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)
Big Mouth Strikes Again
The Smiths Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I said I'd like to smash every tooth
In your head
Oh sweetness, sweetness, I was only joking
When I said by rights you should be
Bludgeoned in your bed
Now I know how Joan of Arc felt
As the flames rose to her roman nose
And her Walkman started to melt
Oh
Bigmouth, la bigmouth, la
Bigmouth strikes again
And I've got no right to take my place
With the Human race
Oh, bigmouth, la bigmouth, la
Bigmouth strikes again
And I've 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, la bigmouth, la
Bigmouth strikes again
And I've got no right to take my place
With the Human race
Oh
Bigmouth, oh bigmouth, la
Bigmouth strikes again
And I've got no right to take my place
With the Human race
Oh
Bigmouth, oh bigmouth, la
Bigmouth strikes again
And I've got no right to take my place
With the Human race
Oh
Bigmouth, oh bigmouth, la
Bigmouth strikes again
And I've got no right to take my place
With the Human race
Oh
The Smiths' "Big Mouth Strikes Again" begins with the singer, Morrissey, acknowledging that what he said earlier about wanting to smash every tooth in someone's head was just a joke. He then follows it up by saying that he was also joking when he said that they deserved to be bludgeoned in their bed. The second verse continues to reflect on the situation by stating that he now understands how Joan of Arc felt as the flames rose to her face and her Walkman (or hearing aid) started to melt, likely comparing the figurative flames of verbal backlash he's receiving to the literal flames of Joan of Arc's execution.
Throughout the chorus, Morrissey repeats the phrase "Bigmouth strikes again," which can be interpreted as either a self-deprecating acknowledgement of his tendency to say controversial things, or a snarky commentary on his detractors' tendency to focus on his occasional controversial statement over the rest of his work. He concludes with the repeated phrase "I've got no right to take my place with the Human race," which can be interpreted as a genuine feeling of inadequacy or as another snarky commentary on those who would judge him for his statements.
Overall, the song seems to be about the tension between Morrissey's desire to express his views and the backlash he faces for doing so. It reflects on the seemingly impossible balance between expressing oneself authentically and still being accepted as part of society.
Line by Line Meaning
Sweetness, sweetness I was only joking
I didn't really mean it when I said I wanted to hurt you
When I said I'd like to smash every tooth
I was exaggerating when I said I wanted to hurt you
In your head
I don't actually want to hurt you
Oh sweetness, sweetness, I was only joking
I don't actually want to hurt you
When I said by rights you should be
I don't really believe you deserve to be hurt
Bludgeoned in your bed
I was exaggerating when I said I wanted to hurt you
And now I know how Joan of Arc felt
I understand what it's like to feel like a martyr
Now I know how Joan of Arc felt
I understand what it's like to be persecuted
As the flames rose to her roman nose
As she was burnt at the stake
And her Walkman started to melt
A humorous twist on an anachronistic reference
Bigmouth, la bigmouth, la
A taunt to the singer's own personality
Bigmouth strikes again
I can't help being outspoken and brash
And I've got no right to take my place
I feel like an imposter among the normal people
With the Human race
I don't fit in with the rest of humanity
Oh bigmouth, la bigmouth, la
A repeated taunt to the singer's own personality
And her hearing aid started to melt
A humorous twist on an anachronistic reference
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STEVEN MORRISSEY, JOHNNY MARR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@vindictivevillain
[LYRICS]
Sweetness, sweetness I was only joking
When I said I'd like to smash every tooth
In your head
Oh oh oh
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, la-da-da-da-da, bigmouth, la-da-da-da
Bigmouth strikes again
And I've got no right to take my place
With the human race
Oh oh oh oh oh
Bigmouth, la-da-da-da-da, bigmouth, la-da-da-da
Bigmouth strikes again
And I've 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, la-da-da-da-da, bigmouth, la-da-da-da
Bigmouth strikes again
And I've got no right to take my place
With the human race
Oh oh oh oh oh
Bigmouth, la-da-da-da-da, bigmouth, la-da-da-da
Bigmouth strikes again
And I've got no right to take my place
With the human race
Oh oh oh oh oh
Bigmouth, oh oh oh oh, bigmouth, la-da-da-da
Bigmouth strikes again
And I've got no right to take my place
With the human race
Oh oh oh oh oh
Bigmouth, la-da-da-da-da, bigmouth, la-da-da-da
Bigmouth strikes again
And I've got no right to take my place
With the human race
@mitskismos
Sweetness, sweetness I was only joking
When I said I'd like to smash every tooth
In your head
Oh oh oh
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, la-da-da-da-da, bigmouth, la-da-da-da
Bigmouth strikes again
And I've got no right to take my place
With the human race
Oh oh oh oh oh
Bigmouth, la-da-da-da-da, bigmouth, la-da-da-da
Bigmouth strikes again
And I've 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, la-da-da-da-da, bigmouth, la-da-da-da
Bigmouth strikes again
And I've got no right to take my place
With the human race
Oh oh oh oh oh
Bigmouth, la-da-da-da-da, bigmouth, la-da-da-da
Bigmouth strikes again
And I've got no right to take my place
With the human race
Oh oh oh oh oh
Bigmouth, oh oh oh oh, bigmouth, la-da-da-da
Bigmouth strikes again
And I've got no right to take my place
With the human race
Oh oh oh oh oh
Bigmouth, la-da-da-da-da, bigmouth, la-da-da-da
Bigmouth strikes again
And I've got no right to take my place
With the human race
Fonte: LyricFind
Compositores: Steven Morrissey / Johnny Marr
@Peepee-eu5ck
Lyrics: Sweetness, sweetness I was only joking
When I said I'd 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 I've got no right to take my place
To the Human race
Bigmouth
Bigmouth
Bigmouth strikes again
And I've got no right to take my place
To the Human race
Bigmouth
Bigmouth
Bigmouth strikes again
And I've got no right to take my place
To the Human race
Bigmouth
Bigmouth
Bigmouth strikes again
And I've got no right to take my place
To the Human race...
@taylorconnor2315
Does anyone elses brain just decide on which Smith's song you're going to be obsessed with that week or is it just mine?
@sylph8005
Yup! Daily really
@seanmccabe7164
This describes the last few months of my life lol
@cabomarlin2005
That happens with me too!
@Iladyha
Trust me. Me too.
@shannonnonnahs6943
Yes it's a weekly tradition since the 80's.
@Nico-lv6ld
My dad died in April, he used to love The Smiths, everytime I miss him I come here, it makes me feel better
@gabrielamontesdeoca8359
God bless you
I'm Soo sorry for your losd 🙏✨✨🙏✨✨✨
@davidl4528
Sorry for your loss.
@jhart7304
stop being down and make your papa proud.