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
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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 Smiths's song "His Latest Flame/Rusholme Ruffians" is a unique blend of two songs. The first part talks about a friend who has found love and is boasting about it. The person is describing their love interest as having long black hair and the prettiest green eyes. The song is named after the love interest, Marie. The second part, "Rusholme Ruffians," is darker and tells the story of a night at the fair that ends in violence. A young boy is stabbed and robbed, and the air hangs heavy with fear. The song also explores themes of social class and how money can consume one's thoughts. The lyrics mention an engagement ring, but suggest that it doesn't hold much weight when compared to the allure of wealth. The final lines of the song focus on walking home alone, but still holding onto a devout faith in love. The lyrics throughout the song are beautifully crafted and showcase Morrissey's ability to blend seemingly disparate themes into one cohesive piece.
Line by Line Meaning
Very old friend
An acquaintance from the past
Came by today
Stopped by for a visit
As he was telling everyone in town
Spreading it around
Of all the love that he'd just found
Announcing his new romantic relationship
And Marie's the name (of his latest flame)
Referring to his new girlfriend as Marie
Talked and talked
Kept on talking
And I heard him say
Overheard him stating
That she had the longest blackest hair
Commenting on her hair color and length
Prettiest green eyes anywhere
Describing her eye color and beauty
The last night of the fair
Referring to the final evening of a carnival
By the big wheel generator
Adjacent to the large spinning wheel
A boy is stabbed
A violent incident involving a stabbing
His money is grabbed
A robbery took place
And the air hangs heavy like a dulling wine
The atmosphere becomes dense and oppressive
She is famous
Known for her popularity or achievements
She is funny
Has a good sense of humor
An engagement ring
A symbol of commitment to marriage
Doesn't mean a thing
Is not important or significant
To a mind consumed by brass (money), oh
When greed is the overriding motivation
From a seat on a whirling waltzer
On a ride that moves in a circular motion
Her skirt ascends for a watching eye
Her clothing rises, and someone is observing it
It's a hideous trait (on her mother's side)
An unattractive quality inherited from her mother
Then someone falls in love
A romantic relationship begins
Someone's beaten up
A violent altercation occurs
And the senses being dulled are mine
One's perception is affected by the events
This is the last night of the fair
Repeating the description of the carnival's final evening
And the grease in the hair
Referring to the product used to style hair
Of a speedway operator
The worker who operates a motor race track
Is all a tremulous heart requires
All that's needed to elicit a fluttery feeling in one's chest
A schoolgirl is denied
A young female student is prohibited from doing something
She said : "How quickly would I die
Her hypothetical musings about jumping from a height
If I jumped from the top of the parachutes ?"
Wondering about the deadly consequences of a fall
Oh, walk home alone
Going home without company
But my faith in love is still devout
Despite other events, one's belief in romance 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