The Songs That Saved Your Life

[Erica]

Do songs really have the ability to *save* a person's life?

I truly beleive they do, or they at least empower people to deal with situations that if they hadn't heard a particular song, they'd run away from. I've always said that Morrissey's music has saved my life, but technically it's changed it. When I first started listening to The Smiths/Morrissey at the age of 16, I felt releived, I would sit around in my room listening to songs like "Well I Wonder," "Reel Around the Fountain" and "Seasick, yet Still Docked" for hours. I remember those days very clearly, and I remember feeling understood...or at least kind of understood. People used to always think that I was depressed because all I listened to was Morrissey's voice, but I wasn't and I'm still not.

Being so touched by Morrissey's lyrics inspired me to become a better person, and to feel as passionate about other things as I feel about Morrissey. Morrissey's music helped me love. It's funny because now, about 5 years later, I haven't changed my feelings about The Smiths/Morrissey. I still listen to them non-stop and I still quote a Morrissey lyric for almost any bad situation in my life. Instead of the music secluding me, it helped me get closer to people I love.

How about somebody else, how has Morrissey *saved* your life?

 

[daniel]

not so much "saved," but made me realize that whatever i felt or whatever i was going through, i wasn't alone. the tone in morrissey's voice can easily provide many senses of security and understanding. it's odd.. but i guess that's why most people still love him. and used to attack with affection him at shows. haha.

> Do songs really have the ability to *save* a person's life?

> I truly beleive they do, or they at least empower people to deal with
> situations that if they hadn't heard a particular song, they'd run away
> from. I've always said that Morrissey's music has saved my life, but
> technically it's changed it. When I first started listening to The
> Smiths/Morrissey at the age of 16, I felt releived, I would sit around in
> my room listening to songs like "Well I Wonder," "Reel
> Around the Fountain" and "Seasick, yet Still Docked" for
> hours. I remember those days very clearly, and I remember feeling
> understood...or at least kind of understood. People used to always think
> that I was depressed because all I listened to was Morrissey's voice, but
> I wasn't and I'm still not.

> Being so touched by Morrissey's lyrics inspired me to become a better
> person, and to feel as passionate about other things as I feel about
> Morrissey. Morrissey's music helped me love. It's funny because now, about
> 5 years later, I haven't changed my feelings about The Smiths/Morrissey. I
> still listen to them non-stop and I still quote a Morrissey lyric for
> almost any bad situation in my life. Instead of the music secluding me, it
> helped me get closer to people I love.

> How about somebody else, how has Morrissey *saved* your life?

 

[Multatuli]

It's a Smiths song. And it hasn't saved me, but it still helps me cope with life in general. And there are a few more.
There is a light that never goes out, How soon is Now?, Debonair (Afghan Whigs), Teen Spirit, New England, Going Underground, whenever i'm not all too well, I listen to these songs and it makes me feel I can fly.

 

[Erica]

> It's a Smiths song. And it hasn't saved me, but it still helps me cope
> with life in general. And there are a few more.
> There is a light that never goes out, How soon is Now?, Debonair (Afghan
> Whigs), Teen Spirit, New England, Going Underground, whenever i'm not all
> too well, I listen to these songs and it makes me feel I can fly.

I never said it was a Morrissey song, I never even mentioned the title of the song.

 

[Girl Drowning]

Yes they do. I am completely sure that without Morrissey's songs I'd have ended it years ago. Even now life is really hard *with* them, but they keep me going and realise I'm not the only one out there who sees and feels things a certain way. There is comfort both in the lyrics and in the music, and in his voice.

Ones that have specifically helped/comforted me?

Tomorrow
Late night Maudlin Street
The Boy with the Thorn
Unloveable
Accept yourself
What She Said
How soon is now
Please please please let me get what I want
Last night I dreamt
That joke isn't funny anymore
Everyday is like Sunday
Whatever happens I love you
I'd love to
Our Frank
I know it's gonna happen

When I feel very low I listen to Moz and it helps that I'm not the only one. I know it's a cliche, but it feels like 'What She Said' was written about me, it's just how I feel. Even the new stuff like 'Crashing Bores' is important to me - 'no one ever turns to me to say take me in your arms'. I guess it articulates my feelings when I'm too upset to.

