The Smiths - Handsome Devil Reaction!

[@iArachnia]

I remember seeing The Smiths 1985 March 25th Bradford St George’s Hall United Kingdom when I was 15, me and a friend snook into the gig on a school night without a ticket just too see Morrissey. We are from Manchester and this man was a true performer and at the time was such an idol too me. This performance was incredible !

[@western-oud1898]

Such a great great record..morrissey’s lyrics ❤️

[@stanettiels7367]

Rip roaring track. An absolute belter and one of my favourites. All the streets are crammed with things Eager to be held I know what hands are for And I'd like to help myself You ask me the time But I sense something more And I would like to give you What I think you're asking for You handsome devil Oh, you handsome devil Let me get my hands On your mammary glands And let me get your head on the conjugal bed I say, I say, I say I crack the whip And you skip But you deserve it You deserve it, deserve it, deserve it A boy in the bush Is worth two in the hand I think I can help you get through your exams Oh, you handsome devil Oh, let me get my hands On your mammary glands And let me get your head on the conjugal bed I say, I say, I say I crack the whip And you skip But you deserve it You deserve it, deserve it, deserve it And when we're in your scholarly room Who will swallow whom ? And when we're in your scholarly room Who will swallow whom ? You handsome devil Oh, let me get my hands On your mammary glands And let me get your head on the conjugal bed I say, I say, I say There's more to life than books, you know But not much more Oh, there's more to life than books, you know But not much more, not much more Oh, you handsome devil Oh, you handsome devil

[@stanettiels7367]

The song is about an encounter Morrissey (or whoever the male is in the song) had when HE was younger. The smears against him were from people who don’t understand lyrics. He had a sexual encounter with an older woman who took advantage of him (could have been a real romantic relationship or a lady of the night) and he fell in love with her. She was only using him. “A boy in the bush is worth two in the hands”, is him speaking from the female perspective. He’s the boy. “Let me get my hands” and “let me get your head on the conjugal (marital) bed” are from the male perspective, who’s actually in love with the woman and wants to marry her. The references to exams, scholarly rooms, etc, are just a way of conveying that he (or the male in the song) was in school and still studying, possibly underage. It’s basically the story of a young man who fell in love with someone (a far older woman) who used him.

[@shenanigans3710]

The best line is "I think I can help you get through your exams." Hot. Do some Pixies. I promise you'll love them

[@stanettiels7367]

I think the best line is: All the streets are crammed with things Eager to be held I know what hands are for And I'd like to help myself You ask me the time But I sense something more And I would like to give you What I think you're asking for You handsome devil Oh, you handsome devil Let me get my hands On your mammary glands And let me get your head on the conjugal bed I say, I say, I say I crack the whip And you skip But you deserve it You deserve it, deserve it, deserve it A boy in the bush Is worth two in the hand I think I can help you get through your exams Oh, you handsome devil Oh, let me get my hands On your mammary glands And let me get your head on the conjugal bed I say, I say, I say I crack the whip And you skip But you deserve it You deserve it, deserve it, deserve it And when we're in your scholarly room Who will swallow whom ? And when we're in your scholarly room Who will swallow whom ? You handsome devil Oh, let me get my hands On your mammary glands And let me get your head on the conjugal bed I say, I say, I say There's more to life than books, you know But not much more Oh, there's more to life than books, you know But not much more, not much more Oh, you handsome devil Oh, you handsome devil

[@evilashxero]

I've always been confused by this song. It sounds like a homosexual relationship, but then it mentions mammory glands. Never figured that one out. I mean, seriously.. "let me get my hands on your mammory glands... you handsome devil". Very confusing.

[@stanettiels7367]

It’s because he’s writing about a situation from two different perspectives. “Let me get my hands....” is never followed by “you handsome devil”.

[@bookpaper105]

Van Halen hear about it later