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Band: The Smiths
Song: Reel Around the Fountain
Album: The Smiths
Thom Mills dustbin_man@hotmail.com
As far as Smiths songs go, this is somewhat easy. Chords are picked through, bass tab
on the bottom capo up two frets (so when you see an E, it's like playing a D)
A E
It's time the tale were told of how you took a child
g------------------------------------------------------------
d------------------------------------0-----2----------2-2--2-
a------0----0---0---------0---0---4--------------------------
e-1----------------------------------------------------------
F#m D A
and you made him old it's
g-----------------------------------------------------------------
d-2--2-2-0---------------------0--0-0-----------------------------
a----------4----------4---------------4---0---0-0--0--0---0-0-----
e------------2--2--2-------2------------2-----------------------0-
E
time the tale were told of how you took a child
g--------------------------------------------------------
d-------------------------------0------2----------2-2--2-
a-0----0---0---------0---0--4----------------------------
e--------------------------------------------------------
F#m A
and you made him old you make him old
g-----------------------------------------------------------------
d-2-------2-2-0-4---------------0------`-0------------------------
a--------------------------4--------------------4----0---0-0---0--
e------------------2--2--2---2---------------------2--------------
A G#m Gmaj7 F#m Bm
Reel around the fountain slap me on the patio
g--------------------------------------------------------------------
d--------------------------------------------------------------------
a-0----0-----------------------------------------2----------2--------
e----2----4---3---------------3--3--3--2--2-2--2----------------2---2
Gmaj7 F#m E
I'll take it now oh
g------------------------------------------------------------
d------------------------------------------------------------
a-2--2-2--0-0--------------------------4---------------------
e--------------3--3---3-3--3--3--3-3-----2--2-2--2--2--0--0--
A E F#m A
Fifteen minutes with you Well I wouldnt say
g------------------------------------------------------
d---------0----------------2---------------------------
a-0--4------------4--------------------0-0-4-------4---
e-----------------------------2--2-3-------------------
E D A E
no oh people said that you were virtually dead and
g------------------------------------------------------------
d-2----0-----------------------------------------------------
a--------4-2-0-----0-0-2--2----0-----------------------------
e-----------------------------------0---4-------------4-4----
D E A
they were so wrong Fifteen minutes with you
g------------------------------------------------------------
d-----------0-------0-------0--0-2-2-------------------------
a-0-------------------0---0----------0-----4-0-----------4---
e-----------------------2------------------------------------
E F#m A E D A
Oh I wouldnt say no oh people said that you
g-------------------------------------------------------------
d-2--------------------------2------0-------------------------
a------------0---0----4----4----------4-2-0----0-0--2-2----0--
e-----2--2-4--------------------------------------------------
E D Bm7
were easily led and they were half right oh they
g-------------------------------------------------------------
d---------------------------0--------------0-------0-0--------
a----------------------0---------------------0---0----0-0--2--
e------0-4------4-4----------------------------2--------------
D Bm7
oh they were half right oh
g-----------------------------------------------------------------
d----------------------------0-0----0--------0--0-----------------
a-2---0----2-------2---0--------------0---0-------0---0-2-2---0---
e---2---2------------2----2-------------2-----------2-------2---2-
D Bm7 D
g--------------------------------------------------------
d------------0--0-------0--0---------------------------0-
a-2--2---0--------0---0------0---0-2--2---0----2---0-----
e------2---2--------2----------2--------2---2----2---2---
E
It's..(next verse)
g----------------------
d--0-------2--2-2--2---
a----0---0-----------4-
e------2---------------
There ya go! A quick rap up pf the chords (remember, capo up two
frets. All numbers are counted from the second fret (i.e., second
fret = 0).
