The Music of Morrissey and The Smiths: The New Therapy

[NewYawker83]

You know, I've been a fan of Morrissey and The Smiths for about 3 years now, and whenever I listen to him/them, it puts me in a hopeful mood. I HIGHLY suggest everybody check them out. Morrissey just makes you feel that you're not alone in the world. Here are a couple of songs that I can relate to....

"My Life Is A Succession of People Saying Goodbye" (Morrissey)
My life is an endless succession
Of people saying goodbye
My life is an endless succession
Of people saying goodbye
And what's left for me?
What's left for me?

At one time the future
Did stretch out before me
But now
It stretches
Behind
And all of the best things in life are behind glass
Money
Jewelry
And flesh
And what's left for me?
What's left for me?

"I Know It's Over" (The Smiths) BRILLIANT
Oh Mother, I can feel the soil falling over my head
And as I climb into an empty bed
Oh well. Enough said.
I know it's over - still I cling
I don't know where else I can go
Oh...
Oh Mother, I can feel the soil falling over my head
See, the sea wants to take me
The knife wants to slit me
Do you think you can help me?
Sad veiled bride, please be happy
Handsome groom, give her room
Loud, loutish lover, treat her kindly
(Though she needs you
More than she loves you)
And I know it's over - still I cling
I don't know where else I can go
Over and over and over and over
Over and over, la...
I know it's over
And it never really began
But in my heart it was so real
And you even spoke to me, and said:
"If you're so funny
Then why are you on your own tonight?
And if you're so clever
Then why are you on your own tonight?
If you're so very entertaining
Then why are you on your own tonight?
If you're so very good-looking
Why do you sleep alone tonight?
I know...
'Cause tonight is just like any other night
That's why you're on your own tonight
With your triumphs and your charms
While they're in each other's arms..."
It's so easy to laugh
It's so easy to hate
It takes strength to be gentle and kind
Over, over, over, over
It's so easy to laugh
It's so easy to hate
It takes guts to be gentle and kind
Over, over
Love is natural and real
But not for you, my love
Not tonight, my love
Love is natural and real
But not for such as you and I, my love
Oh Mother, I can feel the soil falling over my head
Oh Mother, I can feel the soil falling over my head
Oh Mother, I can feel the soil falling over my head
Oh Mother, I can feel the soil falling over my...
Oh Mother, I can feel the soil falling over my head
Oh Mother, I can even feel the soil falling over my head
Oh Mother, I can feel the soil falling over my head
Oh Mother, I can feel the soil falling over my...

 

[groove88]

Nice one, i need some new music, ill check them out..

 

[amras]

morrissey

also check out "how soon is now " and shyness is nice" both deal with morrisseys experiences and struggles with shyness/SA

 

[NewYawker83]

Yeah even Morrissey struggles with SA and shyness, as almost all of his music seems to indicate about him. But then again, he's got the guts to go up in front of hundreds of thousands of people and physically SING what's on his mind....that right there takes a LOT of courage and it gives me a source of hope

And there's this great book I've been reading called "Diagonally-Parked in a Parallel Universe: Working Through SA" by Signe Dayhoff. I highly recommend it to everybody with SA/SP. There are 3 "rules" that we all have learn to do if we really want to get out of SA:

1. Surrender the notion that it's better to tolerate the familiar than confront the unknown.

2. Allow ourselves to be spontaneous and not cling to accustomed and standardized behavior.

3. Allow ourselves to act independently rather than adhere to what we think is expected of us (by others, society, and ourselves)

These are very difficult to put into action at first, but I believe that they're possible to implement in our lives. Basically, all it boils down to is JUST DO IT and don't care at all what people would think about you (as long as we don't do anything psychotic).

If you're afraid to take a chance, take it and see what happens. That's the excitement in it all. Life would be pretty dull without excitement. And if you were to get too close to somebody and fear that you'd disclose too much about yourself if they ask something personal, either tell them nicely that it's too personal, ask them the same thing back (A.K.A. answering a question with a question), or just out-right tell them the answer (i.e. i have SA/SP, i'm single because I'm gay, I don't date, whatever)