In 2007, Marr said "How Soon Is Now?" is "possibly [the Smiths'] most enduring record. It's most people's favourite, I think." Despite its prominent place in the Smiths' repertoire, it is not generally considered to be representative of the band's style. Although a club favourite, it did not chart as well as expected. Most commentators put this down to the fact that the song had been out on vinyl in a number of forms before being released as a single in its own right. The original track runs for nearly seven minutes; the 7" single edit cut the length down to under four minutes. The complete version is generally used on compilations.
A cover of the song by Love Spit Love was used in the soundtrack for the 1996 film The Craft and later appeared as the theme song of the television series Charmed for eight seasons.
The single's cover art was a still from the film Dunkirk (1958) featuring British actor Sean Barrett, praying but looking sufficiently as though he was holding his crotch to have the sleeve banned in the United States, where a photograph of the band backstage at the 1984 Glastonbury Festival, which had previously appeared on the gatefold inside the Hatful of Hollow compilation, was used instead. It is the only time a portrait of the band has appeared on the cover of one of their releases. Morrissey called it "an abhorrent sleeve – and [given] the time and the dedication that we put into the sleeves and artwork, it was tearful when we finally saw the record..."
Sire Records made an unauthorised music video to promote the song. It intercut clips of the band playing live (including a shot of Johnny Marr showing Morrissey how to play the guitar), an industrial part of a city, and a girl dancing. The identity of the girl is unknown. The band were not pleased by the result. Morrissey told Creem in 1985, "We saw the video and we said to Sire, 'You can't possibly release this... this degrading video.' And they said, 'Well, maybe you shouldn't really be on our label.' It was quite disastrous".
Nonetheless, the video has been credited with helping make the song their most famous in the United States, along with heavy exposure on college radio.
How Soon Is Now?
The Smiths Lyrics
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And the heir
Of a shyness that is criminally vulgar
I am the son and heir
Of nothing in particular
You shut your mouth
How can you say
I am human and I need to be loved
Just like everybody else does
I am the son
And the heir
Of a shyness that is criminally vulgar
I am the son and heir
Of nothing in particular
You shut your mouth
How can you say
I go about things the wrong way?
I am human and I need to be loved
Just like everybody else does
There's a club if you'd like to go
You could meet somebody who really loves you
So you go and you stand on your own
And you leave on your own
And you go home and you cry
And you want to die
When you say it's gonna happen now
When exactly do you mean?
See I've already waited too long
And all my hope is gone
You shut your mouth
How can you say
I go about things the wrong way?
I am human and I need to be loved
Just like everybody else does
The lyrics to The Smiths' song "How Soon Is Now?" touch on themes such as loneliness, isolation, and the desire for human connection. The opening lines, "I am the son and the heir of a shyness that is criminally vulgar," speak to a sense of inadequacy and insecurity that the singer feels. They feel like they've inherited a feeling of shyness that they can't shake and that others may judge them for. However, the following line, "I am the son and heir of nothing in particular," shows that this shyness feels like an inherent part of their identity rather than a learned behavior from their family or upbringing.
Later in the song, the singer pleads with someone to "shut your mouth" if they're going to criticize the way they go about things, emphasizing the need for acceptance and understanding. They state that they are "human and need to be loved, just like everybody else does." The song then mentions a club where the singer could potentially meet someone, but in the end, they're left feeling alone, crying, and wanting to die. The final lines, "When you say it's gonna happen now, when exactly do you mean? / See I've already waited too long and all my hope is gone," convey a sense of hopelessness and frustration with the lack of connection in their life.
Overall, "How Soon Is Now?" is a powerful and relatable song that speaks to the universal desire for love and connection, as well as the fear of rejection and loneliness. Its haunting instrumentation and lyrics continue to resonate with listeners today.
Line by Line Meaning
I am the son
I am the offspring
And the heir
And the successor
Of a shyness that is criminally vulgar
Of a severe introversion that is socially unacceptable
I am the son and heir
I am the descendant and inheritor
Of nothing in particular
Of no specific legacy
You shut your mouth
You remain silent
How can you say
How can you assert
I go about things the wrong way?
I act inappropriately?
I am human
I am mortal
And I need to be loved
And I require affection
Just like everybody else does
Just like all other humans
There's a club if you'd like to go
There is an establishment if you wish to attend
You could meet somebody who really loves you
You might encounter someone who genuinely adores you
So you go and you stand on your own
So you depart and remain unaccompanied
And you leave on your own
And you depart individually
And you go home and you cry
And you return to your residence and weep
And you want to die
And you desire to expire
When you say it's gonna happen now
When you declare it will transpire promptly
When exactly do you mean?
When precisely are you referring to?
See I've already waited too long
Because I have already endured excessive delay
And all my hope is gone
And my optimism has vanished
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Johnny Marr, Steven Patrick Morrissey
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind