Articulate, broodingly charismatic frontman Morrissey and supple guitarist Johnny Marr made the Smiths one of the most significant English bands of the '80s. (Rolling Stone)
Showing posts with label Album: The Queen Is Dead. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Album: The Queen Is Dead. Show all posts
Album: The Queen Is Dead (1986) Produced by Morrissey and Johnny Marr Label: Rough Trade Records
Track 10: Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others Words by Morrissey Music by Johnny Marr
Video: The Smiths - Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others
Lyrics: The Smiths - Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others
From the ice-age to the dole-age there is but one concern and I have just discovered: some girls are bigger than others some girls are bigger than others some girls mothers are bigger than other girls mothers
As Anthony said to Cleopatra as he opened a crate of ale: some girls are bigger than others some girls are bigger than others some girls mothers are bigger than other girls mothers
Album: The Queen Is Dead (1986) Produced by Morrissey and Johnny Marr Label: Rough Trade Records
Track 9: There Is A Light That Never Goes Out Words by Morrissey Music by Johnny Marr
Video: The Smiths - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
Lyrics: The Smiths - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
Take me out tonight where there's music and there's people who are young and alive driving in your car I never never want to go home because I havent got one anymore take me out tonight because I want to see people and I want to see lights driving in your car oh please dont drop me home because it's not my home, it's their home, and Im welcome no more and if a double-decker bus crashes into us to die by your side such a heavenly way to die and if a ten ton truck kills the both of us to die by your side the pleasure and the privilege is mine take me out tonight oh take me anywhere, I dont care and in the darkened underpass I thought Oh God, my chance has come at last (but then a strange fear gripped me and I just couldnt ask) take me out tonight take me anywhere, I dont care just driving in your car I never never want to go home because I havent got one I havent got one
there is a light and it never goes out
"There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" is a song by the English rock group The Smiths, written by Morrissey and Johnny Marr. It was originally featured on their 1986 album The Queen Is Dead, but despite its enduring popularity it was not released as a single until 1992, after The Smiths split up. Morrissey re-released the song as a double A-side live single (with his cover of Patti Smith's "Redondo Beach") in 2005, which reached #11 in the UK singles chart.
The song lyrically utilises a first-person narrative concerning yearning, anxiety, and implied romance. Morrissey assumes the role of a person who has, one could infer from the lyrics, been kicked out of home, so seeks solace and company in the form of the person the song addresses - the car's driver.
Musically, the song begins with a staccato bridge similar to that heard on "Hitch Hike" by Marvin Gaye and "There She Goes Again" by The Velvet Underground, which recurs as a musical motif throughout the song. With synthesized strings, a balladesque arrangement and yearning lyrics, many listeners have viewed "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" as a straightforward love song despite some ambiguity in the lyrics themselves.
Album: The Queen Is Dead (1986) Produced by Morrissey and Johnny Marr Label: Rough Trade Records
Track 8: Vicar In A Tutu Words by Morrissey Music by Johnny Marr
Video: The Smiths - Vicar In A Tutu With Craig Gannon.
Lyrics: The Smiths - Vicar In A Tutu
I was minding my business lifting some lead off the roof of the Holy Name church it was worthwhile living a laughable life just to set my eyes on the blistering sight of a vicar in a tu-tu he's not strange he just wants to live his life this way A scanty bit of a thing with a decorative ring that wouldnt cover the head of a child as Rose collects the money in a cannister who comes sliding down the bannister the vicar in a tu-tu he's not strange he just wants to live his life this way The monkish monsignor with a head full of plaster said : "My man, get your vile soul dry-cleaned" as Rose counts the money in the cannister as natural as Rain he dances again vicar in a tu-tu The next day in the pulpit with Freedom and Ease combatting ignorance, dust, and disease as Rose counts the money in the cannister as natural as Rain he dances again the fabric of a tu-tu any man could get used to And I am a living sign And I'm a living sign.
Album: The Queen Is Dead (1986) Produced by Morrissey and Johnny Marr Label: Rough Trade Records
Track 7: The Boy With The Thorn In His Side Words by Morrissey Music by Johnny Marr
Video: The Smiths - The Boy With The Thorn In His Side
Lyrics: The Smiths - The Boy With The Thorn In His Side
The boy with the thorn in his side behind the hatred there lies a murderous desire for love how can they look into my eyes and still they dont believe me? how can they hear me say those words and still they dont believe me? and if they dont believe me now will they ever believe me? and if they dont believe me now will they ever believe me?
The boy with the thorn in his side behind the hatred there lies a plundering desire for love how can they see the Love in our eyes and still they dont believe us? and after all this time they dont want to believe us and if they dont believe us now will they ever believe us? and when you want to Live how do you start? where do you go? who do you need to know?
"The Boy with the Thorn in His Side" is a song by The Smiths. It appears on their third album The Queen Is Dead but was released as a single (albeit in a different mix) several months before the album, reaching #23 in the UK Singles Chart in Autumn 1985.
