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)
If You Leave
The Smiths Lyrics
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It wouldn't be in summer.
Seeing you in summer
I never would go.
Your hair streaked with sunlight,
Your lips red as flame,
Your face with a lustre
That puts gold to shame!
But if I'd ever leave you,
It couldn't be in autumn.
How I'd leave in autumn
I never will know.
I've seen how you sparkle
When fall nips the air.
I know you in autumn
And I must be there.
And could I leave you
Running merrily through the snow?
Or on a wintry evening
When you catch the fire's glow?
If ever I would leave you,
How could it be in springtime?
Knowing how in spring I'm bewitched by you so?
Oh, no! not in springtime!
Summer, winter or fall!
No, never could I leave you at all!
The lyrics of The Smiths's song "If You Leave" speak to the deep love and devotion the singer feels for someone. The song explores the idea of leaving this person during different seasons, and the conclusion is that leaving is simply unthinkable. The lyrics start with the singer acknowledging that they would never leave during summer because seeing the person they love in the summer is too beautiful and captivating. The imagery of their hair streaked with sunlight, their fiery lips, and their glowing face conveys a sense of mesmerizing beauty that makes the singer unable to imagine leaving.
Moving on to autumn, the singer admits that they would not know how to leave during this season because they have seen the person's sparkling spirit when fall nips the air. The connection between the person and autumn is so strong that the singer feels they must be there. The lyrics then question if they could leave during the snowy winter or when the person catches the glow of a wintry evening fire. The response is a resounding no, indicating that leaving during these magical moments is also impossible.
Line by Line Meaning
If ever I would leave you
If there should come a time when I consider leaving you
It wouldn't be in summer.
It would not coincide with the summer season.
Seeing you in summer
Observing your presence during the summer time
I never would go.
I would never depart.
Your hair streaked with sunlight,
The strands of your hair illuminated by the sun's rays
Your lips red as flame,
The color of your lips resembling the intensity of fire
Your face with a lustre
The radiance of your face
That puts gold to shame!
Which surpasses the brilliance of gold!
But if I'd ever leave you,
However, if I were to ever depart from you
It couldn't be in autumn.
It would not occur during the autumn season.
How I'd leave in autumn
The manner in which I would depart during autumn
I never will know.
I shall never comprehend.
I've seen how you sparkle
I have witnessed your vibrant energy
When fall nips the air.
During the time when the fall season brings a nip in the air.
I know you in autumn
I am acquainted with your presence during autumn
And I must be there.
And I feel compelled to be present.
And could I leave you
And if it were possible for me to depart from you
Running merrily through the snow?
While you joyfully run through the snow?
Or on a wintry evening
Or during a cold winter evening
When you catch the fire's glow?
When you witness the warm glow of a fire?
If ever I would leave you,
If there should come a time when I consider leaving you
How could it be in springtime?
How could it possibly occur during the spring season?
Knowing how in spring I'm bewitched by you so?
Considering the enchantment and captivation I experience due to you in spring?
Oh, no! not in springtime!
Oh, no! It would never happen during spring!
Summer, winter or fall!
Regardless of the season, whether it be summer, winter, or fall!
No, never could I leave you at all!
No, I could never depart from you under any circumstance!
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind