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)
NOW
The Smiths Lyrics
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I shouldn't be crying
Tears were for the weaker days
I'm stronger now, or so I say
But something's missing
Whatever it is, it feels like its laughing at me
Through the glass of a two sided mirror
And I just wanna scream
What now?
I just can't figure it out
What now?
I guess I'll just wait it out, wait it out
What now?
What now?
I found the one, she changed my life
But was it me that changed and she
Just happened to come at the right time?
I'm supposed to be in love but I'm numb again
Whatever it is, it feels like its laughing at me
Through the glass of a two sided mirror
Whatever it is, it's just sittin' there, laughing at me
And I just wanna scream
What now?
I just can't figure it out
What now?
I guess I'll just wait it out, wait it out
What now?
Please tell me, what now?
There's no one to call 'cause I'm just playing games with them all
The more I swear I'm happy, the more that I'm feeling alone
'Cause I spend every hour just going through the motions
I can't even get the emotions to come out
Dry as a bone but I just wanna shout
What now?
I just can't figure it out
What now?
I guess I'll just wait it out, wait it out
What now?
Somebody tell me
What now?
I don't know where to go
I don't know what to feel
I don't know how to cry
I don't know-oh-oh why
I don't know where to go
I don't know what to feel
I don't know how to cry
(I don't know-oh-oh why
I don't know where to go
I don't know what to feel
I don't know how to cry
I don't know-oh-oh why
I don't know where to go
I don't know what to feel
I don't know how to cry
I don't know-oh-oh why)
Yeah
Oh, I don't know how to feel
I don't know how to cry, yeah
So now somebody tell me
What now
The Smith's song "Now" is a reflection of confusion, loneliness and emptiness. The lyrics express a sense of disillusionment where the singer is grappling with his identity and purpose in life. The song captures the essence of a mid-life crisis where one feels unfulfilled and lost. The first lines "I've been ignoring this big lump in my throat" suggest that the singer has been suppressing his emotions as a way to cope with his confusion. He admits that he shouldn't be crying as tears are for weaker days, yet he can't help the feeling of something missing in his life.
The chorus repeats the question "What now?" which is an admission of helplessness and uncertainty. The singer has no answers to his questions and feels lost. The lyrics "There's no one to call 'cause I'm just playing games with them all" further emphasise the emptiness the singer feels in his life. He has no genuine connections as he has been pretending to be someone he is not. The song ends with the lines, "I don't know where to go, I don't know what to feel, I don't know how to cry" which is a poignant expression of his inner turmoil.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been ignoring this big lump in my throat
I've been avoiding facing the emotions that are festering inside me
Tears were for the weaker days
I used to think crying was a sign of weakness, but now I understand it's just a natural human emotion
But something's missing
Despite trying to be strong, there is still a feeling of emptiness within me
Whatever it is, it feels like its laughing at me / Through the glass of a two sided mirror
I feel like the source of my pain is mocking me and I can't figure out how to escape it
What now? / I just can't figure it out / I guess I'll just wait it out, wait it out / Please tell me, what now?
I am feeling lost and confused, and I don't know what to do next. I am asking for guidance and just waiting for a solution to present itself
I found the one, she changed my life / But was it me that changed and she / Just happened to come at the right time?
I thought I had found my perfect partner, but now I am questioning if it was actually her or just the timing that changed everything
I'm supposed to be in love but I'm numb again
Despite being in a seemingly perfect relationship, I still feel empty and disconnected
There's no one to call 'cause I'm just playing games with them all
I don't feel like I can confide in anyone because I have been pretending and putting on a facade for everyone in my life
The more I swear I'm happy, the more that I'm feeling alone
The more I pretend to be happy, the lonelier and more isolated I feel
I can't even get the emotions to come out / Dry as a bone but I just wanna shout
I am struggling to express my emotions and feel like I am stuck in a state of emotional emptiness, even though I want to release my feelings
I don't know where to go / I don't know what to feel / I don't know how to cry / I don't know-oh-oh why
I am lost and confused, unable to find a way out of my emotional turmoil and questioning why I am feeling this way
Oh, I don't know how to feel / I don't know how to cry, yeah / So now somebody tell me / What now
I am feeling completely overwhelmed and disconnected from my emotions, and I am looking for someone to provide me with guidance and support
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Olivia Waithe, Robyn Fenty, Parker Ighile, Nathan Cassells, Ifeoluwa Oladigbolu, Michael Antoniou
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind