Well, for instance the idea of having a law against a person rather than actions committed by a person is interesting.
Yes, didn’t see that. I guess, I just assumed she was identifying her actions and self as one.
She felt she was fighting for her life, so her action of murder was survival, but believing the courts may not see it this way, she took her own life. (?)
It also makes you wonder what prompted the step-child's statement. What did the father say to her or accuse her of previously?
It's quite vicious of her, this statement. "See, now I've actually done something that's against the law."
Yeah, something not stated. Usually in cases of domestic abuse the victim will be made to feel guilty for something they didn’t do, in order for the perpetrator to feel that their abusive behavior is justified.
There’s a lot left out, that seems to point to Morrissey just leaving it up to the listener’s imagination to fill in the gaps.
We also have "And his might is his legal right/To ground you down" in the first verse, another reference to law.
Maybe the brute law of ‘might makes right’.
And by ‘legal right’ it may be Morrissey’s way of saying that the law of ‘might makes right’ is acceptable in our society, or he’s saying that in the eyes of society the father has the right to enforce his own laws in anyway that he sits fit in his own home.
The build-up is so brief and then there's this sudden explosion of violence.
It's a deliciously gory lyric.
It’s a bit too graphic for my tastes.
Some other things....
‘And he looks into her eyes
He says "I'm sorry"
and he dies
"
Step-child, I release you
With this broken voice I beseech you"
So who is doing this beseeching and forgiving? After it’s stated that the father is already dead. Maybe the fathers voice in her head?
and...
‘
Momma don't miss me
Momma don't miss me
This death will complete me"
"
But where I go there will be no one to meet me
I know there will be no one to meet me"
But still the step-child pressed the knife to her throat
Heart pointing to the sky
"
Just as Motherless birds fly high
Then... so shall I
I also wonder if she is ‘motherless or not? Because first she says ‘momma don’t miss me’ than at the end she’s comparing herself to a ‘motherless bird’.
And where she goes to after death she seems to believe that there will be no one there to meet her, so I take it
she doesn’t believe in a heaven? Also after her ‘Bible-belters’ comment, seems to be she has little faith in the church. So Morrissey bringing up atheism again, does he believe or (most likely) doesn’t he?