The Smiths - Still Ill Meaning

Still Ill Lyrics

I decree today that life
Is simply taking and not giving
England is mine and it owes me a living
But ask me why, and I’ll spit in your eye, no
Oh, ask me why, and I’ll spit in your eye
Look, we cannot cling to the old dreams anymore
No, we...

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   #1 top rated interpretation:
   Ianleeds

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   Jul 24th 2006 !⃝

   This song has different meaning for different people, but certain lines have specifics. The first verse 'life is simply taking and not giving' is something myra hindley said and is morrissey having a stab at margret thatcher. "we walked for miles, round the backs, right over the iron bridge and down underneath it on the towpath. We were kissing away and touching and getting really sore lips" -from viv nicholson's book, "spend spend spend".
   I guess the song is about work/jobs/employment/spending/relationships.
2. anonymous

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   Jul 28th 2017 !⃝

   I think Still Ill is about the emotional pain of a relationship ending and an attempt to rekindle it that doesn't work. As Moz says we cannot cling to the old dreams anymore. It can also be viewed as a statement on changing times when it was probably written in late 70s or 80s when the country was going through massive upheaval. Social and personal change; what was once is no longer and cannot be again. There is a feeling sadness yet anger in the lyrics; someone who knows but cannot accept what has happened and is angry with society because of it.
3. anonymous

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   Jul 11th 2017 !⃝

   Does the body rule the mind or does the mind rule the body? is about sex and libido.
4. anonymous

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   Mar 20th 2012 !⃝

   The British Royal family, and its government.
5. anonymous

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   Jan 6th 2012 !⃝

   He's realized hes changed and that after fallilng in love you're never the same.
6. anonymous

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   Mar 14th 2011 !⃝

   I think he's hooked up w/ an ex from long ago he used to love, but it's just not the same anymore and he realizes he has feelings for her no more b/c they've drifted apart for too long and life has changed them in both good and bad ways -- but now they're too different for each other.
7. anonymous

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   Nov 29th 2006 !⃝

   personally I think this song is about madness, the question "does the body rule the mind or does themind rule the body?" is important because the person is concerned that because they are ill that they will be unequal due to their disease.