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)
Howw Soon Is Now?
The Smiths Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 Smiths' iconic song, "How Soon Is Now?" is an introspective, lonely search for love in a world where it seems elusive. The lyrics begin with a declaration of the singer's identity: he is the "son and heir" of a shyness that is "criminally vulgar," and yet he is the "son and heir" of "nothing in particular." This juxtaposition between his claim to an identity derived from his own personality and his admission of indecisiveness about his future sets the tone for the song. The singer is searching, but he doesn't know what he's looking for or what his place in the world is.
As the song progresses, there is a repeated refrain: "you shut your mouth / how can you say / I go about things the wrong way?" This is directed at a person who has criticized the singer's method of seeking love. At the heart of the song is the plea of the singer, who declares his own humanity and need for love like "everybody else does."
Line by Line Meaning
I am the son
I am the offspring
And the heir
And the inheritor
Of a shyness that is criminally vulgar
Of a timidity that is shamefully indecent
I am the son and heir
I am the offspring and inheritor
Of nothing in particular
Of no specific thing
You shut your mouth
You be quiet
How can you say
In what way can you express
I go about things the wrong way?
I do things incorrectly?
I am human and I need to be loved
I am a person and require affection
Just like everybody else does
Similar to how everyone else does
There's a club if you'd like to go
There is a gathering place if you desire to attend
You could meet somebody who really loves you
You may encounter someone who truly adores you
So you go and you stand on your own
Therefore, you go and stand by yourself
And you leave on your own
And depart independently
And you go home and you cry
And when arriving home, you weep
And you want to die
And you aspire to perish
When you say it's gonna happen "now"
When you say it will transpire immediately
When exactly do you mean?
At what particular instance do you refer?
See I've already waited too long
Observe, I have already endured an excessive amount of time
And all my hope is gone
And I have lost all optimism
You shut your mouth
You be quiet
How can you say
In what way can you express
I go about things the wrong way?
I do things incorrectly?
I am human and I need to be loved
I am a person and require affection
Just like everybody else does
Similar to how everyone else does
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Johnny Marr, Steven Patrick Morrissey
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@wino0001
0:12
I'll admit, I was wrong
What else can I say, girl?
Can't you break my head and not my heart?
0:21
I was drunk, I was gone, that don't make it right but
promise there were no feelings involved
Mmm
0:29
She said "Boy, tell me honestly
Was it real or just for show?" Yeah
She said "Save your apologies
Baby, I just gotta know"
0:46
How long has this been goin' on?
You've been creepin' 'round on me
While you're callin' me baby
0:55
How long has this been goin' on?
You've been actin' so shady (shady)
I've been feelin' it lately, baby
1:04
Ooo-oh, yeah
Ooo-oh, encore
Oooh-ooh-oh
1:13
I'll admit, it's my fault
But you gotta believe me
When I say it only happened once, hmm
1:22
I tried and I tried, but you'll never see that
You're the only one I wanna love, oh, yeah
1:31
She said "Boy, tell me honestly (honestly)
Was it real or just for show?" (real or just for show)
She said "Save your apologies (apologies, yeah)
Baby, I just gotta know"
1:47
How long has this been goin' on?
You've been creepin' 'round on me (on me)
While you're callin' me baby (baby)
1:56
How long has this been goin' on?
You've been actin' so shady (shady)
I've been feelin' it lately, baby (baby)
2:05
Ooo-oh, yeah
Ooo-oh, encore
Oooh-ooh-oh
How long has this been going on, baby?
2:14
Ooo-oh, yeah
Ooo-oh, you gotta go tell me now
Oooh-ooh-oh
La la, la la
2:23
She said "Boy, tell me honestly
Was it real or just for show?" Yeah
She said "Save your apologies
Baby, I just gotta know"
2:39
How long has this been going on? (on, on)
You've been creepin' 'round on me (on me)
While you're callin' me baby (baby)
How long has this been goin' on?
You've been actin' so shady (shady)
I've been feelin' it lately, baby
3:00
How long has this been goin' on?
You've been creepin' 'round on me
How long has it been goin' on, baby? Oh
How long has this been goin' on?
(You gotta go tell me now)
You've been actin' so shady (shady)
I've been feelin' it lately, baby
@tanntangnhat8088
I'll admit, I was wrong
What else can I say, girl?
Can't you blame my head and not my heart?
I was drunk, I was gone, that don't make it right, but
Promise there were no feelings involved
She said, "Boy, tell me honestly
Was it real or just for show?" Yeah
She said, "Save your apologies
Baby, I just gotta know"
How long has this been going on?
You've been creeping 'round on me
While you're calling me "baby"
How long has this been going on?
You've been acting so shady
I've been feeling it lately, baby
I'll admit, it's my fault
But you gotta believe me
When I say it only happened once
I try and I try, but you'll never see that
You're the only one I wanna love, ooh, yeah
She said, "Boy, tell me honestly
Was it real or just for show?"
She said, "Save your apologies
Baby, I just gotta know"
How long has this been going on?
You've been creeping 'round on me
While you're calling me "baby"
How long has this been going on?
You've been acting so shady
I've been feeling it lately, baby
How long has it been going on, baby?
You gotta go tell me now
She said, "Boy, tell me honestly
Was it real or just for show?" Yeah
She said, "Save your apologies
Baby, I just gotta know"
How long has this been going on?
You've been creeping 'round on me
While you're calling me "baby"
How long has this been going on?
You've been acting so shady
I've been feeling it lately, baby
How long has this been going on?
You've been creeping 'round on me
(How long has it been going on, baby?)
How long has this been going on?
(You gotta go tell me now)
You've been acting so shady
I've been feeling it lately, baby
@amnhi4280
lyrics
Alright
Ooh, yeah
I'll admit, I was wrong, what else can I say, girl?
Can't you blame my head and not my heart?
I was drunk, I was gone, that don't make it right, but
I promise there were no feelings involved, mmh
She said, "Boy, tell me honestly
Was it real or just for show?", yeah
She said, "Save your apologies
Baby, I just gotta know"
How long has this been goin' on?
You been creepin' 'round on me
While you're callin' me "baby"
How long has this been goin' on?
You've been actin' so shady (shady)
I've been feelin' it lately, baby
Ooo-oh (yeah)
Ooo-oh (encore)
Oooh-ooh-oh
I'll admit (I'll admit), it's my fault (my fault), but you gotta believe me
When I say it only happened once, mmh
I try (I try), and I try (I try), but you'll never see that
You're the only I wanna love, oh, yeah
She said "Boy, tell me honestly" (honestly)
"Was it real or just for show?", yeah (real or just for show?)
She said, "Save your apologies" (apologies, yeah)
"Baby, I just gotta know"
How long has this been goin' on?
You been creepin' 'round on me (on me)
While you're callin' me "baby" (baby)
How long has this been goin' on?
You've been actin' so shady (shady)
I've been feelin' it lately (lately), baby
Ooo-oh (yeah)
Ooo-oh (encore)
Oooh-ooh-oh
How long has it been goin' on, baby?
Ooo-oh (yeah)
Ooo-oh, you gotta go tell me now
Oooh-ooh-oh
She said, "Boy, tell me honestly
Was it real or just for show?", yeah
She said, "Save your apologies
Baby, I just gotta know"
How long has this been goin' on? (on, on)
You been creepin' 'round on me (on me)
While you're callin' me "baby" (baby)
How long has this been goin' on?
You've been actin' so shady (shady)
I've been feelin' it lately (lately), baby
How long has this been goin' on? (ooh-ooh, yeah)
You've been creepin' 'round on me
How long has it been goin' on, baby? Oh (ooo-oh)
How long has this been goin' on? (You gotta go tell me now)
You've been actin' so shady (shady)
I've been feelin' it lately, baby
@RobayatRahman
LYRICS..........
Alright
Ooh, yeah
I'll admit, I was wrong, what else can I say, girl?
Can't you play my head and not my heart?
I was drunk, I was gone, that don't make it right, but
I promise there were no feelings involved, mmh
She said, "Boy, tell me honestly
Was it real or just for show?", yeah
She said, "Save your apologies
Baby, I just gotta know"
How long has this been goin' on?
You been creepin' 'round on me
While you callin' me "baby"
How long has this been goin' on?
