At Last I Am Born - Interpretation

[tca2005]

I was reading through some people's thoughts on this song, and was shocked not see anyone interpret it in the way I had (maybe someone did and I missed it - in which case I could be stating the bleeding obvious here. If so, humour me)). Personally I heard it once and immediately concluded that Moz had written this song about his own death (possibly to be played a his funeral).

Firstly, note the line:

"Historians note"

This would seem fitting when talking about someone's death, especially someone as influential as Moz.

Next:
"But now I just sit back and yawn"

Compare to the line "the future is ended by a long long sleep" in "In The Future When All's Well".

Next:

"I once was a mess of guilt because of the flesh"

This to me is the clearest line, how else do you leave the "flesh" behind other than dying?

"It’s remarkable what you can learn
Once you are born, born, born"

Makes sense that all the mysteries of life would be answered on dying (one way or another if you see what I mean)

also, I thinkt he fact that this comes at the end of the album ties in with my interpretation.

Thoughts anyone?

[Grim O'Grady]

interesting theory but sorry I don't subscribe, each to their own though eh?

"I once was a mess of guilt because of the flesh" - to me is just another of his Catholic lines on sex & sexuality.

My theory is that it's a life begins at 40 or even 46 in Morrissey's case, though I'm uncertain as to when he actually wrote those lyrics.

love

Grim

[Grim O'Grady]

also on further reflection what about the song 'On The Streets I Ran'?
"Oh dear God, when will I be where I should be
And when the palmist said
"One Thursday you will be dead"
I said: "No, not me, this cannot be
Dear God, take him, take them, take anyone..."
He appears to be wanting to stave off death by any means necessary eh?
I find this song to be quite autobiographical, though the "Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania" line is a bit of a mystery to me I must add.
Just my thoughts on it anyway. But a brilliant thread you've started & it made me sit up & think about the lyrics a bit more deeper & it's such a good l.p.

love

Grim

[Chorlton_Ruffian]

I disagree also, I don't think it's about death, IMO it's about reaching an age where you 'understand it all' if you get me? Wisdom and that.

Look at the entire thing:

At last I am born
Historians note
I am finally born
I once used to chase affection withdrawn
But now I just sit back and yawn
Because I am born, born, born
Look at me now
From difficult child to spectral hand to Claude Brasseur-oh-blah blah blah
At last I am born
Vulgarians know
I am finally born
I once thought that time accentuates despair
But now I don’t actually care
Because I am born, born, born
Look at me now
From difficult child to spectral hand to Claude Brasseur-oh-blah blah blah
At last I am born
At last I am born
Leaving the one true free life born
I once thought I had numerous reasons to cry
And I did, but I don’t anymore
Because I am born, born, born
At last I am born
At last I am born
It took me a long, long time
But now I am born
I once was a mess of guilt because of the flesh
It’s remarkable what you can learn
Once you are born, born, born
Born, born, born
Born, born, born

These lines emphasise my theory:

I am finally born
I once used to chase affection withdrawn
But now I just sit back and yawn
Because I am born, born, born

He used to 'chase affection' but now he doesn't bother 'sit back and yawn' because he realises affection is erm...overrated and he can do without it? I've got no idea to be honest. :blink:

[Cracked Pleasures]

I could be very wrong, though I thought this song is about falling in love with life, coming to a stage where he finally starts enjoying life as it is. 'Being born' could stand for 'the start of life as I want it', which can be at any age.

Interesting theory on death though.

You know, it'd be very interesting to have a sort of interview with Moz with all lyrical questions gathered at this fan board. I doubt he'd be prepared to answer them all, but a sort of once-off 'interview' where all questions at this forum are being given to him, that'd be amazingly interesting.

[tca2005]

also on further reflection what about the song 'On The Streets I Ran'?
"Oh dear God, when will I be where I should be
And when the palmist said
"One Thursday you will be dead"
I said: "No, not me, this cannot be
Dear God, take him, take them, take anyone..."
He appears to be wanting to stave off death by any means necessary eh?

Yes, but what about "I Just Want To See The Boy Happy" where he says "For my own life I don't care anything". To me, the album is about his ambivalent feelings onl ife and death, and At Last I Am Born would seem a perfect way to end the album, by accepting his own mortality but defiantly celebrating it.

[Chorlton_Ruffian]

Actually the first thing I noticed about ROTT is the constant references to death.

I Will See You In Far Off Places
Destiny for some is to save lives
But destiny for some is to end lives

You Have Killed Me
As I live and breathe
You have killed me
You have killed me

The Youngest was the Most Loved
A small boy from a poor house
Who turned into a killer

Life is a Pigsty
Even now in the final hour of my life
I´m falling in love again

I Just Want to see the Boy Happy
Before I die
I have one final dream

I'll Never Be Anybody's Hero Now
I am a ghost and as far as I know
I haven’t even died
And my love is under the ground

On The Streets I Ran
And warn if you don´t leave you will kill or be killed

"One Thursday you will be dead"

The Father Who Must Be Killed
''This death will complete me''

Stepchild, you have outlived your time

So the stepchild ran with a knife to his sleeping frame
And slams it in his arms, his legs, his face, his neck and says
"There´s a law against me now"
And the father who must be killed
With his dying breath, he grabs her hand
And he looks into her eyes
He says "I´m sorry" and he dies

Maybe he's planning to fake his own death. :ph34r:

[Grim O'Grady]

dunno about faking his own death but the funny thing about this l.p. is how the press have said this is his most uplifting work etc but then has you've just pointed out CR all the death references hee-hee!

love

Grim

Actually the first thing I noticed about ROTT is the constant references to death.

I Will See You In Far Off Places
Destiny for some is to save lives
But destiny for some is to end lives

You Have Killed Me
As I live and breathe
You have killed me
You have killed me

The Youngest was the Most Loved
A small boy from a poor house
Who turned into a killer

Life is a Pigsty
Even now in the final hour of my life
I´m falling in love again

I Just Want to see the Boy Happy
Before I die
I have one final dream

I'll Never Be Anybody's Hero Now
I am a ghost and as far as I know
I haven’t even died
And my love is under the ground

On The Streets I Ran
I am a ghost and as far as I know
I haven’t even died
And my love is under the ground

The Father Who Must Be Killed
''This death will complete me''

Stepchild, you have outlived your time

So the stepchild ran with a knife to his sleeping frame
And slams it in his arms, his legs, his face, his neck and says
"There´s a law against me now"
And the father who must be killed
With his dying breath, he grabs her hand
And he looks into her eyes
He says "I´m sorry" and he dies

Maybe he's planning to fake his own death. :ph34r: