Game shows used to be a thing when we were kids. I used to watch a bunch of them and thought how cool it would be to be a winner and get to go on a shopping spree. The winner got to select items from the studio smorgasbord of prizes. I could always find something I liked.
A friend in high school got to be on Wheel of Fortune when they had teen week. Lucky bastard. He was living the dream. I can’t remember if he won or not, but being on the show, he already was a winner.
One game show I’ve heard about that I would NEVER go on is Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader. I’ve never actually seen it before, but I can tell you right now, just from the name, I’m certain the risk/reward isn’t there. I know I’m smarter than a fifth grader, but there is no way I’m risking possible public humiliation. And think about it. What makes good TV? A fifth grader mopping up the floors with you and winning the show. So, no way Jose. It would have to be a pretty impressive shopping spree to tempt me to even consider setting foot on that studio floor. Otherwise, no dice, man.
The Smiths released Shoplifters of the World Unite in 1987. On the face if it, you’d think it’s about another type of shopping spree, one more of a criminal nature. Turns out, it’s nothing like that at all.
“It does not literally mean picking up a loaf of bread or a watch and sticking it in your coat pocket,” Morrissey told playwright Shaun Duggan during an April 1987 interview for The Tube. “It’s more or less spiritual shoplifting – cultural shoplifting, taking things and using them to your own advantage.”
– this is dig
To be honest, I’m trying to wrap my head around Morrissey’s comment here. I’m kind of getting it, but not really. Maybe this should be included on that 5th grader game show. Let’s see what happens when we give the kids a try. Maybe they can explain it to me – not on camera, of course. I’d probably still be confused listening to their explanation and that definitely would not be a good look on national TV.
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Shoplifters of the world
Unite and take over
Shoplifters of the world
Hand it over, hand it over, hand it over
Learn to love me and assemble the ways
Now, today, tomorrow, and always
My only weakness is a listed crime
But last night the plans for a future war
Was all I saw on Channel Four
Shoplifters of the world
Unite and take over
Shoplifters of the world
Hand it over, hand it over, hand it over
A heartless hand on my shoulder
A push and it's over
Alabaster crashes down (six months is a long time)
Tried living in the real world instead of a shell
But before I began
I was bored before I even began
Shoplifters of the world
Unite and take over
Shoplifters of the world
Unite and take over
Shoplifters of the world
Unite and take over
Shoplifters of the world
Take over
MyGenXerLife 
So many enigmatic lines in this song. I don’t get it either, but I like it. There’s just something about Morrissey. Inimitable.
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Yeah, he is really one of a kind. I wonder if his music appeals to the younger generations.
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My kids don’t listen to The Smiths (unfortunately). I think Morrissey may have said some unfortunate (or misconstrued) things during Brexit, which may not have endeared him to the younger gens.
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That’s too bad. I figured his themes would connect with the younger generation even though it’s “ancient” music
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Such interesting lyrics. Who knows what spiritual shoplifting really means, lol! I thought of maybe “borrowing” from other artist, like getting inspired by the lyrics of other songwriters or poetry. Not sure if that’s what Morrissey meant though!
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Inspiration… that didn’t occur to me. I see the connection to “spiritual shoplifting”. Maybe the beauty is in the grey…
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“Cultural shoplifting” — great term. I know so little of The Smiths and Morrissey’s catalogues but always enjoy them. Great song choice, thanks for introducing me to this one. And yeah, game shows… I remember watching them a lot as a kid, what an odd pursuit when I look at it now. The medium seems like capitalizing on so much desperation.
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Throughout his career, Morrissey has been plagued by those who says he stole their lines. A lot like Bob Dylan and Jimmy Page/Led Zeppelin. The song about it (besides this one) is called Cemetry Gates. (No misspelling.) You know, going into the cemetery and being willing to listen to those human beings who have gone before you. I can’t remember who really said all the great artists are great at stealing. It’s how you commune with humanity. What people fail to remember is that in order to steal, you have to learn it back and forth to begin with. In that way, it’s not stealing, or cultural appropriation—it’s passing on the talk story. Once you earn money by doing it you open yourself up to criticism, but that’s just capitalism at work. I know Morrissey has been vilified for many things, including his views on immigrants. Cornershop (a great band too) made a career out of dissing Morrissey. I don’t hold it against them. I don’t think he’s a perfect human being either. None of us are. But the Smiths made some beautiful, important music, and we should all listen to it.
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Thanks for the comment. I really appreciate the insight. Yes, I heard that about Cemetry Gates. I really love that song. And I agree, the Smiths’ music is like no other. One of my favorite bands.
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My take is like Lindsey Lohan. She stole for the rush. To break out of the haze.
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