The Smiths were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1982. They com… Read Full Bio ↴The Smiths were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1982. They comprised the singer Morrissey, the guitarist Johnny Marr, the bassist Andy Rourke and the drummer Mike Joyce. They are regarded as one of the most important acts to emerge from the 1980s British independent music scene.

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)

I Started Something I Couldn
The Smiths Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The lanes were silent
There was nothing, no one, nothing around for miles
I doused our friendly venture
With a hard-faced
Three-word gesture

I started something
I forced you to a zone

And you were clearly
Never meant to go
Hair brushed and parted
Typical me, typical me
Typical me
I started something
And now I'm not too sure

I grabbed you by the guilded beams
Uh, that's what tradition means
And I doused another venture
With a gesture
That was absolutely vile

I started something
I forced you to a zone
And you were clearly
Never meant to go
Hair brushed and parted
Typical me, typical me
Typical me
I started something
And now I'm not too sure

I grabbed you by the guilded beams
Uh, that's what tradition means
And now eighteen months' hard labor
Seems fair enough

I started something
And I forced you to a zone
And you were clearly
Never meant to go
Hair brushed and parted
Typical me, typical me
Typical me
I started something
And now I'm not too sure

I started something
I started something
Typical me, typical me
Typical me, typical me
Typical me, typical me
Typical me
I started something
And now I'm not too sure

OK Stephen, do that again?

Overall Meaning

"I Started Something I Couldn't Finish" is a song by The Smiths that appeared on their fourth and final album, "Strangeways, Here We Come." The song is about the singer forcing someone into a situation that they were never meant to be in, and now they are unsure about what they have started. The opening lines paint a picture of emptiness as the lanes are silent, and there is nothing around for miles. The singer then admits to ruining a friendly venture with a hard-faced three-word gesture, which is not revealed in the song.

As the song progresses, the singer reveals that they forced the other person into a zone where they were never meant to go. The hair being brushed and parted is emblematic of the singer's vanity and selfishness. They admit to grabbing the other person by the guilded beams, which represents tradition, and ruining yet another venture with an absolutely vile gesture. The singer's actions have led to eighteen months of hard labor, which they feel is a fair punishment.

The repeated chorus "I started something and now I'm not too sure" reflects the singer's regret and uncertainty about their actions. They acknowledge their typical behavior and taking people for granted, leading to the song's ironic title. The song ends with the singer admitting they started something terrible and making it clear that they are still not sure how to handle the situation they have created.

Line by Line Meaning

The lanes were silent
The surroundings were completely quiet

There was nothing, no one, nothing around for miles
There was absolutely nobody present for miles around

I doused our friendly venture With a hard-faced Three-word gesture
I ruined our friendly plan with a cold three-word expression

I started something I forced you to a zone And you were clearly Never meant to go Hair brushed and parted Typical me, typical me Typical me I started something And now I'm not too sure
I initiated something, put you in a situation that made you uncomfortable, and now I regret it. This is typical of my behavior.

I grabbed you by the guilded beams Uh, that's what tradition means And I doused another venture With a gesture That was absolutely vile
I held you accountable to the expectations of society, and ruined another opportunity with a disgusting action

And now eighteen months' hard labor Seems fair enough
Now it seems reasonable that I should do considerable hard work for the mistake I made

I started something I forced you to a zone And you were clearly Never meant to go Hair brushed and parted Typical me, typical me Typical me I started something And now I'm not too sure
Once again, I caused something that made you uncomfortable and now I have doubts about it. This is just typical of me.

I started something I started something Typical me, typical me Typical me, typical me Typical me, typical me Typical me I started something And now I'm not too sure
Repeatedly, I cause situations that I regret later on and this is just typical of my pattern of behavior. I have started something, but now I'm unsure about it.

OK Stephen, do that again?
The artist is asking Stephen to perform the action again, suggesting a lack of sensitivity to the consequences of their actions.