Sorry to be maudlin, I'm pissed off at the moment - life is so very lonely. And on top of the total lack of reliable friends and a romantic relationship, my parents are emmigrating this week. So I'm now totally alone. It seems that all I have is my Moz collection! Sometimes all weekend goes by with only Moz looking at me from my bedroom wall.

Anyway, thank you everyone for allowing me to share that - a problem shared etc. I'll just concentrate my mind on Glasgow and Brixton - only 2 weeks left. Thank god.

GD xx

> Do songs really have the ability to *save* a person's life?

> I truly beleive they do, or they at least empower people to deal with
> situations that if they hadn't heard a particular song, they'd run away
> from. I've always said that Morrissey's music has saved my life, but
> technically it's changed it. When I first started listening to The
> Smiths/Morrissey at the age of 16, I felt releived, I would sit around in
> my room listening to songs like "Well I Wonder," "Reel
> Around the Fountain" and "Seasick, yet Still Docked" for
> hours. I remember those days very clearly, and I remember feeling
> understood...or at least kind of understood. People used to always think
> that I was depressed because all I listened to was Morrissey's voice, but
> I wasn't and I'm still not.

> Being so touched by Morrissey's lyrics inspired me to become a better
> person, and to feel as passionate about other things as I feel about
> Morrissey. Morrissey's music helped me love. It's funny because now, about
> 5 years later, I haven't changed my feelings about The Smiths/Morrissey. I
> still listen to them non-stop and I still quote a Morrissey lyric for
> almost any bad situation in my life. Instead of the music secluding me, it
> helped me get closer to people I love.

> How about somebody else, how has Morrissey *saved* your life?

 

[Erica]

> Yes they do. I am completely sure that without Morrissey's songs I'd have
> ended it years ago. Even now life is really hard *with* them, but they
> keep me going and realise I'm not the only one out there who sees and
> feels things a certain way. There is comfort both in the lyrics and in the
> music, and in his voice.

> Ones that have specifically helped/comforted me?

> Tomorrow
> Late night Maudlin Street
> The Boy with the Thorn
> Unloveable
> Accept yourself
> What She Said
> How soon is now
> Please please please let me get what I want
> Last night I dreamt
> That joke isn't funny anymore
> Everyday is like Sunday
> Whatever happens I love you
> I'd love to
> Our Frank
> I know it's gonna happen

> When I feel very low I listen to Moz and it helps that I'm not the only
> one. I know it's a cliche, but it feels like 'What She Said' was written
> about me, it's just how I feel. Even the new stuff like 'Crashing Bores'
> is important to me - 'no one ever turns to me to say take me in your
> arms'. I guess it articulates my feelings when I'm too upset to.

> Sorry to be maudlin, I'm pissed off at the moment - life is so very
> lonely. And on top of the total lack of reliable friends and a romantic
> relationship, my parents are emmigrating this week. So I'm now totally
> alone. It seems that all I have is my Moz collection! Sometimes all
> weekend goes by with only Moz looking at me from my bedroom wall.

> Anyway, thank you everyone for allowing me to share that - a problem
> shared etc. I'll just concentrate my mind on Glasgow and Brixton - only 2
> weeks left. Thank god.

> GD xx

I know what you mean Girl Drowning. I think any real Morrissey fan would understand the feelings that you have. I mean the types of fans who are ÿgenuinely interested in the lyrics to Smiths/Morrissey songs...not just the music.
I think people relate to Morrissey's lyrics in their individual ways. I didn't necessarily have an awful childhood or I wasn't the kid that was always picked on in school or anything like that, but I still relate, and Morrissey's music has still heavily influenced my lifestyle.

 

[LadyLane]

> It's a Smiths song. And it hasn't saved me, but it still helps me cope
> with life in general. And there are a few more.
> There is a light that never goes out, How soon is Now?, Debonair (Afghan
> Whigs), Teen Spirit, New England, Going Underground, whenever i'm not all
> too well, I listen to these songs and it makes me feel I can fly.

Oh, what's this song "going underground" you are talking about? Because I have a song untitled like this on an old tape of my britpop's days and I simply adore it. Is there a crazy piano part in it? I just don't know the band!
Please please please etc.

 

[LadyLane]

> How about somebody else, how has Morrissey *saved* your life?

wow, these are beautiful posts!

