The World Won't Listen is a compilation album by The Smiths. It was released in February 1987 by their record company, Rough Trade Records, and reached #2 on the British charts. The album was conceived as a collection of the singles and their B-sides from 1985 and 1986. Additionally, the scrapped single "You Just Haven’t Earned It Yet, Baby" (which was passed over for "Shoplifters of the World Unite") and the near-single "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" (a single candidate from The Queen is Dead that was passed over in favour of "Bigmouth Strikes Again") were included. Read Full BioThe World Won't Listen is a compilation album by The Smiths. It was released in February 1987 by their record company, Rough Trade Records, and reached #2 on the British charts.
The album was conceived as a collection of the singles and their B-sides from 1985 and 1986. Additionally, the scrapped single "You Just Haven’t Earned It Yet, Baby" (which was passed over for "Shoplifters of the World Unite") and the near-single "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" (a single candidate from The Queen is Dead that was passed over in favour of "Bigmouth Strikes Again") were included.
The title reflects Morrissey's frustration with the fact that mainstream radio and record buyers still weren't paying attention to the band. As the album included many non-album cuts and single versions, it remains a fan favourite. The music press was critical, however, labelling the album "inessential."
The compilation was rendered largely superfluous only three months after its release when Rough Trade decided to release the similar but extended US-intended compilation Louder Than Bombs domestically. This was primarily done to save the consumer from paying ridiculous import prices. However, The World Won't Listen has some songs (or different versions of songs) that do not appear on Louder Than Bombs: "The Boy with the Thorn in His Side", "Stretch Out and Wait" (different version), "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore", and "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby" (different version).
After WEA acquired the Smiths back catalogue in 1992, all Smiths albums were re-released at mid price, including The World Won't Listen, which was expanded to include a cover of "Golden Lights" and the original Rough Trade cassette edition bonus track "Money Changes Everything" (another track exclusive to this compilation, though it was later released on the deluxe edition of The Sound of The Smiths).
Cover
The CD sleeve for The World Won't Listen is based on the cassette version of the sleeve layout; the original album featured a larger picture of a Fifties fairground scene, of which this is a crop. The sleeve was designed by Morrissey, using a photo by Jurgen Vollmer from the book Rock 'N' Roll Times: The Style and Spirit of the Early Beatles and Their First Fans.
Track listing
"Panic" - 2:21
"Ask" - 3:15
"London" - 2:07
"Bigmouth Strikes Again" - 3:13
"Shakespeare's Sister" - 2:08
"There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" - 4:05
"Shoplifters of the World Unite" - 2:58
"The Boy with the Thorn in His Side" (single version) - 3:16
"Asleep" - 4:10
"Unloveable" - 3:56
"Half a Person" - 3:36
"Stretch Out and Wait" (alternate vocal) - 2:45
"That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" (single version) * - 3:49
"Oscillate Wildly" - 3:26
"You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby" (UK mix) - 3:32
"Rubber Ring" - 3:48
"Golden Lights" - 2:41
Tracks marked "*" are exclusive to this compilation.
All tracks written by Morrissey and Johnny Marr (including "Money Changes Everything"), except "Golden Lights," written by Twinkle.
"Money Changes Everything" was used by Marr while playing guitar for Bryan Ferry on his "Bête Noire" album. The track is almost an identical blueprint for the song "The Right Stuff," which is credited to Bryan Ferry and Johnny Marr.
The alternate vocal take of "Stretch Out and Wait" is slightly different from the one that was first released in March of 1985 and widely available on the American Louder than Bombs compilation. It has a re-recorded vocal with some melodic variations throughout and lyrical variations in the first verse. It also has an extended ending.
This alternate mix of "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby" is approximately nine seconds longer than the mix that appears on Louder Than Bombs and features some other minor mixing differences.
