Reel Around the Fountain by The Smiths Lyrics Meaning – A Deep Dive into Morrissey’s Poetic Adolescence
Lyrics
Of how you took a child
And you made him old
It’s time the tale were told
Of how you took a child
And you made him old
You made him old
Reel around the fountain
Slap me on the patio
I’ll take it now
Oh
Fifteen minutes with you
Well, I wouldn’t say no
Oh, people said that you were virtually dead
And they were so wrong
Fifteen minutes with you
Oh, I wouldn’t say no
Oh, people said that you were easily led
And they were half-right
Oh, they, oh, they were half-right, oh
It’s time the tale were told
Of how you took a child
And you made him old
It’s time that the tale were told
Of how you took a child
And you made him old
You made him old
Oh, reel around the fountain
Slap me on the patio
I’ll take it now
Ah, oh
Fifteen minutes with you
Oh, I wouldn’t say no
Oh, people see no worth in you
Oh, but I do
Fifteen minutes with you
Oh, I wouldn’t say no
Oh, people see no worth in you
I do
Oh, I, oh, I do
Oh
I dreamt about you last night
And I fell out of bed twice
You can pin and mount me like a butterfly
But, “Take me to the haven of your bed”
Was something that you never said
Two lumps, please
You’re the bee’s knees but so am I
Oh, meet me at the fountain
Shove me on the patio
I’ll take it slowly
Oh
Fifteen minutes with you
Oh, I wouldn’t say no
Oh, people see no worth in you
Oh, but I do
Fifteen minutes with you
Oh, I wouldn’t say no
Oh, people see no worth in you
I do
Oh, I, I do
Oh, I do
Oh, I do
Oh, I do
The Smiths have long been a band that intertwines melodic jangle with lyrical depth, often wrapped in the enigmatic musings of frontman Morrissey. Their song ‘Reel Around the Fountain’ serves as a quintessential example of this union, a track from their self-titled debut that sparkles with the angst and innocence of youth.
Through a blend of metaphorical language and vivid imagery, ‘Reel Around the Fountain’ is a vessel for bold confessions and subtle insinuations, encapsulating a narration that is both personal and universal. It’s a song that has been dissected by fans and critics alike, often stirring up controversy and fascination in equal measure.
An Ode to Lost Innocence and Rushed Maturity
In ‘Reel Around the Fountain’, there is a recurring motif of accelerated growth, the stark transformation from the naivety of childhood to the cynical wisdom of adulthood. Morrissey’s opening lines, ‘It’s time the tale were told of how you took a child and you made him old,’ speaks to a universal human experience of being thrust too quickly into the complexities of adult life, longing for the days when simplicity reigned supreme.
This theme of premature aging is an undercurrent throughout the song, inviting the listener to contemplate the moments that mark the end of innocence. It’s a bittersweet realization that’s not only confined to the personal narrative of Morrissey but extends as a shared sentiment that most individuals face at one point or another.
The Lyrical Intimacy of Morrissey
The intimacy exuded in lines like ‘Fifteen minutes with you, well, I wouldn’t say no,’ suggests a vulnerability that Morrissey is willing to explore. This could be dissected as an admission of a yearning for connection, albeit brief, that transcends the superficial judgments of outsiders (‘Oh, people said that you were virtually dead and they were so wrong’).
There’s a sense of finding value in the undervalued, of seeing worth where others refuse to look. It’s a narrative that champions the beauty in the outcasts and the misfits, aligning with Morrissey’s own persona as an advocate for the underdog.
The Fountain’s Hidden Symbolism Unveiled
In the chorus, the fountain serves as a multifaceted symbol. It’s an arena of circular motion, of ‘reeling around,’ which could be parallel to the cyclic nature of relationships and encounters. The very act of spinning around the fountain echoes the disorienting dance of growing up, of circling between adolescence and maturity.
Furthermore, the rough juxtaposition of ‘slap me on the patio’ against the romantic imagery of a fountain suggests an interplay between the harsher realities of life and the idyllic fantasies we hold. It plays on the physicality of these experiences, the slaps, and the shoves of existence, contrasting with the desire for softness and reprieve.
A Parade of Memorable Lines: Smiths’ Lyrics That Stick
‘You can pin and mount me like a butterfly’ is one of the song’s most striking phrases, rich in its metaphorical implications. It expresses a willingness to be captured, to be held in affection or in judgment, resonating with anyone who’s ever longed to be cherished, even if it means losing a degree of freedom.
Lines such as, ‘Was something that you never said’ uncover the voids within our spoken interactions, the unmet expectations, and the words that linger unsaid between individuals. It touches upon the faltered communication that often shapes human connection, sealing this song as a relic that bears the marks of compassionate poetry.
From Bedroom Soliloquy to Generational Anthem
The power of ‘Reel Around the Fountain’ is in its ability to morph from a personal soliloquy, possibly conceived in the quiet of a bedroom, reflective and riddled with nuanced emotion, into a generational anthem that speaks to the malaise of youth confronted by the realities of growing up.
As the song weaves through its verses and choruses, it captures the listener in a web of relatable sentiments, making ‘Reel Around the Fountain’ a timeless piece that transcends the specific narrative it might portend. It becomes an open letter to everyone who has ever grappled with the inevitable encroachment of maturity upon the delightfully reckless abandon of youth.
