The Smiths - Rusholme Ruffians

The last night of the fair
By the big wheel generator
A boy is stabbed and his money is grabbed
And the air hangs heavy like a dulling wine
She is famous, she is funny
An engagement ring doesn't mean a thing
To a mind consumed by brass money

And though I walk home alone
I might walk home alone
But my faith in love is still devout

The last night of the fair
From a seat on a whirling waltzer
Her skirt ascends for a watching eye
It's a hideous trait on her mother's side
From a seat on a whirling waltzer
Her skirt ascends for a watching eye
It's a hideous trait on her mother's side

And though I walk home alone
I might walk home alone
But my faith in love is still devout

Then someone falls in love
And someone's beaten up, someone's beaten up
And the senses being dulled are mine
And someone falls in love
And someone's beaten up
And the senses being dulled are mine

And though I walk home alone
I might walk home alone
But my faith in love is still devout

This is the last night of the fair
And the grease in the hair
Of a speedway operator
Is all a tremulous heart requires
A schoolgirl is denied
She said: "How quickly would I die
If I jumped from the top of the parachutes?"

This is the last night of the fair
And the grease in the hair
Of a speedway operator
Is all a tremulous heart requires
A schoolgirl is denied
She said: "How quickly would I die
If I jumped from the top of the parachutes?"

So scratch my name on your arm with a fountain pen
(This means you really love me)
Scratch my name on your arm with a fountain pen
(This means you really love me)

And though I walk home alone
I just might walk home alone
But my faith in love is still devout
I might walk home alone
But my faith in love is still devout
I might walk home alone
But my faith in love is still devout

The Smiths - Back To The Old House

I would rather not go

Back to the old house

I would rather not go

Back to the old house

There's too many bad memories

Too many memories there

When you cycled by

Here began all my dreams

The saddest thing I've ever seen

And you never knew

How much I really liked you

Because I never even told you

Oh, and I meant to

Are you still there or have you moved away?

Or have you moved away?

I would love to go

Back to the old house

But I never will

I never will

I never will

The Smiths - Girl Afraid

Girl afraid

Where do his intentions lay?

Or does he even have any?

She says:

"He never really looks at me

I give him every opportunity

In the room downstairs

He sat and stared

In the room downstairs

He sat and stared

I'll never make that mistake again!"

Boy afraid

Prudence never pays

And everything she wants costs money

"But she doesn't even LIKE me!

And I know because she said so

In the room downstairs

She sat and stared

In the room downstairs

She sat and stared

I'll never make that mistake again!"

The Smiths - Hand In Glove

Hand in glove

The sun shines out of our behinds

No, it's not like any other love

This one is different - because it's us

Hand in glove

We can go wherever we please

And everything depends upon

How near you stand to me

And if the people stare

Then the people stare

Oh, I really don't know and I really don't care

Kiss my shades...

Hand in glove

The good people laugh

Yes, we may be hidden by rags

But we've something they'll never have

Hand in glove

The sun shines out of our behinds

Yes, we may be hidden by rags

But we've something they'll never have

And if the people stare

Then the people stare

Oh, I really don't know and I really don't care

Kiss my shades...

So, hand in glove I stake my claim

I'll fight to the last breath

If they dare touch a hair on your head

I'll fight to the last breath

For the good life is out there somewhere

So stay on my arm, you little charmer

But I know my luck too well

Yes, I know my luck too well

And I'll probably never see you again

I'll probably never see you again

I'll probably never see you again

Oh

The Smiths - Frankly, Mr Shankly

Frankly, Mr. Shankly, this position I've 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, I'm a sickening wreck

I've got the 21st century breathing down my neck

I must move fast, you understand me

I want to go down in celluloid history Mr. Shankly

Fame, fame, fatal fame

It can play hideous tricks on the brain

But still I'd rather be famous

Than righteous or holy, any day, any day, any day

But sometimes I'd 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 I've held

It pays my way and it corrodes my soul

Oh, I didn't realise that you wrote poetry

I didn't realise you wrote such bloody awful poetry Mr. Shankly

Frankly, Mr. Shankly, since you ask

You are a flatulent pain in the arse

I do not mean to be so rude

Still, I must speak frankly, Mr. Shankly

Oh, give us money!

