Billy Budd
Morrissey Lyrics

In Morrissey's song "Billy Budd," the singer addresses the titular character, expressing regret and frustration over the path their lives have taken since becoming involved with one another. The first two lines of the song, "Say, Billy Budd / So you think you should?" immediately set up a confrontational tone, implying that the singer and others have taken issue with something Billy has done or said. The repeated refrain of "Everyone's laughing!" emphasizes the sense of ridicule or mockery that Billy is facing.

As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the singer has sacrificed opportunities and faced rejection due to their association with Billy. Lines like "Since I took up with you / Things have been bad" and "Did you hear? They turned me down / Yes, and it's all because of us" paint a picture of lives stalled by an unhealthy relationship. Despite this, the singer seems to remain committed to Billy, saying "I would happily lose / Both of my legs / I would lose both of my legs / Oh, if it meant you could be free."

The meaning of the song is open to interpretation, as Morrissey often leaves his lyrics deliberately ambiguous. However, the theme of being trapped in a difficult, possibly abusive relationship is a recurring one in his work. Additionally, the character of Billy Budd is drawn from a novella of the same name by Herman Melville, in which a seaman is falsely accused of mutiny and hanged. Morrissey has cited Melville as an influence on his songwriting, and the use of this character name could be seen as a reference to Melville's themes of alienation and injustice.