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STEVEN MORRISSEY, JOHNNY MARR

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@mirayabouassaleh4438

5y↑139

The lanes were silent
There was nothing, no one, nothing around for miles
I doused our friendly venture
With a hard-faced
Three-word gesture

I started something
I forced you to a zone
And you were clearly
Never meant to go
Hair brushed and parted
Typical me, typical me
Typical me
I started something
And now I'm not too sure

I grabbed you by the guilded beams
Uh, that's what tradition means
And I doused another venture
With a gesture
That was absolutely vile

I started something
I forced you to a zone
And you were clearly
Never meant to go
Hair brushed and parted
Typical me, typical me
Typical me
I started something
And now I'm not too sure

I grabbed you by the guilded beams
Uh, that's what tradition means
And now eighteen months' hard labor
Seems fair enough

I started something
And I forced you to a zone
And you were clearly
Never meant to go
Hair brushed and parted
Typical me, typical me
Typical me
I started something
And now I'm not too sure

I started something
I started something
Typical me, typical me
Typical me, typical me
Typical me, typical me
Typical me
I started something
And now I'm not too sure

OK Stephen, do that again?

All comments from YouTube:

@Shoegazing_

5y↑304

How can a band make me think so different about life with words only.

@linuxel33t

5y↑28

It's Morrissey with the words. It's because he'has a deep understanding of suffering that so many people relate to his lyrics.I live in his hometown, and, trust me, we're all acquainted with suffering.

@can.slaughter

5y↑3

You are probably easily manipulable.

@can.slaughter

5y↑5

Or you are going through something in your life.

@leepresley2055

3y↑1

Because you heard it and thought about it....

@lautamn9096

2y↑4

Cuz he hilled the blessed DJ

3 More Replies...

@311chord23

5y↑140

I started loving The Smiths years ago, I can't finish

@aldocastro2287

5y↑118

Typical Me, Typical Me, Typical Me.

@frannieo1707

48w↑23

Rest in Peace, Andy Rourke. May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest. 💔

@UTube-gs1yf

42w↑1

WTF?? 😒

@virginiaalvespons2590

27w↑2

Amén.

@melvinnance5029

5y↑68

What a wonderful way to begin my day today.

@andrewmaguire4476

33w↑15

Andy Rourke RIP
Such a brilliant; unique, mega talented bassist.

Never ever forgotten fella ❤

@craiglewis6145

30w↑4

As a bass player of 40 years I can say without doubt that he was up there with the very best.

@virginiaalvespons2590

27w↑1

❤

@frannieo1707

3y↑23

God bless Mozza and the lads. The Smiths are lifesavers. Their music has got me through so much crap down the years.

@mirayabouassaleh4438

5y↑139

@kimochiii883

2y↑5

amo a la gente como tú que pone las letras para los no nativo hablantes

@AdamPuntigliano

4y↑32

3:40 "Ok Stephen shall we do that again?"

@kelyregina1447

5y↑89

The Smiths para sempre

@maggiesctt

4y↑3

Para sempre 💖

@rustiblu26

1y↑2

Viva moz

@jacquelinemorris7959

5y↑226

Does anyone else dance around their room like a teenager again when listening to certain Smith's songs?!!!......it can't be just me! 🤦‍♀️

@anauwu20

5y↑16

I'm a teenager but I also want to dance when I hear some of their songs. They're truly amazing! I think I'll dance to this music even when time will say to me, "go to bed you lil kiddo" :D
(Sorry if there's some mistakes. English isn't my native language)

@jacquelinemorris7959

5y↑7

@@anauwu20 I love that you enjoy The Smith's music!!! I'm 47 now lol (arghhhhhh!! 😜) so I don't dance as madly as I used to! It's been great to hear from another Smith's fan - and your English is perfect! 👌🖤🎵🎸🎧

@hdmiav5748

5y↑3

@@anauwu20 haha

@GoldFellaTim

5y↑1

I do that with Mr. Bungle

@sea-goatbr7588

5y↑4

That's because we never stop being teenagers

24 More Replies...

@ferry9591

5y↑46

This song is amazing! And the lyrics :(

@angelceballos9385

5y↑4

Haha, nice

@secretowl3561

5y↑18

Their best song!
Awesome

@erdemgunsel4896

5y↑238

Isnt background supposed to be strangeways here we come poster

@NIIIIQQ

5y↑7

Didnt each single have it's own cover separate from the album?