The Smiths - Unloveable

Oh...

I know I'm unloveable

You don't have to tell me

I don't have much in my life

But take it - it's yours

I don't have much in my life

But take it - it's yours

Oh...

I know I'm unloveable

You don't have to tell me

Oh, message received

Loud and clear

Loud and clear

I don't have much in my life

But take it - it's yours

I know I'm unloveable

You don't have to tell me

For message received

Loud and clear

Loud and clear

Message received

I don't have much in my life

But take it - it's yours

I wear black on the outside

'Cause black is how I feel on the inside

I wear black on the outside

'Cause black is how I feel on the inside

And if I seem a little strange

Well, that's because I am

If I seem a little strange

That's because I am

But I know that you would like me

If only you could see me

If only you could meet me

Oh...

I don't have much in my life

But take it - it's yours

I don't have much in my life

But take it - it's yours

Mmm...

Oh...

The Smiths - Death At One's Elbow

Oh Glenn

Don't come to the house tonight

Oh Glenn

Oh Glenn

Don't come to the house tonight

Oh Glenn

Because there's somebody here

Who really really loves you

Oh Glenn

Stay home

Be bored

(It's crap, I know)

Tonight

Oh Glenn

Oh Glenn

Don't come to the house tonight

Oh Glenn

Oh Glenn

Don't come to the house tonight

Because there's somebody here

Who'll take a hatchet to your ear

The frustration it renders me

Hateful, oh...

Oh, don't come to the house tonight

Oh, don't come to the house tonight

Because you'll slip on the

Trail of all my sad remains

That's why, that's why

Goodbye my love, goodbye my love

Goodbye my love, goodbye my love

Goodbye my love, goodbye my love

The Smiths - Rubber Ring

A sad fact widely known

The most impassionate song

To a lonely soul

Is so easily outgrown

But don't forget the songs

That made you smile

And the songs that made you cry

When you lay in awe

On the bedroom floor

And said : "Oh, oh, smother me Mother..."

No...

Rubber ring, rubber ring, rubber ring, rubber ring

La...

The passing of time

And all of its crimes

Is making me sad again

The passing of time

And all of its sickening crimes

Is making me sad again

But don't forget the songs

That made you cry

And the songs that saved your life

Yes, you're older now

And you're a clever swine

But they were the only ones who ever stood by you

The passing of time leaves empty lives

Waiting to be filled (the passing...)

The passing of time

Leaves empty lives

Waiting to be filled

I'm here with the cause

I'm holding the torch

In the corner of your room

Can you hear me?

And when you're dancing and laughing

And finally living

Hear my voice in your head

And think of me kindly

No...

Rubber ring, rubber ring, rubber ring, rubber ring

La...

No...

Rubber ring, rubber ring, rubber ring, rubber ring

Do you

Love me like you used to?

Oh...

Rubber ring, rubber ring, rubber ring, rubber ring

La...

You're clever

Everybody's clever nowadays

You're clever

Everybody's clever nowadays

You are sleeping

You do not want to believe

You are sleeping

You do not want to believe

You are sleeping

You do not want to believe

You are sleeping

The Smiths - Nowhere Fast

I'd like to drop my trousers to the world
I am a man of means (of slender means)
Each household appliance
Is like a new science in my town

And if the day came when I felt a natural emotion
I'd get such a shock I'd probably jump in the ocean
And when a train goes by
It's such a sad sound, no, no...
It's such a sad thing

I'd like to drop my trousers to the Queen
Every sensible child will know what this means
The poor and the needy
Are selfish and greedy on her terms

And if the day came when I felt a natural emotion
I'd get such a shock I'd probably jump in the ocean
And when a train goes by
It's such a sad sound, no, no...
It's such a sad thing

And when I'm lying in my bed
I think about life and I think about death
And neither one particularly appeals to me

And if the day came when I felt a natural emotion
I'd get such a shock I'd probably lie
In the middle of the street and die
I'd lie down and die
Oh, oh

The Smiths - Meat Is Murder

Heifer whines could be human cries
Closer comes the screaming knife
This beautiful creature must die
This beautiful creature must die
A death for no reason
And death for no reason is murder

And the flesh you so fancifully fry
Is not succulent, tasty or kind
It's death for no reason
And death for no reason is murder

And the calf that you carve with a smile
Is murder
And the turkey you festively slice
Is murder
Do you know how animals die?

