The Smiths signed to the independent label Rough Trade Records in 1983 and released their first album, The Smiths, in 1984. They based their songs on the songwriting partnership of Morrissey and Marr. Their focus on a guitar, bass, and drum sound and a fusion of 1960s rock and post-punk was a rejection of the synth-pop sound that was predominant at the time. Several Smiths singles reached the top 20 of the UK Singles Chart, and all their studio albums reached the top five of the UK Albums Chart, including the number-one album Meat Is Murder (1985). They achieved mainstream success in Europe with The Queen Is Dead (1986) and Strangeways, Here We Come (1987), both of which entered the top 20 of the European Albums Chart.
Internal tensions led to the Smiths' breakup in 1987, followed by public lawsuits over royalties. Their live album Rank (1988) reached the top 10 in Europe. Since the band's dissolution, the members have refused offers to reunite and have all separately stated that the band is finished and will never reunite.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Smiths
Studio albums
The Smiths (1984)
Meat Is Murder (1985)
The Queen Is Dead (1986)
Strangeways, Here We Come (1987)
5. Half A Person
The Smiths Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've spent six years on your trail
Six long years
On your trail
Call me morbid, call me pale
I've spent six years on your trail
Six full years of my life on your trail
And if you have five seconds to spare
Then I'll tell you the story of my life
Sixteen, clumsy and shy
I went to London and I
I booked myself in at the why W.C.A.
I said I like it here, can I stay ?
I like it here, can I stay ?
Do you have a vacancy
For a back-scrubber?
She was left behind, and sour
And she wrote to me, equally dour
She said in the days when you were
Hopelessly poor
I just liked you more
And if you have five seconds to spare
Then I'll tell you the story of my life
Sixteen, clumsy and shy
I went to London and I
I booked myself in at the why W.C.A.
I said I like it here, can I stay ?
I like it here, can I stay ?
And do you have a vacancy
For a back-scrubber?
Call me morbid, call me pale
I've spent too long on your trail
Far too long
Chasing your tail
Oh
And if you have five seconds to spare
Then I'll tell you the story of my life
Sixteen, clumsy and shy
That's the story of my life
Sixteen, clumsy and shy
The story of my life
That's the story of my life
That's the story of my life
That's the story of my life
The story of my life
That's the story of my life
That's the story of my life
That's the story of my life
That's the story of my life
That's the story of my life
That's the story
The Smiths' "Half A Person" is a song about longing, unrequited love, and the feeling of being incomplete without someone. The opening lines "call me morbid, call me pale, I've spent six years on your trail" suggest that the singer of the song has been pining over someone for an extended period of time. The repeated line "sixteen, clumsy and shy" emphasizes the singer's youth, inexperience, and vulnerability. The reference to booking oneself at the W.C.A. (Westminster City Halls) suggests that the singer has moved to London to be closer to the object of their affection.
The song's chorus, "and if you have five seconds to spare, then I'll tell you the story of my life," underscores the singer's obsession with their unfulfilled love, as though it is the defining feature of their existence. The line "she was left behind, and sour, and she wrote to me, equally dour," suggests that the object of the singer's affection is aware of their feelings but does not reciprocate them. Despite this, the singer still longs for their love, stating "I've spent too long on your trail, far too long chasing your tail."
Overall, the lyrics of "Half A Person" explore the themes of adolescent longing, insecurity, and unrequited love in a uniquely poetic and evocative way that has become a hallmark of The Smiths' songwriting.
Line by Line Meaning
Call me morbid, call me pale
I am a melancholic and introverted person
I've spent six years on your trail
I have devoted six long years of my life trying to get close to someone
And if you have five seconds to spare
If you can spare a moment to listen to me
Then I'll tell you the story of my life
I'll share the details of my life with you
Sixteen, clumsy and shy
As a teenager, I was awkward and self-conscious
I went to London and I
I travelled to London
I booked myself in at the why W.C.A.