@erdemgunsel4896

5y↑2

@@NIIIIQQ maybe Warner Bros didn't afford all posters for all singles

@stephendean7431

5y↑3

meat is murder

@applemask

4y↑10

@@NIIIIQQ Yes, but this one's wasn't the cover to Meat is Murder. Also it got the title wrong.

@sexobscura

@@applemask
and the band because it's an old Bowie B-Side

5 More Replies...

@Only1HZ

24w↑2

On this day in Music - 04 Nov 1987
U2 were on the front cover of UK pop magazine 'Smash Hits', which also had features on the Pet Shop Boys, Wet Wet Wet, T'Pau, Sting and Black. Reviewed in the new singles page The Smiths 'I Started Something I Couldn't Finish'.

@popman8011

47w↑4

RIP Andy, top band!

@brycesterling947

5y↑226

Every time somebody complains about morrissey canceling shows I link them this song. Real morrissey fans understand how he feels as a person.

@myoclaire

5y↑20

People believe their idols should die on the stage for them.

@togekissu_

5y↑29

You’d be better off linking them ‘I don’t owe you anything’.

@dapperturtle1559

5y↑11

And you don't seem to understand how no one cares. Delete this.

@brycesterling947

4y↑3

@@togekissu_ that one too! <3

@leandrooliveira6903

4y↑9

Eu amo Morissey, nunca irá existir outro que tenha o carisma que ele têm!

@315Bodhi17

4y↑2

Great exercise beat.......when stuck housebound at this time or anytime. Thanks Moz and the Band....love ya!!

@benzobrimzs

5y↑7

Love these uploads.

@zaxterdeep6757

4y↑13

Love this song I just wish they used that bangin guitar part from the beginning more

@37jakeyboy

2y↑1

Exactly!!!!!🤟🤟🤟

@fluffmcpuffles2686

5y↑7

my favorite smiths song

@brazillionairemma1373

4y↑1

Me @ every smiths song except golden lights

@maxread5234

4y↑75

I never lived through the wonderful 80s, I'm 14. Yet you will never meet a bigger Smiths fan than me

@julieclark8976

3y↑8

Welcome to The smiths Army 55 and still singing every lyric 😁

@craiglewis6145

3y↑10

Welcome to what will be a lifelong passion for the music of the Smiths!
I was lucky enough to see the live when I was a little older than you in 1984. Still one of the best nights of my life.

@TheNawlinzNative

3y↑4

so glad a teen of today knows real music. the concerts were splendid. small venues & u could get on the floor right up in their faces. I wouldn’t pay a nickel to see a performer/performers today at 50 foot distance or even further. keep ur music playing!!!

@stevebell9645

2y↑1

Nothing else wonderful about the 80’s believe me .

@theunproffessional8617

2y↑3

@@TheNawlinzNative heck yeah dude I'm 15 and the smiths is my favorite band

3 More Replies...

@madamehadomadam2627

5y↑14

It's probably already mentionned somewhere down the scroll but I need to say it again : that <3 song <3 features on "Strangeways, here we come" not on "Meat is murder" :/

@geferreira8432

5y↑13

É simplesmente a melhor banda!! 😍❤💓

@rogdawg123

16w↑1

hola hermosa 😍

@neryadela7461

5y↑20

Nueva canción favorita alv ! It's amazing!

@morrisseyscat3959

2y↑3

Every time 👌❤️

@shinji9394

12w

this album is so underrated

@v-town1980

21w↑1

I love this band...typical me.