This was the first Smiths single to be accompanied by a promotional video, something the band had previously resisted. Some of the Smiths' more purist fans at the time derided this as a sell-out.
The following year, the New Musical Express greeted the news that the band had signed a contract with EMI with the headline "The Boy With The Thorn-EMI On His Side".
The jumping man on the cover of the single release is a young Truman Capote.
The song was covered by Scottish band Bis on the tribute album The Smiths is dead. Music reviewer, Stephen Thomas Erlewine, trashed the cover, stating: "In particular, the Bis utterly disembowel 'The Boy with the Thorn in His Side' with a single-minded stupidity that is just bewildering."
The song has also been covered by Jeff Buckley, Belle & Sebastian and Dinosaur Jr's J Mascis in live performances. This song also shares its name with a book written by Pete Wentz, bassist of the band Fall Out Boy.
The song was featured in the third episode of the British drama musical series Blackpool.
Margi Clarke asked Morrissey if this song was inspired by Oscar Wilde and Morrissey replied: "No that's not true. The thorn is the music industry and all those people who never believed anything I said, tried to get rid of me and wouldn't play the records. So I think we've reached a stage where we feel: if they don't believe me now, will they ever believe me? What more can a poor boy do?
Album: The Queen Is Dead (1986) Produced by Morrissey and Johnny Marr Label: Rough Trade Records
Track 6: Bigmouth Strikes Again Words by Morrissey Music by Johnny Marr
Video: The Smiths - Bigmouth Strikes Again
Lyrics: The Smiths - Bigmouth Strikes Again
Sweetness, sweetness I was only joking when I said Id like to smash every tooth in your head Sweetness, sweetness, I was only joking when I said by rights you should be bludgeoned in your bed and now I know how Joan of Arc felt now I know how Joan of Arc felt as the flames rose to her roman nose and her Walkman started to melt Bigmouth, bigmouth bigmouth strikes again and Ive got no right to take my place with the Human race bigmouth, bigmouth bigmouth strikes again and Ive got no right to take my place with the Human race and now I know how Joan of Arc felt now I know how Joan of Arc felt as the flames rose to her roman nose and her hearing aid started to melt Bigmouth, bigmouth bigmouth strikes again and Ive got no right to take my place with the Human race
Album: The Queen Is Dead (1986) Produced by Morrissey and Johnny Marr Label: Rough Trade Records
Track 5: Cemetry Gates Words by Morrissey Music by Johnny Marr
Video: The Smiths - Cemetry Gates Wolverhampton 1986
Lyrics: The Smiths - Cemetry Gates
A dreaded sunny day so I meet you at the cemetry gates Keats and Yeats are on your side a dreaded sunny day so I meet you at the cemetry gates Keats and Yeats are on your side while Wilde is on mine So we go inside and we gravely read the stones all those people all those lives where are they now? with loves, and hates and passions just like mine they were born and then they lived and then they died which seems so unfair and I want to cry You say: "ere thrice the sun done salutation to the dawn" and you claim these words as your own but Im well-read, have heard them said a hundred times (maybe less, maybe more) if you must write prose/poems the words you use should be your own dont plagiarise or take "on loan" there's always someone, somewhere with a big nose, who knows and who trips you up and laughs when you fall who'll trip you up and laugh when you fall You say: "ere long done do does did" words which could only be your own you then produce the text from whence was ripped (some dizzy whore, 1804) A dreaded sunny day so let's go where we're happy and I meet you at the cemetry gates Keats and Yeats are on your side a dreaded sunny day so let's go where we're wanted and I meet you at the cemetry gates Keats and Yeats are on your side but you lose because Wilde is on mine.
Album: The Queen Is Dead (1986) Produced by Morrissey and Johnny Marr Label: Rough Trade Records
Track 4: Never Had No One Ever Words by Morrissey Music by Johnny Marr
Video: The Smiths - Never Had No One Ever
Lyrics: The Smiths - Never Had No One Ever
When you walk without ease on these the very streets where you were raised I had a really bad dream it lasted 20 years, 7 months, and 27 days Never had no one ever
Source: The Queen Is Dead (record)
Lyrics: The Smiths - Never Had No One Ever
When you walk without ease On these Streets where you were raised I had a really bad dream It lasted 20 years, 7 months, and 27 days I never, I'm alone, and I Never, ever oh ... had no one ever
Now I'm outside your house I'm alone And I'm outside your house I hate to intrude ... Oh, Alone, I'm Alone, I'm Alone, I'm Alone I'm Alone I'm Alone And I never, never ... oh ... had no one ever I never had no one ever I never had no, no one ever Had no one never Never ... no ... Oh ...