Musicassette
Same as LP plus "Money Changes Everything"* - 4:43 slotted in as track #9
Compact disc
Rough Trade original issue: same as LP. WEA re-issue: same as musicassette plus "Golden Lights" - 2:40 at the end as track #18.
Personnel
Band
Morrissey – vocals
Johnny Marr – guitars, keyboard instruments, bass guitar on "Golden Lights"
Andy Rourke – bass guitar, cello on "Shakespeare's Sister" and "Oscillate Wildly"
Mike Joyce – drums
Craig Gannon – guitar on "Panic", "Ask", "London", "Half a Person", "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby" and "Golden Lights"
Additional musicians
Kirsty MacColl – backing vocals on "Ask" and "Golden Lights"
John Porter – drum machine on "Golden Lights"
Stephen Street – additional drum machine programming on "London"
Technical staff
Johnny Marr – producer (A7)
Johnny Marr, Morrissey and Stephen Street – producers (A3, B3)
Morrissey and Marr – producers (A4, A6, B1-2, B8)
John Porter – producer (A1-2, A9, B7, B9)
The Smiths – producers (A5, A8, B4-6)
The album was conceived as a collection of the singles and their B-sides from 1985 and 1986. Additionally, the scrapped single "You Just Haven’t Earned It Yet, Baby" (which was passed over for "Shoplifters of the World Unite") and the near-single "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" (a single candidate from The Queen is Dead that was passed over in favour of "Bigmouth Strikes Again") were included.
The title reflects Morrissey's frustration with the fact that mainstream radio and record buyers still weren't paying attention to the band. As the album included many non-album cuts and single versions, it remains a fan favourite. The music press was critical, however, labelling the album "inessential."
The compilation was rendered largely superfluous only three months after its release when Rough Trade decided to release the similar but extended US-intended compilation Louder Than Bombs domestically. This was primarily done to save the consumer from paying ridiculous import prices. However, The World Won't Listen has some songs (or different versions of songs) that do not appear on Louder Than Bombs: "The Boy with the Thorn in His Side", "Stretch Out and Wait" (different version), "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore", and "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby" (different version).
After WEA acquired the Smiths back catalogue in 1992, all Smiths albums were re-released at mid price, including The World Won't Listen, which was expanded to include a cover of "Golden Lights" and the original Rough Trade cassette edition bonus track "Money Changes Everything" (another track exclusive to this compilation, though it was later released on the deluxe edition of The Sound of The Smiths).
Cover
The CD sleeve for The World Won't Listen is based on the cassette version of the sleeve layout; the original album featured a larger picture of a Fifties fairground scene, of which this is a crop. The sleeve was designed by Morrissey, using a photo by Jurgen Vollmer from the book Rock 'N' Roll Times: The Style and Spirit of the Early Beatles and Their First Fans.
Track listing
"Panic" - 2:21
"Ask" - 3:15
"London" - 2:07
"Bigmouth Strikes Again" - 3:13
"Shakespeare's Sister" - 2:08
"There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" - 4:05
"Shoplifters of the World Unite" - 2:58
"The Boy with the Thorn in His Side" (single version) - 3:16
"Asleep" - 4:10
"Unloveable" - 3:56
"Half a Person" - 3:36
"Stretch Out and Wait" (alternate vocal) - 2:45
"That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" (single version) * - 3:49
"Oscillate Wildly" - 3:26
"You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby" (UK mix) - 3:32
"Rubber Ring" - 3:48
"Golden Lights" - 2:41
Tracks marked "*" are exclusive to this compilation.
All tracks written by Morrissey and Johnny Marr (including "Money Changes Everything"), except "Golden Lights," written by Twinkle.
"Money Changes Everything" was used by Marr while playing guitar for Bryan Ferry on his "Bête Noire" album. The track is almost an identical blueprint for the song "The Right Stuff," which is credited to Bryan Ferry and Johnny Marr.
