"Meat is Murder" by The Smiths

## **Problem Being Protested**

   The meat industry's infiltration of the food industry.

## **Sample of Lyrics**

"It's not 'natural', 'normal' or kind

The **flesh** you so fancifully fry

The **meat** in your mouth

As you savor the flavor

Of **murder**"

## **Relevance of words**

Through ample use of literary techniques, the singer visually communicates the process of slaughtering animals for personal enjoyment. The alliteration "The flesh you so fancifully fry" uses the "f" sound to appear lighter, showing the levity those who eat meat believe that the situation has. The song does not shy away from the abrupt use of words like murder and blood, attempting to shock the listener.

## **Event, person, and place at issue**

Through the implementation of harsh words and images, there is no shying away from the event at hand: the consumption of meat. However, the person and place of the issue is less obvious. The song mainly focuses on developed countries, urban environments, and the people in them. Though meat is largely consumed everywhere, this song is critiquing the developed world's reliance on meat when it's unnecessary. The developed world has greatly become disassociated with their food, being able to go to a grocery store and buy a slab of cow with no repercussions. Morrissey, the lead singer, is English, so is mainly speaking to his country and places of similar culture. In other places, however, people largely get meat from going out and hunting it themselves, leading to awareness of this process, which is admirable in a way.

## **Significance of the song in history**

Due to the song's confrontational and uncompromising manner, it has caused much controversy among both vegetarians and meat-eaters calling the lyrics too harsh. With the severity of the lyrics, some explaining kitchen aromas as unholy, this song has challenged the meat industry's ways and promoted vegetarianism. Whether leading to positive or negative views, this song and album as a whole has opened up the topic of vegetarianism at a time when this issue was not prevalent. During the 19th century, vegetarians were seen as simply too radical or naïve, called wacko and crazy for their beliefs. The two world wars, which were recent events, pushed back the small vegetarian movement as people were hardened by the war and lost compassion for living creatures. Also, army rations were heavily meat and animal products, which before, had meant luxury and unreachable status for the many poor people who had joined the army. Due to meat seen as rare and a symbol of power during the wars, when the war ended, Americans craved meat more than ever before. However, in England (where the Smiths are from), registering as a vegetarian gave your family a bigger portion of cheese, causing a higher rise in vegetarianism. After the war. materialism was seen as wealth and vegetarianism declined. After a time in which  war scarcities had become an issue and wealth was determined by materialism, it was a pretty radical thought to take meat out of your lifestyle, adding to the controversial responses to this album by the Smiths. Listeners began to regain their sympathy that they had lost during the war by listening to the lyrics of this song.

## **Contemporary Connections**

The contemporary connections of this song are relatively obvious. Although the world has generally become more vegetarian/vegan based, it is still widely regarded as extreme. Vegetarian options at most restaurants are still difficult to come by, and the meat industry is still prevalent.

## **Reasons for selection**

The reason we selected this song is that we are both vegetarians. Katharine has been vegetarian her whole life, and Josie recently converted. As, advocates for animal rights, we try to limit our dairy intake and encourage our family and friends to at least attempt to limit their meat intake. We believe it is important to be able to link our food to its origin, so this song is pertinent to us.

## **Trivia**

1. Morrissey, the lead singer of the Smiths, really disliked school and showed this through the lyrics in his music.

2. Morrissey did not eat meat but did not call himself a "vegan" or "vegetarian". He said he would not eat anything that had a mother and that his diet mainly consists of "bread, potatoes, pasta and nuts". His bandmates were said to also abstain from eating meat, however never confirmed, but Morrissey did forbade them from being photographed eating meat.

3. "The Smiths" name was created by Morrissey, who said that he came up with the name as it was a very ordinary name and it was time the ordinary people of the world were heard.

4. Even though the band members are from Manchester, England, they are more Irish than British.

5. When the band split in 1987, the members all continued their careers in the music industry alone and left on a negative note, with Morrissey and Marr (the lead guitarist) saying they will never work together again.

6. Morrissey was said to storm off the stage at Coachella in 2009 because he thought he could smell meat.

7. Morrissey once wore a hearing aid to show support for a fan ashamed of wearing one.

## **External Links**

“The 9 Things 'Meat Is Murder' by The Smiths Taught Us.” NBHAP, 23 Feb. 2016, nbhap.com/sounds/the-smiths-meat-is-murder.

“12 Interesting Facts You Probably Didn't Know About The Smiths.” Grapevine Online, 5 Nov. 2015, grapevineonline.in/12-interesting-facts-you-probably-didnt-know-about-the-smiths/.

Adams, Erik. “The Smiths' ‘Meat Is Murder’ Is Nauseating to Vegetarians and Carnivores Alike.” Music, Music, 23 Aug. 2017, music.avclub.com/the-smiths-meat-is-murder-is-nauseating-to-vegetaria-1798276004.

“ A Short History of Vegetarianism with an Emphasis on the U.S. from 1970+.” Vegetarian Guide: History of Vegetarianism in the U.S., michaelbluejay.com/veg/history.html.

“Morrissey.” Biography.com, A&amp;E Networks Television, 15 May 2019, www.biography.com/musician/morrissey.

Nini, Jennifer. “40+ Facts and Statistics About the Meat Industry to Inspire You to Eat Less Meat.” Eco Warrior Princess, 23 Nov. 2019, ecowarriorprincess.net/2019/11/40-facts-statistics-meat-industry-vegetarian-vegan/.

Perry, Susan, and Susan PerrySusan Perry. “Vegetarianism Linked to Lower Risk of Heart Disease, but Slightly Higher Risk of Stroke.” MinnPost, 9 Sept. 2019, www.minnpost.com/second-opinion/2019/09/vegetarianism-linked-to-lower-risk-of-heart-disease-but-slightly-higher-risk-of-stroke/.

“The Smiths - Meat Is Murder.” Discogs, 1 Jan. 1985, www.discogs.com/The-Smiths-Meat-Is-Murder/release/2012819.

Zaraska, Marta. “Vegetarian History: Why It Took So Long to Catch On.” Time, Time, 23 Feb. 2016, time.com/4220270/vegetarianism-history-meathooked/.