The Smiths A-Z: "Half a Person"

[BookishBoy]

I hope he sang « 60, clumsy and why - that’s the story of my life « when he pulled it out in Leeds, Koln and London in 2020.
Anyway, an absolute highlight at these shows.

I seem to remember that this song was written very quickly, a privilege reserved for the most gifted songwriters.

Quote from Johnny about how the song was written:

"Me and Morrissey would just disappear. Some of my favourite songs came about that way, like "Half A Person". We just locked ourselves away and did it. In the time it takes to play it, I wrote it. Morrissey was great in that respect. He knew when I was going to play something good."

"We officially wrote it on the stairs at Mayfair [Studios]. Morrissey got his part of it together overnight, and it was amazing. That was probably the best writing moment I think me and him ever had because we were so close, practically touching, and I could see him kind of willing me on, waiting to see what I was going to play. Then I could see him thinking, 'That's exactly where I was hoping you'd go!' It was a fantastic, shared moment."

 

[That's Enough For Me]

I remember this as being one of the first times I became convinced that Moz had access to my diaries.

I have never known a lyricist before or since to write about such situations so acutely as to make you think he was there with you.

The height of Moz's relatability.

 

[SuedeMoz]

Quote from Johnny about how the song was written:

"Me and Morrissey would just disappear. Some of my favourite songs came about that way, like "Half A Person". We just locked ourselves away and did it. In the time it takes to play it, I wrote it. Morrissey was great in that respect. He knew when I was going to play something good."

"We officially wrote it on the stairs at Mayfair [Studios]. Morrissey got his part of it together overnight, and it was amazing. That was probably the best writing moment I think me and him ever had because we were so close, practically touching, and I could see him kind of willing me on, waiting to see what I was going to play. Then I could see him thinking, 'That's exactly where I was hoping you'd go!' It was a fantastic, shared moment."

Sounds like an amazing creative experience. Wasn't that a somewhat rare event that Morrissey was present while Johnny created the music? I believe usually Johnny gave Morrissey a cassette tape of music to work from. I wonder how it would have changed things between them, if at all, had they worked more in this direct way?

 

[William Fisher]

So essentially Smithsian. I misheard "equally dour" as something like "on the hour" for a long time. I still find "equally dour" a little clunky. Otherwise perfect.

I think “on the hour” was the printed lyric on the sleeve of Louder than Bombs.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

Sounds like an amazing creative experience. Wasn't that a somewhat rare event that Morrissey was present while Johnny created the music? I believe usually Johnny gave Morrissey a cassette tape of music to work from. I wonder how it would have changed things between them, if at all, had they worked more in this direct way?

another incident was with Cemetry Gates, I believe.

 

[Nikita]

I read the same kind of story about I know it's over

 

[Fake C]

When he says "we would disappear" that sounds fake. Other people disappear. If the story was Mike J saying "they would disappear and come back with a song" that would ring true, but who says "we would disappear?" How can you be aware of yourself having disappeared?

 

[CrazyFaceGenes]

When he says "we would disappear" that sounds fake. Other people disappear. If the story was Mike J saying "they would disappear and come back with a song" that would ring true, but who says "we would disappear?" How can you be aware of yourself having disappeared?

No, it's like saying we scarpered, we disappeared for a bit and had a ciggie type of thing.

 

[Daniel Boratto]

Perfection in the form of music. Because of songs like this, we remember why we love the Smiths SO MUCH

 

[Catholic]

Some very interesting things in this thread that may help explain Marr's post-Smith's work better.

That Morrissey and maybe between the love between them was drawing the very best from Marr.

I think something similar was true of the Beatles. Songs like "Here, There and Everywhere" and "Hey Jude" may be 100% pure McCartney, but he never scaled those heights again. Because Lennon, maybe even Harrison, were helping to elevate him beyond "silly love songs".

How I wish for the apparently impossible - M and M could work together again.

 

[Catholic]

Speaking of the Beatles, that other Irish Blood, Northern English band (with a hint of cultural Catholicism if you know what Catholicism is and how to spot it) . . .

In my American youth, it was all the Beatles, but I far prefer listening to the likes of Half a Person and I Know It's Over, now.

Maybe my conversion has something to do with that too. The mournful Irish-Catholic "vibe" in the Smiths is definitely stronger IMHO.

 

[Deleted member 30764]

My favorite part of this song is volunteering to be a back scrubber.
I think this is a really underrated song.

 

[j*e*t]

My favorite part of this song is volunteering to be a back scrubber.
I think this is a really underrated song.

I wonder what your understanding of the term 'back scrubber' might be. It's probably been said many times on here that, in Britain at least, scrubber is a slang word for a prostitute or promiscuous woman. There was a British film Scrubbers (1982).

 

[Deleted member 30764]

I wonder what your understanding of the term 'back scrubber' might be. It's probably been said many times on here that, in Britain at least, scrubber is a slang word for a prostitute or promiscuous woman. There was a British film Scrubbers (1982).

I think you are being a tad condescending here…
I’m well aware that Morrissey has had a long history of having a morbid fascination with the subject of prostitution, and incorporating into his song lyrics.
IMO, he has a morbid fascination with a number of things, in fact.

 

[j*e*t]

I think you are being a tad condescending here…
I’m well aware that Morrissey has had a long history of having a morbid fascination with the subject of prostitution, and incorporating into his song lyrics.
IMO, he has a morbid fascination with a number of things, in fact.

OK