The alternate vocal take of "Stretch Out and Wait" is slightly different from the one that was first released in March of 1985 and widely available on the American Louder than Bombs compilation. It has a re-recorded vocal with some melodic variations throughout and lyrical variations in the first verse. It also has an extended ending.
This alternate mix of "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby" is approximately nine seconds longer than the mix that appears on Louder Than Bombs and features some other minor mixing differences.
Musicassette
Same as LP plus "Money Changes Everything"* - 4:43 slotted in as track #9
Compact disc
Rough Trade original issue: same as LP. WEA re-issue: same as musicassette plus "Golden Lights" - 2:40 at the end as track #18.
Personnel
Band
Morrissey – vocals
Johnny Marr – guitars, keyboard instruments, bass guitar on "Golden Lights"
Andy Rourke – bass guitar, cello on "Shakespeare's Sister" and "Oscillate Wildly"
Mike Joyce – drums
Craig Gannon – guitar on "Panic", "Ask", "London", "Half a Person", "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby" and "Golden Lights"
Additional musicians
Kirsty MacColl – backing vocals on "Ask" and "Golden Lights"
John Porter – drum machine on "Golden Lights"
Stephen Street – additional drum machine programming on "London"
Technical staff
Johnny Marr – producer (A7)
Johnny Marr, Morrissey and Stephen Street – producers (A3, B3)
Morrissey and Marr – producers (A4, A6, B1-2, B8)
John Porter – producer (A1-2, A9, B7, B9)
The Smiths – producers (A5, A8, B4-6)
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
Panic
The Smiths Lyrics
Panic on the streets of London
Panic on the streets of Birmingham
I wonder to myself
Could life ever be sane again?
The Leeds side-streets that you slip down
I wonder to myself
Hopes may rise on the Grasmere
But honey pie, you're not safe here
So you run down
To the safety of the town
But there's panic on the streets of Carlisle
Dublin, Dundee, Humberside
I wonder to myself
Burn down the disco
Hang the blessed DJ
Because the music that they constantly play
It says nothing to me about my life
Hang the blessed DJ
Because the music they constantly play
On the Leeds side-streets that you slip down
Provincial towns you jog 'round
Hang the DJ, hang the DJ, hang the DJ
Hang the DJ, hang the DJ, hang the DJ
Hang the DJ, hang the DJ, hang the DJ
Hang the DJ, hang the DJ
Hang the DJ, hang the DJ
Hang the DJ, hang the DJ, hang the DJ
Hang the DJ, hang the DJ
Hang the DJ, hang the DJ
Hang the DJ, hang the DJ, hang the DJ
Hang the DJ, hang the DJ
Hang the DJ, hang the DJ
Hang the DJ, hang the DJ, hang the DJ
Hang the DJ, hang the DJ
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Steven Morrissey, Johnny Marr
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
Alexis Rivas
Panic on the streets of London
Panic on the streets of Birmingham
I wonder to myself
Could life ever be sane again?
The leeds side-streets that you slip down
I wonder to myself
Hopes may rise on the grasmere
But honey pie, you're not safe here
So you run down
To the safety of the town
But there's panic on the streets of Carlisle
Dublin, Dundee, Humberside
I wonder to myself
Burn down the disco
Hang the blessed DJ
Because the music that they constantly play
It says nothing to me about my life
Hang the blessed DJ
Because the music they constantly play
On the Leeds side-streets that you slip down
The provincial towns you jog 'round
Hang the DJ, hang the DJ, hang the DJ
Hang the DJ, hang the DJ, hang the DJ
Hang the DJ, hang the DJ, hang the DJ
Hang the DJ, hang the DJ
Hang the DJ, hang the DJ
Hang the DJ, hang the DJ, hang the DJ
Hang the DJ, hang the DJ
Hang the DJ, hang the DJ
Hang the DJ, hang the DJ, hang the DJ
Hang the DJ, hang the DJ
Hang the DJ, hang the DJ
Hang the DJ, hang the DJ, hang the DJ
Hang the DJ
Junior F.
