I can totally understand certain men relating to Morrissey / The Smiths lyrics.
They are often about not fitting into the typical 'Male/Macho' stereotype and the emotional problems this can cause.
But what do women get from his lyrics ?
This is a genuine question and not meant to wind anyone up.
If they are about not fitting into male stereotypes, then they are also about not fitting into female stereotypes. He wrote about the "ordinary boys"
and "the ordinary girls". The songs were not meant just for boys' ears.
As a teenager hearing the words for the first time, they were very empowering, and honestly taught me a great deal of empathy for other outsiders. This was back in the late 80s. I had no opinions on many issues save what had been passed down through my parents, and hearing something like "Hand in Glove," which I interpreted as being about being young and gay, made me a permanent advocate for gay rights.
Morrissey's own sexuality is not the issue, at all. Gayness is much more accepted now than it was then. Don't laugh- there were NO out teenagers in my school. There were lots of gay teenagers, but none were out to more than one or two trusted friends. If they had come out, they would possibly have been beaten right into the hospital. Homosexuality was an area of personal freedom that needed help at that time. It was a big issue. If that is an aspect of identity that Morrissey thought a lot about or struggled with, then it would make sense that his lyrics would focus on it to an extent.
And I wonder if that looks out of proportion now, or to new listeners who did not hear the songs in their original temporal context.
He also taught me that its possible to be politically liberal and personally conservative. It's possible to be a pacifist who finds boxing enthralling. We are naturally contradictory. Nobody really votes a straight ticket--nobody who actually thinks.
I think an interpretation of Morrissey's lyrics that focuses on issues of masculinity is shortsighted, and is cheating the reader.
I hope this conversation develops. We've had it before, but it doesn't really get tiring.