Kitchen aromas aren't very homely
It's not "comforting", cheery or kind
It's sizzling blood and the unholy stench
Of murder

It's not "natural", "normal" or kind
The flesh you so fancifully fry
The meat in your mouth
As you savor the flavor
Of murder

No, no, no, it's murder
No, no, no, it's murder
Oh...and who hears when animals cry?

The Smiths - Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before

Stop me, oh, oh-o, stop me
Stop me if you think
That you've heard this one before

Stop me, oh, oh-o, stop me
Stop me if you think
That you've heard this one before

Nothing's changed
I still love you, oh, I still love you
Only slightly, only slightly less
Than I used to, my love

I was delayed, I was way-laid
An emergency stop
I smelt the last ten seconds of life
I crashed down on the crossbar

And the pain was enough to make
A shy, bald Buddhist reflect
And plan a mass murder
Who said I'd lied to her?

Oh, who said I'd lied?
Because I never, I never
Who said I'd lied?
Because I never

I was detained, I was restrained
And broke my spleen and broke my knee
And then he really lays into me
Friday night in out-patients
Who said I'd lied to her?

Oh, who said I'd lied?
Because I never, I never
Who said I'd lied?
Because I never

And so I drank one
It became four
And when I fell on the floor
I drank more

Stop me, oh, oh-o, stop me
Stop me if you think
That you've heard this one before

Stop me, oh, oh-o, stop me
Stop me if you think
That you've heard this one before

Nothing's changed
I still love you, oh, I still love you
Only slightly, only slightly less
Than I used to, my love

The Smiths - William, It Was Really Nothing

The rain falls hard on a humdrum town
this town has dragged you down
oh the rain falls hard on a humdrum town
this town has dragged you down

And everybody's got to live their life
and God knows I've got to live mine
God knows I've got to live mine

William, William it was really nothing
William, William it was really nothing
it was your life

How can you stay with a fat girl who'll say:
"Would you like to marry me
and if you like you can buy the ring"
she doesn't care about anything
"Would you like to marry me
and if you like you can buy the ring"
I don't dream about anyone
except myself

William, William it was really nothing
William, William

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 traveled to a mystical time zone
And I missed my bed and 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
Surprised to still be on my own"

Oh, 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

Oh, 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

Oh, but don't mention love
No, no, don't mention love

A rush and a push and the land we stand on is ours
Your youth may be gone but you're still a young man
So phone me, phone me
So phone me, phone me, phone me

Oh, I think I'm in love
Oh, I think I'm in love
Oh, I think I'm in love, think I'm in love
Oh, I think I'm in love

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
To set my eyes on the blistering sight
Of a Vicar in a tutu
He's not strange
He just wants to live his life this way

A scanty bit of a thing
With a decorative ring
That wouldn't cover the head of a goose
As Rose collects the money in a canister
Who comes sliding down the banister?
The Vicar in a tutu
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 canister
As natural as rain
He dances again
My God!
The Vicar in a tutu
Oh yeah
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh...

The Vicar in a tutu
Oh yeah
Oh...

The next day in the pulpit
With freedom and ease
Combatting ignorance, dust, and disease
As Rose counts the money in the canister
As natural as rain
He dances again and again and again

In the fabric of a tutu
Any man could get used to
And I am the living sign
And I'm a living sign
I am a living sign
I'm a living sign
I am a living sign
I'm a living sign
Sign
I am a living sign

The Smiths - Sheila Take A Bow

Is it wrong to want to live on your own?
No, it's not wrong - but I must know
How can someone so young
Sing words so sad?

Sheila take a, Sheila take a bow
Boot the grime of this world in the crotch, dear
And don't go home tonight
Come out and find the one that you love and who loves you
The one that you love and who loves you
Oh...

Is it wrong not to always be glad?
No, it's not wrong - but I must add
How can someone so young
Sing words so sad?