"Panic"
Panic on the streets of London
Panic on the streets of Birmingham
I wonder to myself
Could life ever be sane again?
The Leeds side-streets that you slip down
I wonder to myself
Hopes may rise on the Grasmere
But Honey Pie, you're not safe here
So you run down
To the safety of the town
But there's Panic on the streets of Carlisle
Dublin, Dundee, Humberside
I wonder to myself
Burn down the disco
Hang the blessed DJ
Because the music that they constantly play
IT SAYS NOTHING TO ME ABOUT MY LIFE
Hang the blessed DJ
Because the music they constantly play
On the Leeds side-streets that you slip down
Provincial towns you jog 'round
Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ
Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ
HANG THE DJ, HANG THE DJ, HANG THE DJ
HANG THE DJ, HANG THE DJ
HANG THE DJ, HANG THE DJ
Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ
HANG THE DJ, HANG THE DJ
HANG THE DJ, HANG THE DJ
Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ
HANG THE DJ, HANG THE DJ
HANG THE DJ, HANG THE DJ
Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ, Hang the DJ
HANG THE DJ
Ama Deus
Par che te strizza n'occhio
Che n'segreto te sta pe svelà
Ma poi se lo tie pe sè
Secondo me lo fa apposta
A fa quello pieno de segreti
Che sa na cosa ma nta vo fa sapere
Ma poi pare che te strizza n'occhio
Che in confidenza qualcosa te dirà
Ma poi se la tie per sè
Io non capisco
Ma perché prima te dice
Na mezza cosa poi nze vo fa prega
Che poi invece io so uno che se confida
Però poi lui non se fida
È una mazzata se lo voi fa parlà
E te tiene sempre un po' sulle spine
E stai lì che aspetti un'indiscrezione
E 'nte dice, e 'nte dice, e 'nte dice
E 'nte dice, e 'nte dice, e 'nte dice
E 'nte dice, e 'nte dice, e 'nte dice
E 'nte dice, e 'nte dice
E 'nte dice, e 'nte dice
M -1896
Panic on the streets of London
Panic on the streets of Birmingham
I wonder to myself
Could life ever be sane again
On the Leeds side-streets that you slip down
I wonder to myself
Hopes may rise on the Grasmeres
But honey pie, you're not safe here
So you run down
To the safety of the town
But there's panic on the streets of Carlisle
Dublin, Dundee, Humberside
I wonder to myself
Burn down the disco
Hang the blessed DJ
Because the music that they constantly play
It says nothing to me about my life
Hang the blessed DJ
Because the music they constantly play
On the Leeds side-streets that you slip down
On the provincial towns that you jog'round
Hang the DJ, hang the DJ, hang the DJ
Hang the DJ, hang the DJ, hang the DJ
Hang the DJ, hang the DJ, hang the DJ
Hang the DJ, hang the DJ
Hang the DJ, hang the DJ
Uevrek
I 99.8% matched with this band
The 2nd Coming
🤣
just a banana
Black Mirror
Pavese शांति
Duuuuuuuuuuude I just understand the fucking reference!!!!!!!!!!!! Holy shiiiit, nice one pal
Rik Jones
I love you, wherever you are
Chris Oliver
If you're a real The Smiths fan, you'll obsess over that .2%.
Shiloh Slim
"But there's panic on the streets of Carlisle, Dublin, Dundee, Humberside" - cracks me up every time, Mosferatu couldn't have come up with a more parochial, provincial mix if he'd tried really hard. Humberside!
Todd L
"I wonder to myself, could life ever be sane again"
Talk about relevant lyrics today.
Teresa Walters
Indeed!!
bhdctn
Oh it's even worse in six months says Mr. Delta Variant. Meanwhile Americans are taking a horse dewormer to ward off covid because right wing tzlk show hosts told them to. Truth stranger thsn a Smiths song👻