Is "These Things Take Time" about Johnny Marr?

> I've wondered that a little myself.

I've always thought that it was.

I think the clue is in the phrase "sacred wunderkind." In "What Difference Does it Make" he sings "my sacred one..." at the end, and I'm pretty sure that song is about Johnny too! And then there's the whole "angel" theme, which he repeats in "Angel, Angel, Down we go together" and he *has* admitted that that's about Johnny.

There's also "vivid and in your prime/you will leave me behind" ... doesn't that make you think of "from the one you left behind" of Unhappy Birthday?
 
"vivid and in your prime/you will leave me behind"

And he did, of course...
 
> "vivid and in your prime/you will leave me behind"

> And he did, of course...

Sadly, yes.
 
Did He Admit That About: Angel, Angel, Down We Go Together?

Well, did Moz say ANGEL was about J. Marr?

When?

"Angel Don't Take Your Life Tonight"

is about Marr???

Johnny was suicidal...

Overanalysis leads to paralysis...or just bullshit!
 
Re: Did He Admit That About: Angel, Angel, Down We Go Together?

> Well, did Moz say ANGEL was about J. Marr?

> When?

> "Angel Don't Take Your Life Tonight"

> is about Marr???

> Johnny was suicidal...

> Overanalysis leads to paralysis...or just bullshit!

He said it somewhere in an interview about Viva Hate. "The only song on that album that was directly about Johnny is Angel, Angel." It surprised me no end, because I hadn't put two and two together on that one!

I think after Johnny left, Morrissey had the feeling that he would be a music business casualty - that he needed Morrissey to protect him and keep him stable, and since Morrissey wouldn't be there, Johnny would go rapidly downhill. That's the way I read the song anyway. Take it for what it's worth...
 
Re: Did He Admit That About: Angel, Angel, Down We Go Together?

For what it's worth, I think you're right... and, in a way, Morrissey was right, wasn't he?

> I think after Johnny left, Morrissey had the feeling that he would be a
> music business casualty - that he needed Morrissey to protect him and keep
> him stable, and since Morrissey wouldn't be there, Johnny would go rapidly
> downhill. That's the way I read the song anyway. Take it for what it's
> worth...
 
Re: Did He Admit That About: Angel, Angel, Down We Go Together?

I wonder if it is a Morrissey bluff as there is a song, covered by many Spector-esque girl groups of the 60s called ‘Johnny Angel’

> Well, did Moz say ANGEL was about J. Marr?

> When?

> "Angel Don't Take Your Life Tonight"

> is about Marr???

> Johnny was suicidal...

> Overanalysis leads to paralysis...or just bullshit!
 
Re: Did He Admit That About: Angel, Angel, Down We Go Together?

> I wonder if it is a Morrissey bluff as there is a song, covered by many
> Spector-esque girl groups of the 60s called ‘Johnny Angel’

I know! That just adds to the sort of "coded" nature of the song.

But Dirk -- I don't think Johnny's life has been a failure. I think he's settled for comfortable mediocrity/modest success over spectacularly burning out. Perhaps he was right.
 
Re: Did He Admit That About: Angel, Angel, Down We Go Together?

Maybe, but musically speaking he's never reached the same level without Morrissey. Perhaps Morrissey thought they both doomed without one another...

> But Dirk -- I don't think Johnny's life has been a failure. I think he's
> settled for comfortable mediocrity/modest success over spectacularly
> burning out. Perhaps he was right.
 
Re: Did He Admit That About: Angel, Angel, Down We Go Together?

FINALLY, someone triggered the flame in my mind...This wa sthe song rumoured to be dedicated to someone ...the mozontour rumour bite which plagued me...Thanks....If you gonna spread rumours -DETAILS...

JM & The Healers' show, some loser shouted Unhappy Birthday on the heel of Morrissey's birthday...Johnny direly replied,"How about Half a person?" Nasty.
So...The daggers still sharp..See JM site : Next question?

> He said it somewhere in an interview about Viva Hate. "The only song
> on that album that was directly about Johnny is Angel, Angel." It
> surprised me no end, because I hadn't put two and two together on that
> one!

> I think after Johnny left, Morrissey had the feeling that he would be a
> music business casualty - that he needed Morrissey to protect him and keep
> him stable, and since Morrissey wouldn't be there, Johnny would go rapidly
> downhill. That's the way I read the song anyway. Take it for what it's
> worth...
 
Re: Did He Admit That About: Angel, Angel, Down We Go Together?

> Perhaps Morrissey thought they both doomed without one
> another...

I must admit, Moz-solo just isn't the same without Johnny. I still adore his music, but it doesn't have the charm it used to.

Ohhhh why did they ever split?? Damn you, Johnny!
 
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