Vicar in a Tutu by The Smiths Lyrics Meaning – The Eccentric Heart of the Matter
Lyrics
Lifting some lead off
The roof of the Holy Name church
It was worthwhile living a laughable life
To set my eyes on the blistering sight
Of a Vicar in a tutu
He’s not strange
He just wants to live his life this way
A scanty bit of a thing
With a decorative ring
That wouldn’t cover the head of a goose
As Rose collects the money in a canister
Who comes sliding down the bannister ?
The Vicar in a tutu
He’s not strange
He just wants to live his life this way
The monkish monsignor
With a head full of plaster
Said : “My man, get your vile soul dry-cleaned”
As Rose counts the money in the canister
As natural as rain
He dances again
My God!
The Vicar in a tutu
Oh yeah
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh…
The Vicar in a tutu
Oh yeah
Oh…
The next day in the pulpit
With freedom and ease
Combatting ignorance, dust, and disease
As Rose counts the money in the canister
As natural as rain
He dances again and again and again
In the fabric of a tutu
Any man could get used to
And I am the living sign
And I’m a living sign
I am a living sign
I’m a living sign
I am a living sign
I’m a living sign
Sign
I am a living sign
When The Smiths released ‘Vicar in a Tutu’ as part of their esteemed album ‘The Queen is Dead,’ listeners were instantly sucked into a vortex of wit, irreverence, and societal commentary. The song, clad in the band’s emblematic jangly guitar lines and Morrissey’s iconic vocal stylings, is a story unfolded under the oddly alluring shadow of English culture and its idiosyncrasies.
What might initially appear as just another whimsical verse in The Smiths’ catalog, transcends into a rich tapestry of themes touching upon individualism, religious satire, and the ever-present conflict between external perceptions and internal truths. Delving into the lyrics of ‘Vicar in a Tutu’ unveils layers of meaning and intentions that are as remarkable as they are thought-provoking.
The Audacity of Individual Expression
In the heart of the song lies the Vicar, an epitome of defiance against societal norms, dressed incongruously in a tutu. This peculiar imagery is emblematic of the broader struggle for individuality in face of conformist pressures. The rhythm and narrative of the song lead us through a celebration of the self, pushing listeners to rethink stereotypes and embrace eccentricity as not ‘strange,’ but simply another way to live.
The narrative unfolds through an unexpected encounter by the song’s observer, an individual themselves engaged in a rather marginal activity—stealing lead from a church roof. This framing positions both characters outside of societal norms, inviting a deeper understanding of what it means to choose one’s own path.
Unveiling The Sacred and the Profane
There’s a sharp juxtaposition at play between the sacred setting of the church and the secular, almost profane, visions of the vicar in a tutu and the narrator’s theft. This contrast serves to dismantle the binaries of right and wrong or holy and evil, suggesting instead a spectrum of human experience that fails to fit neatly within religious or moral doctrine.
The vivid imagery of the ‘decorative ring’ inadequate to cover ‘the head of a goose’ and the ‘monkish monsignor’ with ‘a head full of plaster’ is a direct nod to the ornamentation and sometimes false piety of religious figures, against the backdrop of more human, relatable actions and desires.
Challenging the Bannisters of Orthodoxy
As the vicar is depicted sliding down the banister, the lyrical undercurrent challenges entrenched dogmas that otherwise ossify societal structures. The act is one of reclaiming freedom and levity within spaces, like the church, that often demand solemnity and obedience. This playful rebellion serves as an allegory for challenging dominant paradigms and the status quo.
In a broader sense, the vicar’s tutu becomes a symbol for the quirks and deviations that every individual harbors, questioning why society has banisters in the first place if not but to restrict the joyous glide of self-discovery.
A Satirical Take on the Business of Salvation
The recurring line ‘As Rose counts the money in the canister’ perhaps offers the most biting critique of the song. Amidst the absurdity and shocking imagery, Morrissey introduces a character preoccupied with the collection of money, hinting at the commercialized aspect of religious institutions. This theme strikes a chord with cynical views on how spirituality and faith are monetized.
By repeating the scene of tangible money being counted alongside the intangible idea of the vicar’s dance, the song mocks the tangible versus the spiritual commerce, tangentially questioning what truly should hold value in our lives and belief systems.
Memorable Lines: ‘I am a living sign’
The song concludes with a mantra-like repetition of ‘I am a living sign,’ painting the subject as a symbol of self-affirmation and the possibility for anyone to embrace the unconventional. These lines echo with the assurance that living outside of prescribed narratives doesn’t make one an outcast, but rather, a pioneer of personal truth.
By stating ‘any man could get used to’ the ‘fabric of a tutu,’ Morrissey suggests that the shock value of defying social norms is temporal; given time, the new and unusual can become the accepted and everyday, shifting the paradigm of what is considered normal and inviting a more inclusive and diverse understanding of society.
