Glamorous Glue
'Glamorous Glue' was originally released by Morrissey in 1992 on his Your Arsenal studio album.
In April 2011, nearly 20 years after its initial release, Morrissey reissued the song as a single. The single, Morrissey's 41st, features "Safe, Warm Lancashire Home" on the 7-inch vinyl format. The CD version of the single also contains 'Treat Me Like a Human Being' on its B-side. The 7-inch picture disc version of the single only contains 'Treat Me Like A Human Being' on its B-side. This reissue charted at number 69 on the UK Singles Chart.
The matrix of the 7-inch vinyl version of the single contains the etching "OUR RAYMOND OUR DOUGLAS OUR BUNNY". This is a reference to Queenie's Castle, which was a British sitcom set in early 1970s Leeds, West Yorkshire. The series aired from 1970 to 1972. The title character (Queenie) was portrayed by actress Diana Dors1. In the show, Queenie shared her flat with four men - her shady brother-in-law Jack and her three sons: laborer Raymond, van driver Bunny, and the unemployed Douglas.(thus "Our Raymond Our Douglas Out Bunny")
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The lyrics of 'Glamorous Glue' to address the cultural decline of late twentieth-century Britain, what with its reference being “with the jar” (coupled with the song’s title, a direct reference to sniffing glue, which is the so-called “poor man’s” illicit substance of choice). Our addled subject is politically alienated (“We won't vote Conservative/Because we never have/Everyone lies, everyone lies”), and having nothing left to lose, loses himself (“Where is the man you respect?/
And where is the woman you love?”).
The song pointedly references the Americanization of English culture (“We look to Los Angeles/For the language we use”). As if to purposefully put a fine point on the matter and drive home his message, Morrissey repeatedly sings “London is dead”. The song’s final line, “I know I'll go empty hand from the land”, is a poignant requiem for an England being culturally eclipsed by its former colonial possession.
One can presume that the matrix message, referencing Queenie's Castle (a quintessentially English television show) is intended as dark ironic twist.
Musically, 'Glamorous Glue' is akin to an out-and-out glam rock pastiche, with raucous guitar and stomping drums. According to co-writer Alain Whyte, "Morrissey asked for a tune similar to Bowie's Jean Genie. No small task! So, I morphed 3 songs to come up with this one... Shoplifters/Jean Genie and some 70's rock song that had a sliding guitar that inspired the intro/outro."*
Despite the fact that no single for the song was forthcoming at the time of the release of 'Your Arsenal', a promotional music video was nevertheless made for 'Glamorous Glue' at the time of the album’s release. Watch the music video here:
First day with the jar you find
Everyone lies
First day with the jar you find
Everyone lies, nobody minds
Everyone lies
Where is the man you respect?
And where is the woman you love?
Where's the woman you love?
Third week with the jar you find
Everything dies
We won't vote Conservative
Because we never have
Everyone lies, everyone lies
Where is the man you respect?
And where is the woman you love?
Where's the woman you love?
Everything of worth on Earth
Is there to share
I used to dream and I used to vow
I wouldn't dream of it now
We look to Los Angeles
For the language we use
London is dead, London is dead
London is dead, London is dead
London is dead, London is dead
I'm too much in love
I'm too much in love
I know I'll go empty hand from the land
Diana Dors (born Diana Mary Fluck; 23 October 1931 – 4 May 1984) was an English actress and singer. Dors came to public notice as a blonde bombshell, much in the style of Americans Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield, and Mamie Van Doren. Dors was the cover star of the Smiths' Singles compilation album
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Fabulous song.