You been actin' so shady (shady)
I've been feelin' it lately, baby
Ooo-oh (yeah)
Ooo-oh (encore)
Oooh-ooh-oh
I'll admit (I'll admit), it's my fault (my fault), but you gotta believe me
When I say it only happened once, mmh
I tried (I tried), and I tried (I tried), but you'll never see that
You're the only I wanna love, oh, yeah
She said "Boy, tell me honestly" (honestly)
"Was it real or just for show?", yeah (real or just for show?)
She said, "Save your apologies" (apologies, yeah)
"Baby, I just gotta know"
How long has this been goin' on?
You been creepin' 'round on me (on me)
While you callin' me "baby" (baby)
How long has this been goin' on?
You been actin' so shady (shady)
I've been feelin' it lately (lately), baby
Ooo-oh (yeah)
Ooo-oh (encore)
Oooh-ooh-oh
How long has it been goin' on, baby?
Ooo-oh (yeah)
Ooo-oh, you gotta go tell me now
Oooh-ooh-oh
She said, "Boy, tell me honestly
Was it real or just for show?", yeah
She said, "Save your apologies
Baby, I just gotta know"
How long has this been goin' on? (on, on)
You been creepin' 'round on me (on me)
While you callin' me "baby" (baby)
How long has this been goin' on?
You been actin' so shady (shady)
I've been feelin' it lately (lately), baby
How long has this been goin' on?
You've been creepin' 'round on me
How long has it been goin' on, baby? Oh
How long has this been goin' on?
You've been actin' so shady (shady)
I've been feelin' it lately, baby
@keyursolanki8237
Lyrics🎧
I'll admit, I was wrong
What else can I say, girl?
Can't you blame my head and not my heart?
I was drunk, I was gone, that don't make it right, but
Promise there were no feelings involved
She said, "Boy, tell me honestly
Was it real or just for show?" Yeah
She said, "Save your apologies
Baby, I just gotta know"
How long has this been going on?
You've been creeping 'round on me
While you're calling me "baby"
How long has this been going on?
You've been acting so shady
I've been feeling it lately, baby
I'll admit, it's my fault
But you gotta believe me
When I say it only happened once
I try and I try, but you'll never see that
You're the only one I wanna love, ooh, yeah
She said, "Boy, tell me honestly
Was it real or just for show?"
She said, "Save your apologies
Baby, I just gotta know"
How long has this been going on?
You've been creeping 'round on me
While you're calling me "baby"
How long has this been going on?
You've been acting so shady
I've been feeling it lately, baby
How long has it been going on, baby?
You gotta go tell me now
She said, "Boy, tell me honestly
Was it real or just for show?" Yeah
She said, "Save your apologies
Baby, I just gotta know"
How long has this been going on?
You've been creeping 'round on me
While you're calling me "baby"
How long has this been going on?
You've been acting so shady
I've been feeling it lately, baby
How long has this been going on?
You've been creeping 'round on me
(How long has it been going on, baby?)
How long has this been going on?
(You gotta go tell me now)
You've been acting so shady
I've been feeling it lately, baby
@maximbandaaceh1308
Lyrics:
“Ooh, yeah
I'll admit, I was wrong, what else can I say, girl?
Can't you blame my head and not my heart
I was drunk, I was gone, that don't make it right, but
Promise there were no feelings involved, mmh
She said, boy, tell me honestly
Was it real or just for show? (Yeah)
She said, save your apologies
Baby, I just gotta know
How long has this been goin' on?
You've been creepin' 'round on me
While you're callin' me, baby
How long has this been goin' on?
You've been actin' so shady, (Shady)
I've been feelin' it lately, baby
Ooh-ooh-ooh, yeah
Ooh-ooh-hoo, encore
Ooh-ooh-ooh-hoo-ooh-ooh
I'll admit (I'll admit), it's my fault (my fault), but you gotta believe me
When I say it only happened once, mmh
I try, and I try, but you'll never see that
You're the only one I wanna love, oh-yeah
She said, boy, tell me honestly
Was it real or just for show? (Yeah)
She said, save your apologies
Baby, I just gotta know
How long has this been goin' on? huh
You've been creepin' 'round on me (On me)
While you're callin' me, baby
How long has this been goin' on?