I checked into a hotel called 'why W.C.A.'
I said I like it here, can I stay ?
I enjoyed the hotel and asked if I could stay longer
Do you have a vacancy for a back-scrubber?
I asked if they needed someone to clean or do odd jobs
She was left behind, and sour
The person I was pursuing was bitter and unhappy
And she wrote to me, equally dour
She sent me a letter with a negative tone
She said in the days when you were Hopelessly poor
She reminded me of my past struggles
I just liked you more
Despite my problems, she found me more appealing
I've spent too long on your trail
I've invested too much time chasing someone who doesn't reciprocate my affection
Far too long
To an excessive extent
Chasing your tail
Pursuing someone who is leading me on or unattainable
That's the story of my life
This is the summary of my experiences and emotions
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STEVEN MORRISSEY, JOHNNY MARR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@andikawicaksana9361
[Verse 1]
Call me morbid, call me pale
I've spent six years on your trail
Six long years on your trail
Call me morbid, call me pale
I've spent six years on your trail
Six full years of my life on your trail
[Bridge]
And if you have five seconds to spare
Then I'll tell you the story of my life
[Chorus]
Sixteen, clumsy and shy
I went to London and I
I booked myself in at the Y.W.C.A
I said "I like it here, can I stay?
I like it here, can I stay?
Do you have a vacancy for a back-scrubber?"
[Verse 2]
She was left behind and sour
And she wrote to me equally dour
She said "In the days when you were hopelessly poor
I just liked you more"
@mannylugz5872
[Verse 3]
Call me morbid, call me pale
I've spent six years on your trail
Far too long, chasing your tail, ohhh uhhh
And if you have five seconds to spare
Then I'll tell you the story of my life
Sixteen, clumsy and shy
That's the story of my life
That's the story of my life
That's the story of my life
Sotry of my life.
@josuerestrepo1476
Call me morbid, call me pale
I've spent six years on your trail
Six long years on your trail
Call me morbid, call me pale
I've spent six years on your trail
Six full years of my life on your trail
And if you have five seconds to spare
Then I'll tell you the story of my life
Sixteen, clumsy and shy
I went to London and I
I booked myself in at the Y.W.C.A.
I said I like it here, can I stay?
I like it here, can I stay?
Do you have a vacancy for a back-scrubber?
She was left behind, and sour
And she wrote to me equally dour
She said in the days when you were hopelessly poor
I just liked you more
And if you have five seconds to spare
Then I'll tell you the story of my life
Sixteen, clumsy and shy
I went to London and I
I booked myself in at the Y.W.C.A.
I said I like it here, can I stay?
I like it here, can I stay?
And do you have a vacancy for a back-scrubber?
Call me morbid, call me pale
I've spent too long on your trail
Far too long chasing your tail, oh
And if you have five seconds to spare
Then I'll tell you the story of my life
Sixteen, clumsy and shy
That's the story of my life
Sixteen, clumsy and shy
The story of my life
That's the story of my life
That's the story of my life
That's the story of my life
The story of my life
That's the story of my life
That's the story of my life
That's the story of my life
That's the story of my life
That's the story of my life
@strawberrylemonadekristina
When I was 16 I was clumsy and shy. At 49 I'm still clumsy and shy. Life is bearable because of the Smiths which is why I will always adore them.
@zephead843
Felt that like a sucker punch. The Smiths were the best band of their generation. Period. End of story.
@joseph1845
I love you how you are
@strawberrylemonadekristina
@@joseph1845 Thank U ❤
@TimSammartino
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
@arthurthistlewood1225
I'm a similar age. They spoke to some of our generation and always will.
@HelenaBaatista
it feels very comforting when you're in a bad time and find a song that you can hear beyond the silence
@edgardogregorini957
Te invito a que la escuchemos juntos 😜
@Lancer7117
Truth
@phillynott2459
Nice comment❤️