The Smiths: Girlfriend In A Coma

Album: Strangeways, Here We Come (1987)
Produced by Johnny Marr, Morrissey and Stephen Street
Label: Rough Trade Records

Track 4: Girlfriend In A Coma
Words by Morrissey
Music by Johnny Marr




Video: The Smiths - Girlfriend In A Coma


Lyrics: The Smiths - Girlfriend In A Coma

Girlfriend in a coma, I know
I know - it's serious
Girlfriend in a coma, I know
I know-it's really serious
there were times when I could
have "murdered" her
(But, you know, I would hate
anything to happen to her)
NO, I DON'T WANT TO SEE HER
Do you really think
she'll pull through?
Do you really think
she'll pull through?
Girlfriend in a coma, I know
I know - it's serious
there were times when I could
have "strangled" her
(but, you know, I would hate
Anything to happen to her)
WOULD YOU PLEASE
LET ME SEE HER !
Do you really think
she'll pull through?
Do you really think
she'll pull through?
Let me whisper my last goodbyes

I know - IT'S SERIOUS

"Girlfriend in a Coma" is a song by The Smiths. It was released as a single in August 1987, reaching #13 in the UK Singles Chart.

It was the first of three singles from the band's last studio album Strangeways, Here We Come. As such, it was the last single to include newly recorded material on the b-side. It holds the distinction of containing the last recorded Smiths song, "I Keep Mine Hidden". Also included — and recorded at the same session — is a cover version of a Cilla Black song, "Work Is a Four-Letter Word". Morrissey's insistence on recording this song incurred the wrath of Johnny Marr who left the band not long afterwards.

The single itself is a tongue-in-cheek, music hall inflected song that clocks in at a mere two minutes and two seconds. Though seemingly "lightweight" and catchy, the song features acidic, ambiguous lyrics. The song also contains peak guitar work by Johnny Marr.

The video, which featured clips from the film "The Leather Boys" (starring Rita Tushingham), was directed by Tim Broad.

The cover features playwright Shelagh Delaney from a 1961 edition of "A Taste of Honey". The photo was tinted grey for 7"s in all countries except in Australia where it was tinted green as for the 12"s. This was the second time Delaney appeared on a Smiths cover; she appeared as the cover star on the recently released Louder Than Bombs album.

Source: Wikipedia

The Smiths: Death Of A Disco Dancer

Album: Strangeways, Here We Come (1987)
Produced by Johnny Marr, Morrissey and Stephen Street
Label: Rough Trade Records

Track 3: Death Of A Disco Dancer
Words by Morrissey
Music by Johnny Marr


Video: The Smiths - Death Of A Disco Dancer


Lyrics: The Smiths - Death Of A Disco Dancer

The death of a disco dancer
well, it happens a lot 'round here
and if you think Peace
is a common goal
well, that goes to show
just how little you know
The death of a disco dancer
well, I'd rather not get involved
I never talk to my neighbour
I'd just rather not get involved
Love, peace and harmony?
Love, peace and harmony?
Oh, very nice
very nice
very nice
very nice
...but maybe in the next world

The Smiths: I Started Something I Couldn't Finish

Album: Strangeways, Here We Come (1987)
Produced by Johnny Marr, Morrissey and Stephen Street
Label: Rough Trade Records

Track 2: I Started Something I Couldn't Finish
Words by Morrissey
Music by Johnny Marr



Video: The Smiths - I Started Something I Couldn't Finish


Lyrics: The Smiths - I Started Something I Couldn't Finish

The lanes were silent
with nothing or no one around for miles
I doused our friendly venture
with a hard-faced
three-word gesture
I started something
I forced you into a zone
and you were clearly
never meant to go
hair brushed and parted
typical me, typical me
typical me
I started something
... and now I'm not too sure
I grabbed you by the guilded beams
that's what Tradition means
and I doused another venture
with a gesture
that was... absolutely vile
I started something
forced you to a zone
and you were clearly
never meant to go
hair brushed and parted
typical me, typical me
typical me
I started something
... and now I'm not too sure
I grabbed you by the guilded beams
that's what Tradition means
and now eighteen months' hard-labour
seems... fair enough
I started something
forced you to a zone
and you were clearly
never meant to go
hair brushed and parted
typical me, typical me
Typical me
I started something
and now I'm not too sure

"I Started Something I Couldn't Finish" is a song by The Smiths. It was released as a single in November 1987, reaching #23 in the UK Singles Chart.

It was the second of three UK singles from the band's last studio album Strangeways, Here We Come, and was released after the band had announced their split. The record company had originally intended to release "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before" as a single in the UK but felt this would be inappropriate following the Hungerford massacre (the lyrics contain a reference to "mass murder").

"Stop Me..." was still released as a single in other countries, but its promotional video - which featured Morrissey plus a large number of Morrissey lookalikes - was used in the UK to promote "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish".

The cover of the single features actress Avril Angers in a film still from the 1966 film The Family Way.

Source: Wikipedia

The Smiths: A Rush and a Push and the Land Is Ours

Album: Strangeways, Here We Come (1987)
Produced by Johnny Marr, Morrissey and Stephen Street
Label: Rough Trade Records

Track 1: A Rush and a Push and the Land is Ours
Words by Morrissey
Music by Johnny Marr



Video: The Smiths - A Rush and a Push and the Land is Ours


Lyrics: The Smiths - A Rush and a Push and the Land is Ours

HELLO
I am the ghost of Troubled Joe
hung by his pretty white neck
some eighteen months ago
I travelled to a mystical time zone
but I missed my bed
so I soon came home
they said:
"there's too much caffeine
in your bloodstream
and a lack of real spice
in your life"
I said:
"leave me alone
because I'm alright, dad
just surprised to still
be on my own..."
Ooh, but don't mention love
I'd hate the strain of the pain again
a rush and a push and the land that
we stand on is ours
it has been before
so it shall be again
and people who are uglier than you and I
they take what they need, and just leave
Ooh, but don't mention love
I'd hate the pain of the strain all over again
a rush and a push and the land that
we stand on is ours
it has been before
so why can't it be now?
and people who are weaker than you and I
they take what they want from life
Ooh, but don't mention love
no-just don't mention love!
a rush and a push and the land that
we stand on is ours
your youth may be gone
but you're still a young man
so phone me, phone me, phone me
so phone me, phone me, phone me
Ooh, I think I'm in love
Ooh, I think I'm in love
Ooh, I think I'm in love
Urrgh, I think I'm in lerv

A Rush and a Push and the Land Is Ours is a song by The Smiths, from their album Strangeways, Here We Come. It is the first song on the album, and is notable for not featuring Johnny Marr's guitarwork. The title comes from a poem by Oscar Wilde's mother. The phrase "A rush and a charge and the land is ours", which is a traditional Irish battle cry, is very likely to have influenced Morrissey during the writing of the song.

Source: Wikipedia