Sheila take a, Sheila take a bow
Boot the grime of this world in the crotch, dear
And don't go home tonight
Come out and find the one that you love and who loves you
The one that you love and who loves you

Take my hand and off we stride
Oh, la...
You're a girl and I'm a boy
La...
Take my hand and off we stride
Oh, la...
I'm a girl and you're a boy
La...

Sheila take a, Sheila take a bow
La...
Throw your homework onto the fire
Come out and find the one that you love
Come out and find the one you love

The Smiths - Still Ill

I decree today that life is simply taking and not giving
England is mine and it owes me a living
ask me why and I'll spit in your eye
ask me why and I'll spit in your eye

But we cannot cling
to the old dreams anymore
no we cannot cling
to those dreams

Does the body rule the mind
or does the mind rule the body?
I dunno...

Under the iron bridge we kissed
and although I ended up with sore lips
it just wasn't like
the old days anymore
no it wasn't like those days
am I still ill?
am I still ill?

Does the body rule the mind
or does the mind rule the body?
I dunno...

Ask me why and I'll die
oh ask me why and I'll die
and if you must go to work tomorrow
well if I were you I wouldn't bother
for there are brighter sides to life
and I should know because I've seen them
but not very often

Under the iron bridge we kissed
and although I ended up with sore lips
it just wasn't like
the old days anymore
no it wasn't like those days
am I still ill?
am I still ill?

The Smiths - Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now

I was happy in the haze of a drunken hour
But heaven knows I'm miserable now
I was looking for a job, and then I found a job
And heaven knows I'm miserable now

In my life
Why do I give valuable time
To people who don't care if I live or die

Two lovers entwined pass me by
And heaven knows I'm miserable now
I was looking for a job, and then I found a job
And heaven knows I'm miserable now

In my life
Why do I give valuable time
To people who don't care if I live or die

What she asked of me at the end of the day
Caligula would have blushed
"You've been in the house too long" she said
And I naturally fled

In my life
Why do I smile
At people who I'd much rather kick in the eye

I was happy in the haze of a drunken hour
But heaven knows I'm miserable now
"You've been in the house too long" she said
And I naturally fled

In my life
Why do I give valuable time
To people who don't care if I live or die

The Smiths - Shoplifters Of The World Unite

Learn to love me
Assemble the ways
Now, today, tomorrow and always
My only weakness is a list of crime
My only weakness is well, never mind, never mind

Oh, shoplifters of the world
Unite and take over
Shoplifters of the world
Hand it over
Hand it over
Hand it over

Learn to love me
And assemble the ways
Now, today, tomorrow, and always
My only weakness is a listed crime
But last night the plans of a future war
Was all I saw on Channel Four

Shoplifters of the world
Unite and take over
Shoplifters of the world
Hand it over
Hand it over
Hand it over

A heartless hand on my shoulder
A push and it's over
Alabaster crashes down
(Six months is a long time)
Tried living in the real world
Instead of a shell
But before I began
I was bored before I even began

Shoplifters of the world
Unite and take over
Shoplifters of the world
Unite and take over
Shoplifters of the world
Unite and take over
Shoplifters of the world
Take over

The Smiths - Shakespeare's Sister

Young bones groan
And the rocks below say :
"Throw your skinny body down, son!"

But I'm going to meet the one I love
So please don't stand in my way
Because I'm going to meet the one I love
No, Mamma, let me go!

Young bones groan
And the rocks below say :
"Throw your white body down!"

But I'm going to meet the one I love
At last! At last! At last!
I'm going to meet the one I love
La-de-da, la-de-da
No, Mamma, let me go!
No...

I thought that if you had
An acoustic guitar
Then it meant that you were
A Protest Singer
Oh, I can smile about it now
But at the time it was terrible
No, Mamma, let me go
No...

The Smiths - Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me

Last night I dreamt
That somebody loved me
No hope, no harm
Just another false alarm

Last night I felt
Real arms around me
No hope, no harm
Just another false alarm

So, tell me how long
Before the last one?
And tell me how long
Before the right one?

The story is old - I know
But it goes on
The story is old - I know
But it goes on

Oh, goes on
And on
Oh, goes on
And on