pouderbern]

dude .... one more stephen vs steven and i'm going to puke ...... but nevertheless ... i think Morrissey WOULD LOVE ALL THIS ATTENTION!!!!!!!

[HangTheDJ16]

Can never get over how great the lyrics actually are to this song

[BlazeYouQuick]

It's Steven, you imbecile!

[denveraic]

@theufoclub Actually if we are going to go at it like that, then it's just Morrissey.

[doneckreddahl]

@theufoclub no it's steven

[MrHarri2]

"Sorrow's native son" What's that?

[doneckreddahl]

@MrHarri2 penis

[mmyyppaarrttyy]

@MrHarri2 that's moz :)

[seriouslyintelligent]

@theufoclub Steven for sure! Despite the Irishness, But I doubt that it really, really matters..

[seriouslyintelligent]

@theufoclub No! It' Steven for sure..

[Virkreo]

@theufoclub no its steven

[Mala85]

@theufoclub It's Steven

[jayhayes2007]

@theufoclub I'm SURE it's Steven? I may be mistaken...