Meat Is Murder

The song 'Meat Is Murder' by The Smiths is a powerful statement on animal rights and the ethical implications of consuming meat. The lyrics, penned by the band's lead singer Morrissey, who is known for his staunch vegetarianism, serve as a protest against the brutality of the meat industry. The song's title itself is a blunt declaration equating the act of eating meat with the act of murder, suggesting that the killing of animals for food is an unjustifiable act of violence.

The lyrics employ vivid and emotive language to draw parallels between the slaughter of animals and the taking of a human life. Phrases like 'Heifer whines could be human cries' and 'Closer comes the screaming knife' are designed to evoke empathy and to force the listener to confront the reality of what happens in slaughterhouses. The repetition of the line 'This beautiful creature must die' underscores the tragedy of taking a life for the sake of consumption. Morrissey's use of the word 'murder' is deliberate and provocative, challenging the societal norm that separates human from animal suffering.

The song also criticizes the detachment people have from the meat they consume, highlighting the dissonance between the act of eating and the act of killing. The description of kitchen aromas as 'not comforting, cheery or kind' but rather associated with 'sizzling blood and the unholy stench of murder' is a stark contrast to the often romanticized view of cooking and eating meat. The rhetorical question 'Do you know how animals die?' serves as a call to awareness and responsibility, urging listeners to consider the consequences of their dietary choices.