@sandropenha

5y↑20

Brasil loves Smiths!!!!!

@dicasdesaudeparaleigos7378

5y↑2

Com certeza! 👏👏👏❤❤❤

@maggiesctt

4y↑1

Definitivamente 💖💖💖

@brianallsopp69

I think it's more than that I've got a lot of South American friends and they're love for Mozza borders on a cult ,,,,,

@hullian1113

4y↑23

2:19 Morrissey does a terrible impression of Yoda before it was cool.

@matthews852

2y↑3

That’s what tradition means.

@davidellis5141

5y↑6

And You Were Clearly Never Met To Go. So , Don't Go !

@Captain.Pugwash

5y↑1

It's called hindsight

@lucasprado4826

5y↑10

BIUTIFUL

@dicasdesaudeparaleigos7378

5y↑8

Fico sempre bem quando ouço Morrissey. 😍😍😍

@Koshirozation

5y↑203

oh come on joyce, i know you are managing this channel and its cool you're uploading official audios but get the covers right!!!

@linuxel33t

5y↑34

I live in Manchester and it's pretty common to see him out and about round here!

@Koshirozation

5y↑12

@@linuxel33t that's really really cool!

@blackgargamel

5y↑18

@@linuxel33t I'd like to meet him just to shake his hand and thank him..

@KaanSamil

4y↑24

and even the song's name is printed wrong.

@jakezywek6852

4y↑7

I'm pretty sure I walked past him in Wigan town centre. He was walking towards The Wiend, the bit near the library and that tatty restaurant that pretends to be haute cuisine.

6 More Replies...

@madeleinep.828

3y↑11

One of those songs that makes you jam out like an idiot, but you don’t care if anyone laughs at you.

@esmeraldavall3381

5y↑18

in yoda's voice
THat's wHAt YOU dId to mE

@wednesday0145

5y↑1

what you did to me, that's what

@thereligion4169

4y↑5

THAT'S WHAT TRADITION MEANS

@davidecardellicchio3883

37w↑2

Cosa c'entra la copertina dell'album Meat Is Murder?

@christophergrogan9052

2y↑1

What a tune x

@anonymoususer2756

2y↑6

I have so many questions about this video. Like, why is the title of the song wrong? And why is the cover of Meat Is Murder in the background when this song is from Strangeways? What???

@colinjennings3661

3y↑3

Quite brilliant .

@DarlinJacq

50w↑1

I was never MEANT to go but I went aNd I came back Morr, because of the greatness that you Allahowed to go on around Me In My Life

@gman9847

3y↑3

Hair brushed and parted ✌🏻

@lucascarioli

2y↑2

Completely identified with the lyrics.

@alanosband8085

2y↑1

Really , very dark lyrics wonderfully at odds with the music

@christianbrady3106

5y↑2

Love love love it

@kirkthiagopedroso

5y↑10

que banda PHooooda!!!
😎

@Grriimace

5y↑4

Always

@teddyisoffline

37w↑3

Only became a fan past 8 months absolutely obsessed can someone explain why it has the cover from meat is murder when's it's from strangeways here we come :)

@EricShawn69

21w

Good music

@jonbilbao2207

3y↑3

The cover depicted in this video´s still image is from "Meat is Murder" album but this song belongs to "Strangeways here we come" album. Big mistake

@nadiaaraoz894

4y↑8

Me every time I star a drawing but get bored or frustrated and leave it :(

@ProudDirectionlover

5y↑8

💛💛

@Anotherrnumber

5y↑17

why does the image in the video say "I started something I can't finish" when the song title is "I started something i couldn't finish"

@sophiadeval6185

Joyce made a mistake

@eggspress8043

Sophia DeVal who is joyce

@abbyohannes

@@eggspress8043 Mike Joyce

@eggspress8043

@@abbyohannes ohhhhh lol i thought the smiths youtube channel intern was called joyce or smth lmao

@blaneycrabbe3390

43w↑3

This is my song, It's written about me! When I was Fleeing the ghost of Morrissey! He let me go But I did Have to do at least 18 months in prison! It's all there. The guilded beams are the guilded beams of light came from the pupils of his eyes (But only when I looked in the rear-view mirror) I was driving on the lanes(highway). He was coming for me, and I was running, I guess he realized that I had been Baptized, so he couldn't do anything. Sound pretty crazy? I finally won my '1026.2' hearing, look it up. So I am no longer criminally insane! I got more. BAC

@CristianButini-rq2lz

38w

Perché la copertina di meat Is Murder?

@lukeamor2202

36w↑2

That is the way you use horns in a pop song.

@liliamuseum196

3y↑1

This describes me

@joshuaspencer1578

3y↑3

Right at the end of the track, now you hear
" didn't feel good, can we do that again? "
Thats coz records wouldn't have picked it up but CDs can because they are 10 times more sensitive

@neurodivergentpixi6736

1y↑1

He says "Ok Stephen. Lets do that again" not "didn't feel good"

@Anthropologize

13w

Why is the background Meat is Murder? This is from Strangeways.

@dilbert4126

2y↑2

Ok, Steven? Shall we do that again?

@cricketexplained8526

2y↑2

In Warners' case this song would be "We started something we've fucked up completely"

@lynchmaleideal

2y↑3

Why is the image from Meat Is Murder when this is from Strangeways? lol

@jlouis4407

1y↑1

I always thought it was I grabbed you by the gilded beans, it’s beams

@DarlinJacq

Yah, You started something and it is going to continue on with Our kitten's bouncing on your lap giggling aNd singing the anthem, "Daddissey Daddissey Daddissey, Daddissey Daddissey Daddissey (Dad is He)~~~"

@saul6562

50w↑1

NEVER LET YU GOOUU DEBOFOMI DEBOFOMOI LEVE YEN DU GOOOOOOOOOO

@monsun5034

5y↑6

Woooow 💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋

@yvonnewatkinson840

4y↑2

Please please listen to the lyrics x funny sad. Odd. Love the smiths😁🤔❤️

@blaneycrabbe3390

46w↑2

Nobody knows what the words mean, but I do for this song is about me fleeing Morrissey. I understand every word.

@noobs9268

5y↑8

😍

@sexobscura

4y↑4

what are the meaning of these words …

@virginiaalvespons2590

27w↑1

Eh? Pero esta canción no es de ese album.

@paulmccafferty4335

2y↑4

Now 18 months hard labour... Seems... Fair enough. Brilliant.

@thiagopassos2207

5y↑10

👏🔥👏🔥👏🔥👏🔥👏🇧🇷

@thiagopassos2207

5y↑1

@Nunes Alves VITÓRIA NA GUERRA IRMÃO

@dicasdesaudeparaleigos7378

Brasil sempre presente. 😍😍😍

@maggiesctt

4y↑1

🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷

@amandaharris726

38w

Believe.

@ocampomartinezkaterinepaol8403

2y↑3

yo con la prepa XD

@gdog5032

2y↑1

Tip top.

@leenhares

3y↑6

Typical me

@singlecell2498

3y↑5

Typical me

@shannonc.5837

2y↑5

typical me

@internetguy9531

2y↑3

i started something

@futuregirl8803

48w

And now I'm not too sure 😀🎤

@edgblades

2y↑2

Hair brushed and parted

@alanosband8085

2y↑2

Maybe Oscar Wide reference

@Dai-ww7tc

5y↑3

💖❤💖❤💖

@prittywynzi663

3y↑1

🌟🌟🌟🥀🌟🌟🌟🥀❤️🌟🌟🥀
I started something and can't ...

@pamdoyle3459

4y↑4

Whoever added this doesn’t understand the Smiths’ beautiful use of the English language by not stating the correct title. This song I’d called “I started something I COULDN’T finish”. The Smiths would be ashamed!!