Music saved my life in a general way, I play the piano and I really don't see what else I could do! But when you play classical you have the feeling to play timeless music, but mostly written in the past, times that won't never come back anymore, and somewhere it makes you feel more "aside" from real world (well, this was my feeling in schooltime). The day when I first heard Morrissey's voice, I knew Beauty still existed. It was 6 years ago, Bigmouth Strikes again on radio. ("this sound! this voice! these lyrics!"). The world is simply bearable since this day.
I wouldn't say I don't still feel alone. I have no friends listening to Morrissey, and I will queing alone one more time in a week (7 to the day!), but loneliness just became quite ... delightful, and maybe it's gonna happen someday, or maybe not, and I'm very fine with it.

And I totally agree, The World is Full of Crashing Bores is already a classic!
But never forget : "It is the Exquisites who are going to rule"

You are the Exquisites!

 

[Girl Drowning]

It's by The Jam, headed by Paul Weller. Can't remember it having a piano part in it tho? Maybe it's a cover or something. The original was early 1980s.

GD

> Oh, what's this song "going underground" you are talking about?
> Because I have a song untitled like this on an old tape of my britpop's
> days and I simply adore it. Is there a crazy piano part in it? I just
> don't know the band!
> Please please please etc.

 

[LadyLane]

> It's by The Jam, headed by Paul Weller. Can't remember it having a piano
> part in it tho? Maybe it's a cover or something. The original was early
> 1980s.

> GD

Thanks Girl Drowning. I'm sure mine is not by The Jam, but the idea of a silly cover can be a good start for research.

 

[Notastitchtowear]

> wow, these are beautiful posts!

> Music saved my life in a general way, I play the piano and I really don't
> see what else I could do! But when you play classical you have the feeling
> to play timeless music, but mostly written in the past, times that won't
> never come back anymore, and somewhere it makes you feel more
> "aside" from real world (well, this was my feeling in
> schooltime). The day when I first heard Morrissey's voice, I knew Beauty
> still existed. It was 6 years ago, Bigmouth Strikes again on radio.
> ("this sound! this voice! these lyrics!"). The world is simply
> bearable since this day.
> I wouldn't say I don't still feel alone. I have no friends listening to
> Morrissey, and I will queing alone one more time in a week (7 to the
> day!), but loneliness just became quite ... delightful, and maybe it's
> gonna happen someday, or maybe not, and I'm very fine with it.

> And I totally agree, The World is Full of Crashing Bores is already a
> classic!
> But never forget : "It is the Exquisites who are going to rule"

> You are the Exquisites!

To me Morissey/Smith songs are just invaluable. For every landmark moment in my life there is a Moz song which accompanies it and always reminds me of those times, good and bad. His music is really timeless for me. And when I listen to his music I feel a part of a priveledged group of people (fans) who really understand his music and lyrics and that they are so deep (as cheesy as that sounds) and real that most people conveniently blow him off by saying he's "depressing" or "melancholic". Yet, when one really listens to what he's saying there's always a redeeming message that makes one feel understood and that it's okay to feel shitty about a situation but as long as you deal with it, even if it's looking at it through Moz's eyes, you can get through it all. He has to be the most under rated artist of all time, I think his music is too complex for the general public. When it comes down to it, his music is just VERY important all around.

 

[GenderNectar]

Morrissey has been a huge part of my life for almost 14 years now. I really don't know where I'd be without his words. They pierce my soul.
For almost every situation in life, there's a Moz lyric that coincides with it.
The songs that are most dear to me are:

I Know It's Over
There Is a Light...
Unloveable
Well I Wonder
Seasick Yet Still Docked
Tomorrow

*sigh* What a lovely, talented, amazing,and beautiful man. I can't say enough good things about him.

 

[Multatuli]

I'm awfully sorry...

 

[Claire]

God, yes...

> Do songs really have the ability to *save* a person's life?

I agree that music can absolutely save someone's life. One of the great things about Morrissey as a writer is that he's very honest and brave. He writes about subjects that most people won't even approach.

The first Smiths record I really got into was "Hatful Of Hollow". I could completely relate to those songs, and it made me feel less isolated. When I heard that a new book on the Smiths was coming out titled "Songs That Saved Your Life", I thought of that record especially. The title is not an exagerration at all.

OK, I have to stop being so intense now!!