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)
Rubber Ring/What She Said
The Smiths Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What she says :
"how come someone hasn't noticed
That I'm dead
And decided to bury me ?
God knows, I'm ready !"
La-la-la
What she said was sad
But then, all the rejection she's had
To pretend to be happy
Could only be idiocy
La-la-la
What she said was not for the job or
Lover that she never had
No no no
What she read
All heady books
She'd sit and prophesise
(it took a tattooed boy from
Birkenhead
To really really open her eyes)
What she read
All heady books
She'd sit and prophesise
(it took a tattooed boy from
Birkenhead
To really really open her eyes)
What she said :
"I smoke because I'm hoping for an
Early death
And I need to cling to something !"
What she said :
"I smoke because I'm hoping for an
Early death
And I need to cling to something !"
No no no no
The lyrics of The Smiths' song "Rubber Ring/What She Said" capture feelings of loneliness, rejection, and longing for escape. The opening lines depict a sense of despair, with the singer questioning why no one has noticed their emotional death and expressed a desire to be buried. This could symbolize a feeling of being invisible or unappreciated by those around them.
The chorus, "What she said was sad, but then, all the rejection she's had," suggests that the subject of the song has faced a series of disappointments and rejections in life. Despite this, they feel the need to pretend to be happy, which the lyrics deem as foolish or idiotic. It implies that this person has been conditioned to put on a facade of happiness, perhaps being expected to conform to societal expectations.
The next verse describes the subject's intellectual pursuits and an ability to see beyond the mundane. They are depicted as someone who reads profound books and engages in deep thinking. However, the lyrics note that it took a "tattooed boy from Birkenhead" to truly open their eyes. This can be interpreted as a metaphorical awakening or a reference to finding a deeper connection through a specific person who might be seen as unconventional or alternative.
The final lines of the song capture a sense of hopelessness and a desire for an early death. The statement "I smoke because I'm hoping for an early death, and I need to cling to something" reveals the singer's desperation for an escape or a reason to keep going, even if it means clinging onto harmful habits.
Overall, "Rubber Ring/What She Said" explores themes of alienation, longing for connection, and the struggle to find one's place in a world that may seem indifferent or rejecting.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah !
Expressing enthusiasm or agreement with what was said before.
What she says :
Introducing the words spoken by her.
"how come someone hasn't noticed
That I'm dead
And decided to bury me ?
God knows, I'm ready !"
La-la-la
Expressing her despair and longing for a change in her life, wishing that someone would acknowledge her struggles and give her the closure she seeks.
What she said was sad
But then, all the rejection she's had
To pretend to be happy
Could only be idiocy
La-la-la
Her words reflected her sadness and the constant rejections she has faced, forcing her to put on a facade of happiness that can only be seen as foolishness.
What she said was not for the job or
Lover that she never had
No no no
Clarifying that her words were not about the lack of a job or a lover, but rather about her struggle with her own emotional state.
What she read
All heady books
She'd sit and prophesise
(it took a tattooed boy from
Birkenhead
To really really open her eyes)
Referring to her habit of reading deep and intellectual books, which led her to contemplate and make predictions about life. However, it was a person, specifically a tattooed boy from Birkenhead, who truly made her see and understand things differently.
What she said :
"I smoke because I'm hoping for an
Early death
And I need to cling to something !"
Admitting that her smoking habit is a reflection of her desire for an early death and a way for her to hold on to something in her life.
What she said :
"I smoke because I'm hoping for an
Early death
And I need to cling to something !"
No no no no
Reiterating her reason for smoking, emphasizing her desperate need for something to hold on to, despite its destructive consequences.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVEN MORRISSEY, JOHNNY MARR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind