Jeane
The Smiths Lyrics


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Jeane,
The low life has lost its appeal
And I'm tired of walking these streets
To a room with its cupboards bare
Jeane,
I'm not sure what happiness means
But I look in your eyes and I know...
That it isn't there

We tried and we failed
We tried and we failed
We tried and we failed
We tried and we failed
We tried...
Oh Jeane...

There's ice on the sink where we bathe
So how can you call this a home
When you know its a grave
Yet you still have that greedy grace...
As you tidy the place
But it will never be clean...
Jeane

We tried and we failed
We tried and we failed
We tried and we failed
We tried and we failed
We tried...

Gash on the nail
Its just a fairytale...
And I don't believe in magic anymore, Jeane...

But I think you know,
I really think you know
Oh yes I think you know the truth, Jeane

No heavenly choirs not for me
And no not for you
Because I think you know
I really think you know
I think you know the truth
Oh Jeane

We tried and we failed
We tried and we failed
We tried and we failed




We tried and we failed
We tried...

Overall Meaning

The Smiths' "Jeane" is a poignant song filled with themes of heartache, longing, and the futility of finding happiness. The song opens with the singer expressing his exhaustion with the "low life," signifying his unease with his current situation. The stanza also suggests that the singer is seeking a positive change in his life, one that is beyond the perpetual cycle of walking aimlessly along the streets.


The second stanza of the song expresses the singer's apprehensions about his current living situation with Jeane. The room that they share is barren, and there is only ice on the sink where they bathe, reflecting their difficult state of living. However, Jeane still has a sense of grace as she tidies up the place. The singer, however, sees that the place will never be clean, suggesting that their struggles extend beyond just their living conditions.


The chorus "We tried and we failed" repeats frequently, symbolizing the futility of the couple's search for happiness. Towards the end, the singer expresses his lack of faith in "heavenly choirs" or "magic" anymore, which suggests his disillusionment with finding any happiness in life. Ultimately, the song leaves the listener with a sense of resignation and the inescapable feeling of failure that pervades the couple's life.


Line by Line Meaning

Jeane
Addressing the person named Jeane


The low life has lost its appeal
Living a miserable life is no longer attractive


And I'm tired of walking these streets
I'm exhausted from wandering around aimlessly


To a room with its cupboards bare
To a place where basic necessities are scarce


Jeane, I'm not sure what happiness means
I don't know the true meaning of happiness


But I look in your eyes and I know...
I can tell from your eyes that happiness is not there


That it isn't there
Jeane does not possess happiness


We tried and we failed
We attempted and were unsuccessful multiple times


Oh Jeane...
Addressing Jeane once again


There's ice on the sink where we bathe
Where we wash up, there is ice which symbolizes bitterness


So how can you call this a home
How can this unpleasant place be considered a home?


When you know its a grave
We both know that this place is a burial site


Yet you still have that greedy grace...
But Jeane still has a degree of selfish elegance


As you tidy the place
Even though there's nothing much to clean, Jeane still tidies up


But it will never be clean...
Unfortunately, the place can never be truly clean


Jeane
Addressing Jeane again


Gash on the nail
A cut on the fingernail


Its just a fairytale...
Believing in magic or perfection is a figment of the imagination


And I don't believe in magic anymore, Jeane...
I no longer possess a belief in magic, Jeane


But I think you know,
I believe Jeane has an inclination of what's really going on


I really think you know
I genuinely think that Jeane has an understanding of the truth


Oh yes I think you know the truth, Jeane
Jeane knows the harsh reality of their situation


No heavenly choirs not for me
There's no divine choir singing for me


And no not for you
Jeane doesn't have a heavenly choir either


Because I think you know
Jeane has an inkling of what's really going on


I really think you know
Jeane has a real understanding of the situation


I think you know the truth
Jeane has an awareness of their current circumstance


Oh Jeane
Addressing Jeane for the last time in this song


We tried and we failed
We attempted and failed multiple times




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Johnny Marr, Steven Patrick Morrissey

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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