@ardrialban511

2y↑3

this is the smiths official YouTube channel

@SamHell-wr8bi

43w↑3

This is on Strangeways, not Meat is Murder.

@jeonfortae

51w↑1

Hayatımın arka fonunda çalan şarkı

@Acxel_Lpz

5y↑5

🕺🏽🙆🏽‍♂️😃😃

@scatkat1233

1:20

@benjafol

3y↑1

God

@Joaogacc

3y↑2

🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷

@flynntaylor5459

5y↑8

Date rape, how brave of Morrissey to put it out there. I know very few songs about such delicate social issues short of areosmith doing janies got a gun and amos singing about her sexual assault. I think this song was first for me as identification but morrisey does have an incredibly dark mind. I love his work, he is a lyrical powerhouse 😲😎🤣

@enzolazarovich2776

3y↑7

This song isn't about rape... Just hear Pretty Girl Make Graves, usually he talks about being alone or misunderstood.

@flynntaylor5459

3y↑4

@@enzolazarovich2776 all in how you view it. Everyone brings there experiences into interpretation of a song. This was mine.

@lever.theeyeofthesource

40w

A Short Handbook of Good and Evil "Overcoming Versus Fitting In"
The truth about Good and Evil is often not readily apparent. Definitions of Good and Evil are vague in society and often linked to religion. The common definition of Evil provided is, in fact, due to the Good, and the nature of the Good is that it has overcome an obstacle that warrants its justification as the Good. Evil is, in fact, only the common denominator of humanity. Fitting in socially is usually an aspect of some minor Evil because of this. Any Good is usually fleeting and they, return soon to the general Evil of humanity but often a person who has overcome an obstacle fails to recognize the rash of humanity that it has risen above and hence the term "Evil" begins to become justified. The root of all Evil is the obstinance and pride of the Good which causes it to recognize its true origins and state. Often Good is imparted into its journey. It is often the folly of the general Evil, especially the young, to experience witnessing the Good and expecting it as the generality or the normalcy, and it is, in fact, a normalcy to overcome in great strides in the Modern Age. These unfortunate people often get sideswiped by un unseen variable and may end up tragic. A person who has not experienced overcoming anything cannot understand the extent of the obstacles necessary. Good is, thus, an aspect of the Knight. There is no "Knight" of Evil. Only the Knights who have not overcome entirely. It is, in fact, common of the Good to try and monopolize it because of their obstinance and pride. The game of the Good often becomes to dangle the carrot of their aspect in order to get one the attempt their best achievement in the hopes they will then be quickly beaten into the ground by its psychology.
Note* The Modern Age is largely based on electronics and electronic media and the information is difficult to grasp because they rely on corporate secrecy in order to survive. Even through hard research and degrees this can literally destroy a person or a business. Survival is a serious business and even with years of hard math and physics one can bottom out or crash. One must be cunning and find ways to undercut the variables. This presents a whole new aspect of who is good and evil, which used to rely on religious secrecy and dogma.
-Aldec

@ManuelMartinez-st7yk

chale me recuerda va mi ex:'(

@ivanhutchison1283

20w

Chefs Kisses. Xxxx

@EndoftheTownProductions

3y↑2

Autumn, 1987

@patttrick

5y↑1

ok steven do that again .Not to me you wont

@bevfairclough5529

3y↑2

This isn't part of Meat Is Murder

@Tristanchong308

47w↑1

My favourite song from meat is murder

@ShahPhilLeotardo

4y↑3

Morrissey is bigger than god.

@yvonnewatkinson840

4y↑4

I love the smiths. I don't get this song? Tell me Smiths lovers. 🤔

@JasmineSurrealVideos

3y↑4

I think from the lyrics it's about sexually teasing someone but then Morrissey feels fear and uncertainty and doesn't want to prolong it, I'm unsure if the other person involved actually does prolong it or not.