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)
His Latest Flame/Rusholme Ruffians
The Smiths Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Came by today
As he was telling everyone in town
Of all the love that he'd just found
And Marie's the name (of his latest flame)
Talked and talked
That she had the longest blackest hair
Prettiest green eyes anywhere
And Marie's the name (of his latest flame)
The last night of the fair
By the big wheel generator
A boy is stabbed
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), oh
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
A hideous trait (on her mother's side)
Then someone falls in love
Someone's beaten up
Someone's beaten up
And the senses being dulled are mine
And someone falls in love
Someone's beaten up
And the senses being dulled are mine
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
Oh, if I jumped from the top of the parachutes ?"
Oh, walk home alone
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
I might walk home alone
But my faith in love is still devout
The lyrics to The Smiths' song "His Latest Flame/Rusholme Ruffians" tell a story of a man who has found a new love interest, named Marie. He excitedly shares with everyone in town about Marie's physical attributes, highlighting her long black hair and beautiful green eyes. However, amidst this tale of newfound love, darker themes emerge.
The song takes a turn when it introduces the scene of the last night of the fair, where a boy is stabbed and robbed. The air becomes heavy and oppressive, symbolizing the darkness and danger that can infiltrate even the most joyful moments. The lyrics then shift back to Marie, who is described as famous and funny, but the engagement ring on her finger holds little significance to her money-obsessed mind.
The song explores themes of love, violence, and societal pressures. It highlights the fleeting nature of relationships and emphasizes the impact of materialism on human connection. The chorus, "And someone falls in love, someone's beaten up, and the senses being dulled are mine," suggests a desensitization to both love and violence in a world driven by superficiality.
Overall, "His Latest Flame/Rusholme Ruffians" delves into the complicated and contradictory nature of human relationships, navigating the fine line between passionate love and the harsh realities of the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Very old friend
A close acquaintance from the past
Came by today
Visited recently
As he was telling everyone in town
He was spreading the news to the entire community
Of all the love that he'd just found
About the newfound romance
And Marie's the name (of his latest flame)
The woman he is currently involved with is named Marie
Talked and talked
He spoke incessantly
And I heard him say
I overheard him mention
That she had the longest blackest hair
Describing her hair as long and dark
Prettiest green eyes anywhere
Her eyes were exceptionally beautiful
The last night of the fair
Referring to the final evening of a carnival
By the big wheel generator
Next to the large ferris wheel
A boy is stabbed
An incident where a young boy was attacked
His money is grabbed
His cash was stolen
And the air hangs heavy like a dulling wine
The atmosphere feels oppressive and tiring
She is famous
She is well-known
She is funny
She has a good sense of humor
An engagement ring
Symbol of commitment
Doesn't mean a thing
Holds no significance
To a mind consumed by brass (money), oh
For someone who is solely focused on material wealth
From a seat on a whirling waltzer
Observing from a spinning amusement park ride
Her skirt ascends for a watching eye
Her skirt lifts, attracting attention
It's a hideous trait (on her mother's side)
A negative characteristic inherited from her mother
Then someone falls in love
Emotionally connecting with another person
Someone's beaten up
Someone gets physically assaulted
And the senses being dulled are mine
My senses are becoming numb or unresponsive
And someone falls in love
Another person experiences love
The last night of the fair
The final night of the carnival
From a seat on a whirling waltzer
Viewing from a spinning amusement park ride
Her skirt ascends for a watching eye
Her skirt lifts, attracting attention
A hideous trait (on her mother's side)
An unpleasant characteristic inherited from her mother
Then someone falls in love
Another individual starts to experience romantic feelings
Someone's beaten up
An individual is subjected to physical violence
And the senses being dulled are mine
My own senses are becoming less sharp
This is the last night of the fair
Confirming that it is the final evening of the carnival
And the grease in the hair
Referring to the oily substance in someone's hair
Of a speedway operator
Belonging to someone who operates a racing track
Is all a tremulous heart requires
It's all that a fearful heart needs
A schoolgirl is denied
A young girl is refused or prohibited from something
She said : "How quickly would I die
Expressing a hypothetical scenario where death would come swiftly
If I jumped from the top of the parachutes ?"
If she leaped from the highest point of the parachute ride
Oh, walk home alone
Returning home without any company
I might walk home alone
It's possible that I'll be alone on my way home
But my faith in love is still devout
Even though I am alone, my belief in love remains unwavering
I might walk home alone
There is a chance I'll make the journey alone
But my faith in love is still devout
Nonetheless, my trust in love remains steadfast
I might walk home alone
I could be walking back without anyone else
But my faith in love is still devout
However, my belief in love remains strong
Lyrics © IMAGEM U.S. LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHNNY MARR, STEVEN PATRICK MORRISSEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind