The end of David Cameron’s tenure as Prime Minister was a hectic one to say the least. With the country practically imploding after Brexit, Cameron had to take the blame for the emerging crisis. But when Cameron started humming a tune after his resignation speech (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Gz6mZYxS0A) it made matters more amusing, but also sent the internet and media into a craze of wild guesses: what was Cameron humming?
One person astutely suggested that the melody could be Shostakovich’s “1st Movement: Moderato”, but though it sounds similar, it actually seemed a little too traditional, even for Cameron. However, Morrissey, the frontman/songwriter of one of Cameron’s self-declared favourite bands, The Smiths, sampled that ‘doo-doo’ sound in one of his songs called The Teachers Are Afraid of the Pupils (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Iy1BbYd08w). Compare Cameron’s humming and the song as you like, but it is undeniable that there are striking similarities and the fact that Cameron has confessed his love of Morrissey makes it all the more plausible.
What is truly striking however is found in the song’s lyrical content. Morrissey was (still is!) one of the best songwriters ever and one of the most radical too, and he doesn’t censor himself here:
From these words onwards:
There’s too many people / Planning your downfall / When your spirit’s on trial
To the chorus: To be finished would be a relief / To be finished would be a relief
There’s too many people / Planning your downfall / When your spirit’s on trial
To the chorus: To be finished would be a relief / To be finished would be a relief
There are some interesting similarities to a certain person’s own condition at the time… aren’t there Dave?