A E F#m D G#m Gmaj7 Bm Bm7
e-3-4-0---0-4---0-----0--0--
b-0-5-0---1-4---1-----1--1--
g-0-4-0---0-4---2-----2--0--
d-0-0-2---2-6---3-----2--2--
a-2-0-----3-----------------
e-3-------------------------
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Tab Discussion, Comments, and Critiques
|
No Picture
IvZ Average |
#1 by IvZ at Feb 27, 1970 at 2:44 PM EST |
| I think it's about losing your innocence (and liking it) but having the other person just see you as a sex object...while you see them as something more special. Even though you know they only want to sleep with you...you love them so much that you just cannot say no to another lust-filled 15mins. Personally, I think that child molestation stuff is ridiculous nonsense... | |
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Jarrett Lead Player |
#2 by Jarrett Sandlin at Oct 8, 1970 at 3:44 AM EST |
| "Reel Around the Fountain" is a term used by gay people...it means running your tongue around the tip of someone's penis until ejaculation occurs. Reel around the fountain slap me on the patio I'll take it now Fifteen minutes with you well, I wouldn't say no all about sex, but in a very Morrissey-esque manner, of course. I don't think this is about child abuse. I think the "child" is someone who was sexually immature before this encounter. | |
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No Picture
Kevin Average |
#3 by Kevin Fournier at Dec 4, 1972 at 6:40 PM EST |
| "It's time the tale were told, of how you took a child and you made him ooooooooh! You made him ooooooh!" I think this song is about sex with underage children. I know the lyrics say 'old' but the way Mozz sings it it's like 'oooooooooooooh!' as in expressing emotion. More song meanings for the Smiths, under the lyrics section at: http://www.compsoc.man.ac.uk/~moz/ | |
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No Picture
sebastian Professional |
#4 by sebastian at Jan 28, 1973 at 4:17 PM EST |
| Bees with no knees eh! "The Bees knees" is a British expression which basically means: top-notch, first class etc. If you remove the "It's time the tale were told" section, then this would read as a tale of unrequited love. When Morrissey sings "I'll take it now" its almost as if he had a chance for physical closeness but didn't have the guts to go through with it and now he wants another chance...another fifteen minutes. Those opening lines however seem to suggest that something has already taken place, while the rest of the song suggests it hasn't. I think you'll have to ask Morrissey! | |
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No Picture
Dylan Average |
#5 by Dylan Ruiz at Jul 15, 1973 at 10:58 PM EST |
| The child who became old, in the manner described by kaguth, was the person the narrator had relations with, no the narrator (Morrissey). Also, bees don't have knees, meaning the person the narrator had relations with was nothing in the eyes of society ("people see no worth in you," and "people said you were virtually dead"). The narrator puts himself in the same category with "and so am I." There is a subtle interpretation where the narrator is young and the other person is much older, but that depends on your personal perspective. | |
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No Picture
Guitar Master Wanna Be |
#6 by Guitar Master J at Jan 11, 1977 at 10:40 AM EST |
| I think it's about a gay relationship between an older man and a younger lover. The song is from the point of view of the younger man, with his older lover being dominant, even though the younger lover yearns for him to be more submissive "'take me to the haven of your bed' was something that you never said". | |
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No Picture
h4c|< Average |
#7 by h4c|< ☺ at Oct 13, 1978 at 4:08 PM EST |
| btw...what does "reel around the fountain" mean? Is it intended as a verb as in "I was reeling"? | |
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No Picture
dylan Average |
#8 by dylan markus at Feb 23, 1981 at 9:57 PM EST |
| Morrissey said something like “ A person remains a child until they are confronted with a physical relationship” about this song (that’s the gist of the quote anyway). In my mind this song is about someone’s first physical relationship and all the immature emotional baggage that comes with it. “People said that you were easily led” implies that this persons first partner is “easy” and although the person is unhappy about this they still wouldn’t say no to another 15 minutes. | |
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No Picture
Trent Average |
#9 by Trent Zelasney at Apr 8, 1984 at 3:22 PM EST |
| Hmm...I think there is definately an element of innocent affection and longing in the song, but I always thought of it as being in a pretty sexual way. And yes, this song does get some of the attention it deserves, BobC, as it is on of my favourites. =) | |
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No Picture
Matt Average |
#10 by Matt Waas at Apr 20, 1985 at 3:18 AM EST |
| well "take me to the haven of your bed..." is like saying that even though the person who is being sung too doesn't want Morrissey at the moment, the singer still thinks the person is great and wants that person. and even though the person doesn't want Morrissey he still thinks himself pretty great and still thinks he and this other person would make a great match for one another. its like he is saying noone else is your match apart from me, noone else would forgive you for not being romantic and still want you all the same...?? hope I made sense! I don't understand agin the child abuse connotation, because before sex you ARE childlke and innocent and naive in the ways of things. not just children are innocent - I didn't misunderstand or remain puzzled about what Morrissey meant for a second - those that did have sick minds. | |
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No Picture
Bryant Wanna Be |
#11 by Bryant Matthews at Nov 20, 1986 at 4:36 AM EST |
| I feel Moz is using erotic sensual lyrics to describe his lust that he is too afraid to act out. Its all in his head, descriptive and clear yet he is too afraid to really go through withit. A self imposed internal repression of eroticism. The question of whether it is heterpsexual or homosexual is irrelevant, anyone has feelings of lust and desire. | |
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Jesse Wanna Be |
#12 by Jesse Seibel at Apr 21, 1987 at 1:13 AM EST |
| it's about a boy losing his innocence, but not in a 'child abuse' way. 'fifteen minutes with you well, I wouldn't say no' - he definitely likes it! it's Moz's encounter with another charming man | |
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Terence Average |
#13 by Terence Taylor at Jun 1, 1990 at 11:11 PM EST |
| the media hounded morrissey when this song was released because they thought it condoned child abuse | |
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Jordan Rhythm Player |
#14 by Jordan at Apr 10, 1991 at 12:55 AM EST |
| I gotta think that enolf's intrepretation is the closest.. if it were simply about being happy and your first love than it would be the smiths happiest simplest song and would be extremely out of charecter to the content of their other songs. | |
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No Picture
Grunge Hamster Lead Player |
#15 by Grunge Hamster at Oct 28, 1991 at 8:09 AM EST |
| What do you guys think this part means? : But take me to the haven of your bed was something that you never said two lumps, please you're the bee's knees but so am I | |
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No Picture
paddy Average |
#16 by paddy coscoran at Oct 28, 1995 at 6:59 PM EST |
| Okay can someone please help me.. I love this cd but I every time i hear this song's intro another song pops into my haed and i cant think for the life of me what it is or who it is by. the other song has the same drum intro type thing (or close) but instead of vocals a bassline comes in... I keep thinking it's the pixies or sonic youth or something along those lines but I'm probably completely wrong. I can't even listen to this anymore because it absolutely kills me haha.. I can't think of anything else from the song except the drum and bassline. if anyone may possibly know what song i'm thinking of i'd greatly appreciate it.. if you even have the *slightest* idea - im me on aim at yhalothar77 or email me at pfr_77@hotmail.com | |
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No Picture
josh Average |
#17 by josh stagel at Jun 9, 1997 at 3:24 AM EST |
| I think it's about fierce, but unrequited, lust and desire, not really love. | |
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brennan Average |
#18 by brennan collins at Feb 13, 1998 at 5:13 PM EST |
| i love this song...i'd say it was about courting "reel around the fountain....slap me on the patio.." and maybe growing old with somebody "of how you took a child and you made him old...' i love the "fifteen minutes with you...i wouldn't say no..people see no worth in you, but i do...." i think thats sweet... | |
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Mike Average |
#19 by Mike Fraguglia at Aug 22, 1999 at 10:29 PM EST |
| "Take and mount me like a butterfly" Exit Smiling - Morrissey (after From Reverence To Rape by M.Haskell) "...like butterflies on pins." "...reel around the cafe." By Grand Central Station I Sat Down And Wept, by Elizabeth Smart "You're the bee's knees, but so am I" "I dreamt about you last night, and I fell out of bed twice." both from the film adaptation of A Taste Of Honey by Shelagh Delaney | |
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Dan Lead Player |
#20 by Dan archy at Jan 8, 2003 at 12:43 PM EST |
| I'm with you Kez. This is without question my favorite Smiths song. It floats effortlessly along between happy and sad, humor and desperation. Just beautiful. To me, this song is all about growing up and having your first relationship and the fierce emotions that brings. It's about that magical time right as you're about to lose your innocence IMO. Why this song never gets the attention it deserves is beyond me. | |
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No Picture
NICK Wanna Be |
#21 by NICK COGHLAN at Mar 6, 2004 at 7:44 PM EST |
| And long after the release of Reverence To Rape which Morrissey read, Morrissey wrote a brief directory of Hollywood also-rans titled Exit Smiling. In it, Morrissey references Terence Stamp's performance in The Collector. "As a deranged butterfly collector, Stamp suddenly decides to collect women, and Samantha Eggar finds herself pinned and mounted" | |
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No Picture
Dark Lead Player |
#22 by Dark Avenger at Aug 21, 2004 at 8:38 AM EST |
| I think it's pretty clearly a child singing about a much older man molesting him. "People said you were virtually dead, but they were so wrong!" I honestly don't see another reasonable maning. | |
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dann Average |
#23 by dann at Feb 23, 2006 at 2:56 AM EST |
| it doesn't condone child abuse of course, but I think there is a very valid interpretation that its about some kind of child abuse: "It's time the tale were told of how you took a child and you made him old" I don't think its about love so much but maybe there is quite a great feeling between the two concerned. | |
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Dan Professional Badass |
#24 by Dan Hudspith at May 3, 2006 at 9:46 PM EST |
| Personally, I think this song is about losing your virginity to someone more experienced (but not necessarily older). By taking the narrators virginity, that person is taking a child and making them old. It seems to me that there is a kind of resentment towards that person for taking your innocence, but at the same time you want to prove yourself to them aswel "I'll take it now"? Because the other person is more experienced, it's not such a big deal to them, hence the fact that they never said "Take me to the haven of your bed". | |
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Keegan Average |
#25 by Keegan at Sep 4, 2006 at 10:16 PM EST |
| definetly my favorite smiths song, and i do like em all, this song reminds me of someone really important in my life who is never gonna read this. | |
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