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Vicar in a Tutu Lyrics

I was minding my business
Lifting some lead off
The roof of the Holy Name church
It was worthwhile living a laughable life
To set my eyes on the blistering sight
Of a Vicar in a tutu
He's not strange
He just wants to live his life this way

A scanty bit of a thing
With a decorative ring
That wouldn't cover the head of a goose
As Rose collects the money in a canister
Who comes sliding down the bannister ?
The Vicar in a tutu
He's not strange
He just wants to live his life this way

The monkish monsignor
With a head full of plaster
Said : "My man, get your vile soul dry-cleaned"
As Rose counts the money in the canister
As natural as rain
He dances again
My God!
The Vicar in a tutu
Oh yeah
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh...
The Vicar in a tutu
Oh yeah
Oh...

The next day in the pulpit
With freedom and ease
Combatting ignorance, dust, and disease
As Rose counts the money in the canister
As natural as rain
He dances again and again and again

In the fabric of a tutu
Any man could get used to
And I am the living sign
And I'm a living sign
I am a living sign
I'm a living sign
I am a living sign
I'm a living sign
Sign...
I am a living sign
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22 Meanings

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Cover art for Vicar in a Tutu lyrics by Smiths, The

For me, this song is about a vicar who is childishly happy, blissfully ignorant of social pressures. Somewhat of a comment on happiness, naivety and the backwards nature of the social pressures that stop us from doing what we want and being who we want.

My Interpretation

I like your interpretation, but it's not necessarily a vicar, I think. It's more metaphorical.

Cover art for Vicar in a Tutu lyrics by Smiths, The

According to the book "meetings with morrissey", morrissey meant it as a salute to a cross-dressing comedian he knew, who was previously a vicar. it's been taken a little into exaggeration in the lyrics, but there's your answer!

Cover art for Vicar in a Tutu lyrics by Smiths, The

I always thought that with 'Holy Name Church' that he was being willfully vague until I was strolling through Manchester one day and saw a church called 'The Holy Name Church'.

Cover art for Vicar in a Tutu lyrics by Smiths, The

a very funny song - it was great to see Morry showing a sense of humour in Queen Is Dead after the very depressing Meat Is Murder

I think this song is about sexual liberation - obviously

Cover art for Vicar in a Tutu lyrics by Smiths, The

"...combatting ignorance and disease." -From the film version of Billy Liar

"...sent to Borstal when a kid for breaking open gas meters and ripping lead from church roofs..." -Saturday Night And Sunday Morning, Alan Sillitoe

Cover art for Vicar in a Tutu lyrics by Smiths, The

The "Holy Name Church" is a striking catholic church located on the Oxford Road Corridor across from the Carling Academy at the heart of the Manchester University Quarter.

I think this song is about prejudice and a kind of "those in glass houses shouldn't throw stones" Holier than Thou message. "As i was minding my business lifting some lead" is about someone doing something unlawful/socially unacceptable (stealing from a church). This person sees their actions as normal "as i was minding my business" but the person sees the vicar in a tutu as weird/different.

"As rose collects the money in the cannister" is probably about Morrissey's qualms with the money making of the church "all they want is your money" from the queen is dead.

Cover art for Vicar in a Tutu lyrics by Smiths, The

At first when I heard this song I thought it was a goofy funny song but as I listened to it more I have stepped beyond that conclusion. I actually think it is about not being accepted in society or by your friends because of your beliefs. Being ridiculed for something you either can't help like like homosexuality or just a belief in general.

Cover art for Vicar in a Tutu lyrics by Smiths, The

This song is about how some churches do not allow homosexuality. The fact that cross-dresser is a vicar is a juxtaposition.

Cover art for Vicar in a Tutu lyrics by Smiths, The

I live in Austin, and we've got a local celebrity, Leslie. He walks around in women's thongs and heels and not much else--he's not strange, he just wants to live his life this way!

He's also annoying as hell, though.

Cover art for Vicar in a Tutu lyrics by Smiths, The

The funny thing is, some vicars (at least in the old days) wear a tutu-looking like thing around their necks. Except it's small and white. So the irony is a bit truthful too :p