You've been actin' so shady (Shady)
I've been feelin' it lately, (Lately) baby
Ooh-ooh-ooh, yeah
Ooh-ooh-hoo, encore
Ooh-ooh-ooh-hoo-ooh-ooh
How long has this been goin' on baby
Ooh-ooh-ooh, whew
Ooh-ooh-ooh, you gotta go tell me now
Ooh-ooh-ooh-hoo-oh-oh
She said, boy, tell me honestly
Was it real or just for show? Yeah
She said, save your apologies
Baby, I just gotta know
How long has this been goin' on? (On)
You've been creepin' 'round on me
While you're callin' me, baby
How long has this been goin' on?
You've been actin' so shady, (Shady)
I've been feelin' it lately
Ooh-ooh-ooh, yeah (How long has this been goin' on?)
Ooh-ooh-hoo, encore
Ooh-ooh-ooh-hoo-ooh-ooh (You've been creepin' 'round on me)
How long has it been goin' on baby
Ooh-ooh-ooh, (How long has this been goin' on)
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, encore (You gotta go tell me now)
Ooh-ooh-ooh-hoo-ooh-ooh (You've been actin' so shady)
(I've been feelin' it lately)
Baby”
@arelyslisette2822
Lyrics:
Alright
Ooh, yeah
I'll admit, I was wrong, what else can I say, girl?
Can't you blame my head and not my heart?
I was drunk, I was gone, that don't make it right, but
I promise there were no feelings involved, mmh
She said, "Boy, tell me honestly
Was it real or just for show?", yeah
She said, "Save your apologies
Baby, I just gotta know"
How long has this been goin' on?
You been creepin' 'round on me
While you're callin' me "baby"
How long has this been goin' on?
You've been actin' so shady (shady)
I've been feelin' it lately, baby
Ooo-oh (yeah)
Ooo-oh (encore)
Oooh-ooh-oh
I'll admit (I'll admit), it's my fault (my fault), but you gotta believe me
When I say it only happened once, mmh
I try (I try), and I try (I try), but you'll never see that
You're the only I wanna love, oh, yeah
She said "Boy, tell me honestly" (honestly)
"Was it real or just for show?", yeah (real or just for show?)
She said, "Save your apologies" (apologies, yeah)
"Baby, I just gotta know"
How long has this been goin' on?
You been creepin' 'round on me (on me)
While you're callin' me "baby" (baby)
How long has this been goin' on?
You've been actin' so shady (shady)
I've been feelin' it lately (lately), baby
Ooo-oh (yeah)
Ooo-oh (encore)
Oooh-ooh-oh
How long has it been goin' on, baby?
Ooo-oh (yeah)
Ooo-oh, you gotta go tell me now
Oooh-ooh-oh
She said, "Boy, tell me honestly
Was it real or just for show?", yeah
She said, "Save your apologies
Baby, I just gotta know"
How long has this been goin' on? (on, on)
You been creepin' 'round on me (on me)
While you're callin' me "baby" (baby)
How long has this been goin' on?
You've been actin' so shady (shady)
I've been feelin' it lately (lately), baby
How long has this been goin' on? (ooh-ooh, yeah)
You've been creepin' 'round on me
How long has it been goin' on, baby? Oh (ooo-oh)
How long has this been goin' on? (You gotta go tell me now)
You've been actin' so shady (shady)
I've been feelin' it lately, baby
De naiss
@janehopke878
As a child of the 80s, I love how he has captured so much of what 80s pop music was about. I may be old enough to be his mum, but I’m a huge fan.
@BerkSonmez69
Well I'm young enough to be his son, yet I too love his music. I think that says a lot about him as an artist!
@ivanquagliata2538
He is literally a genius of music, such a pure talent
@andreww3965
Yes This song is so good! I just tried making my own christmas song inspired by him its in my Playlist
tell me how you feel about it Good /Bad !
I would love to hear back from you ❤ ❤
@houiinkyouma8387
@@andreww3965 I would love to hear...mind if I hear?😅
@PETER-pb8yw
I am his grandfather 👴
@tahmidmahi6268
It's been 5 yrs , & still this gave us Goosebumps ✨😭
@tahmidmahi6268
@@lenimova it Was 5 when i wrote that 😩
@veronice_ronnie
Sooo true
@jfishy2388
@@lenimova not yet