Punctured bicycle
On a hillside desolate
Will Nature make a man of me yet?

from The Smiths – This Charming Man Lyrics on Rap Genius

Morrissey provides a contemporary look on an allusion to Spartan mythology. Spartan boys were expected to join the army and fight like men from a very young age. Those who were not capable or adequate soldiers were left on a hill to die, similar to the position the narrator is in.

Upon doing this Morrissey solidifies the theme of anti-machismo.

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