Morrissey's lyrics are, above all, uniquely realised. The way that Mozza compiles lyrics is both highly strange and yet innately beautiful at the same time: essentially, he builds poetry around bits and pieces that he's heard, read or seen, either in other songs, famous works of literature, or on old TV shows or in classic movies. But it's the literary references that form the heart of Morrissey's lyrics - especially when he purposely misquotes them or turns them inside out. The literary references in The Smiths' songs ensure that they are incredibly dense; there is arguably no other band in the history of music whose tracks echo the classic works of literature to the extent The Smiths do; it's almost as if Oscar Wilde accidentally found himself transported through time to the '80s, and somehow found himself fronting an alternate rock band. As a result, the band's songs feel opaque in the best possible way, each one a treasure trove.
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