Album: The Queen Is Dead (1986) Produced by Morrissey and Johnny Marr Label: Rough Trade Records
Track 3: I Know It's Over Words by Morrissey Music by Johnny Marr
Video: The Smiths - I Know It's Over (live London palladium)
Lyrics: The Smiths - I Know It's Over
Oh Mother, I can feel the soil falling over my head and as I climb into an empty bed Oh well. Enough said. I know it's over - still I cling I don't know where else I can go Oh Mother, I can feel the soil falling over my head see, the sea wants to take me the knife wants to cut me do you think you can help me? Sad veiled bride, please be happy handsome groom, give her room loud, loutish lover, treat her kindly (although she needs you more than she loves you) and I know it's over - still I cling I don't know where else I can go I know it's over and it never really began but in my heart it was so real and you even spoke to me, and said: "If you're so funny then why are you on your own tonight? and if you're so clever why are you on your own tonight? if you're so very entertaining why are you on your own tonight? if you're so terribly good-looking then why do you sleep alone tonight? because tonight it's just like any other night that's why you're on your own tonight with your triumphs and your charms while they are in each other's arms..." It's so easy to laugh it's so easy to hate it takes strength to be gentle and kind It's so easy to laugh it's so easy to hate it takes guts to be gentle and kind love is Natural and Real but not for you, my love not tonight, my love love is Natural and Real but not for such as you and I, my love Oh Mother, I can feel the soil falling over my head Oh Mother, I can feel the soil falling over my head Oh Mother, I can feel the soil falling over my head Oh Mother, I can feel the soil falling over my head Oh Mother, I can feel the soil falling over my head
Note: The first vocal take Morrissey recorded for the song ended up as the one used for the album. (Wikipedia)
Album: The Queen Is Dead (1986) Produced by Morrissey and Johnny Marr Label: Rough Trade Records
Track 2: Frankly, Mr Shankly Words by Morrissey Music by Johnny Marr
Video: The Smiths - Frankly, Mr Shankly Live Irvine 1985
Lyrics: The Smiths - Frankly, Mr Shankly
Frankly, Mr. Shankly, this position Ive held it pays my way, and it corrodes my soul I want to leave, you will not miss me I want to go down in musical history
Frankly, Mr. Shankly, Im a sickening wreck Ive got the 21st century breathing down my neck I must move fast, you understand me I want to go down in celluloid history
Fame, Fame, fatal Fame it can play hideous tricks on the brain but still Id rather be Famous than righteous or holy, any day
but sometimes Id feel more fulfilled making Christmas cards with the mentally ill I want to Live and I want to Love I want to catch something that I might be ashamed of
Frankly, Mr. Shankly, this position Ive held it pays my way and it corrodes my soul oh, I didnt realise that you wrote poetry (I didnt realise you wrote such bloody awful poetry)
Frankly, Mr. Shankly, since you ask you are a flatulent pain in the arse I do not mean to be so rude but still, I must speak frankly, Mr. Shankly
Album: The Queen Is Dead (1986) Produced by Morrissey and Johnny Marr Label: Rough Trade Records
Track 1: The Queen Is Dead Words by Morrissey Music by Johnny Marr
Video: The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead
Lyrics: The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead
Farewell to this lands cheerless marshes hemmed in like a boar between arches her very Lowness with a head in a sling Im truly sorry - but it sounds like a wonderful thing dear Charles, don't you ever crave to appear on the front of the Daily Mail dressed in your Mother's bridal veil? So, I checked all the registered historical facts and I was shocked into shame to discover how Im the 18th pale descendent of some old queen or other has the world changed, or have I changed? has the world changed, or have I changed? as some 9-year old tough peddles drugs (I never even knew what drugs were) And so, I broke into the Palace with a sponge and a rusty spanner she said: "Eh, I know you, and you cannot sing" I said: "that's nothing - you should hear me play piano" We can go for a walk where it's quiet and dry and talk about precious things but when you're tied to your Mother's apron No one talks about castration We can go for a walk where it's quiet and dry and talk about precious things like love and law and poverty these are the things that kill me We can go for a walk where it's quiet and dry and talk about precious things but the rain that flattens my hair these are the things that kill me Passed the Pub that saps your body and the church who'll snatch your money the Queen is dead, boys and it's so lonely on a limb Passed the Pub that wrecks your body and the church - all they want is your money the Queen is dead, boys you can trust me, boys life is very long, when you're lonely life is very long, when you're lonely life is very long, when you're lonely life is very long, when you're lonely
The Smiths were an English rock band active from 1982 to 1987. The group was based on the songwriting partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr and were signed to the independent record label Rough Trade Records. Considered by some critics to be the most important alternative rock band to emerge from the British indie scene of the 1980s. (Wikipédia)
Album: The Queen Is Dead (1986)
"The Boy with the Thorn in His Side" is a song by The Smiths. It appears on their third album The Queen Is Dead but was released as a single (albeit in a different mix) several months before the album, reaching #23 in the UK Singles Chart in Autumn 1985.
