The Last of the Famous International Playboys by Morrissey Lyrics Meaning – Unpacking the Enigmatic Messages of Pop’s Poet
Lyrics
With all the new crimes that you are perfecting
Oh, I can’t help quoting you
Because everything that you said rings true
And now in my cell (well, I followed you)
And here’s a list of who I slew
Reggie Kray, do you know my name?
Oh, don’t say you don’t
Please say you do, (oh, oh)
I am
The last of the famous
International playboys
The last of the famous
International playboys
And in my cell (well, I loved you)
And every man with a job to do
Ronnie Kray – do you know my face?
Oh, don’t say you don’t
Please say you do, (oh, oh)
I am
The last of the famous
International playboys
The last of the famous
International playboys
In our lifetime those who kill
The news world hands them stardom
And these are the ways
On which I was raised
These are the ways
On which I was, which I was raised
I never wanted to kill
I am not naturally evil
Such things I do
Just to make myself
More attractive to you
Have I failed?
Oh
Oooh, oooh, yeaah, nooo, nooo (pa ramp-amp-amp)
Nooo, nooo, yeaah, yeaah, nooo (pa ramp-amp-amp)
Nooo, nooo, yeaah, nooo, yeaah (pa ramp-amp-amp)
Nooo, nooo, yeaah, nooo, yeaah
Oooh
The last of the famous
International playboys
The last of the famous
International playboys
Morrissey, with his distinct blend of melancholy and wit, has long been a figure who commands the kind of intrigue that fills the pages of both tabloids and earnest literary discussions. ‘The Last of the Famous International Playboys’ remains an enigmatic entry in his catalogue – a song that entwines fame, crime, and identity in a lyrical dance that listeners can’t help but dissect.
The track, released in 1989, is a sonic anomaly that juxtaposes upbeat melodies with darkly introspective lyrics. As we dive into its depths, we must wonder – what is the true meaning behind the smooth croon of the self-styled playboy-poet? Is it a critique of celebrity culture, a personal confession, or something else entirely?
Crime and Notoriety: The Allure of Infamy
Morrissey’s narrative voice in the song is one of adoration and emulation for England’s infamous gangster twins, Reggie and Ronnie Kray. The playboy protagonist seems to be reflecting from a prison cell, reminiscent of his heroes’ own fate. But it’s more than idol worship; it’s an exploration of the peculiar fascination society holds for those who gain fame through notorious acts.
The song reflects upon the troubling glamorization of criminals and how infamy can often be misconstrued as a form of success. It begs the question – do the mediums of news and popular culture skew our perceptions of morality, inadvertently holding those who break the law on a pedestal?
Chasing Shadows: Morality in the Limelight
In a world enamored by the spotlight, the protagonist seeks to mold his identity into something palatable, perhaps even lovable. He claims not to be ‘naturally evil’ and justifies his skewed actions as attempts to make himself ‘more attractive’ to an unnamed other or perhaps, more poignantly, to the world at large.
Morrissey plays with the human yearning for recognition and the convoluted paths one might tread to achieve it. It’s a cautionary tale of the price of acceptance, and the lengths to which people go for love, attention, and validation.
The Song’s Hidden Meaning: A Reflection of Self
Delving deeper into the lyrics reveals a potential mirror being held up not just to society but to Morrissey himself. The song can be seen as a metaphor for the artist’s personal battle with his public image; the façade of ‘The Last of the Famous International Playboys’ could very well be an exaggeration of his own perceived persona.
He grapples with the concept that even artists can fall victim to their created image, teetering on the edge of losing themselves in the characters they craft and the expectations of their audiences.
A Melodic Contradiction: The Juxtaposition of Sound and Sentiment
Morrissey is known for wrapping his melancholic and often morose reflections in surprisingly jaunty tunes. ‘The Last of the Famous International Playboys’ is no exception – offering an uptempo, almost danceable rhythm that belies its somber content.
This musical dissonance heightens the irony of its lyrics, emphasizing the absurdity of glamorizing criminal fame and the tragicomedy of striving for love through misplaced means.
Memorable Lines: The Echoes of Morrissey’s Reverberating Thoughts
‘And in my cell (well, I loved you)’, echoes the artist, possibly hinting at the prison of celebrity and the isolating effect it can have despite being surrounded by a horde of admirers. This line resonates with those who have ever felt confined by the boxes into which society and fame place us.
‘In our lifetime those who kill, the news world hands them stardom,’ critiques the modern media cycle and its obsession with elevating criminals to star status. Morrissey’s pen here acts as a scalpel, dissecting the mechanisms of society’s most morbid curiosities.
