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)
Shoplifters of the World Unite
The Smiths Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Assemble the ways
Now, today, tomorrow and always
My only weakness is a list of crime
My only weakness is well, never mind, never mind
Oh, shoplifters of the world
Unite and take over
Hand it over
Hand it over
Hand it over
Learn to love me
And assemble the ways
Now, today, tomorrow, and always
My only weakness is a listed crime
But last night the plans of a future war
Was all I saw on Channel Four
Shoplifters of the world
Unite and take over
Shoplifters of the world
Hand it over
Hand it over
Hand it over
A heartless hand on my shoulder
A push and it's over
Alabaster crashes down
(Six months is a long time)
Tried living in the real world
Instead of a shell
But before I began
I was bored before I even began
Shoplifters of the world
Unite and take over
Shoplifters of the world
Unite and take over
Shoplifters of the world
Unite and take over
Shoplifters of the world
Take over
"Shoplifters of the World Unite" is a song by The Smiths that comments on society's disillusionment with the ruling class and the desire for change. The song's title is a call-to-arms for outsiders to band together to overthrow the power structure. The singer urges listeners to "learn to love me" and join the rebellion, saying that their only weakness is a "list of crime." This can be interpreted as the singer's vulnerability to be caught and punished for their actions, or a metaphor for the societal norms and laws they are breaking.
The line "last night the plans for a future war was all I saw on Channel Four" highlights the political disillusionment that many people felt during the 1980s. The singer seems to be saying that the media is no longer a source of entertainment or education, but a mirror for the potential doom that awaits us. The line "Six months is a long time" might be a reference to the fact that the plan to start a war was being made slowly and methodically, in plain sight.
The chorus, with its repeated call to "Hand it over," is a passionate cry for rebellion. The singer appeals to the shoplifters of the world to unite and take over the system that is holding them back. The final line, "take over," is a battle cry that leaves no doubt that this is a call to revolution.
Line by Line Meaning
Learn to love me
Accept me and my message
Assemble the ways
Bring together multiple perspectives to form a cohesive idea
Now, today, tomorrow and always
This message is relevant for all time
My only weakness is a list of crime
I am vulnerable to criminal activity
My only weakness is well, never mind, never mind
My true vulnerabilities are not meant for public knowledge
Oh, shoplifters of the world
A call to those who feel marginalized or rebellious
Unite and take over
Come together and challenge the status quo
Hand it over
Take control and seize the power
But last night the plans of a future war
A realization that conflict is inevitable
Was all I saw on Channel Four
The media perpetuates violence and unrest
A heartless hand on my shoulder
An oppressive force restricting my freedom
A push and it's over
My resistance is futile
Alabaster crashes down
The facade of society crumbles
(Six months is a long time)
Time drags on when life is meaningless
Tried living in the real world
Struggled to conform to societal norms
Instead of a shell
Trying to find true meaning in life
But before I began
Before I could truly find myself
I was bored before I even began
Life felt meaningless from the start
Take over
Seize the power and make a difference
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHNNY MARR, STEVEN PATRICK MORRISSEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mvi84
Learn to love me, assemble the ways
Now, today, tomorrow and always
My only weakness is a list of crime
My only weakness is, well, never mind, never mind, oh
Shoplifters of the world
Unite and take over
Shoplifters of the world
Hand it over, hand it over, hand it over
Learn to love me and assemble the ways
Now, today, tomorrow and always
My only weakness is a listed crime
But last night the plans for a future war was all I saw on Channel 4
Shoplifters of the world
Unite and take over
Shoplifters of the world
Hand it over, hand it over, hand it over
A heartless hand on my shoulder, a push and it's over
Alabaster crashes down, six months is a long time
Tried living in the real world instead of a shell
But before I began
I was bored before I even began
Shoplifters of the world
Unite and take over
Shoplifters of the world
Unite and take over
Shoplifters of the world
Unite and take over
Shoplifters of the world
Take over
@padistedor
Morrissey can sing every name in the phonebook and I'd listen to every word. What a voice.
@padistedor
Alt Esc My wife would disagree but now we all know you are a homophobe. Get help.
@0v3rgr0wn
Want to start a band?
@monstergod888
So true,the best thing about Morrissey is that he has great lyrics and sing them with his great voice and he is so handsome too!
@izdariel
I don't care that Morrissey is gay he is still my favorite singer
@mr_evangelion8063
YUNG M&Ms He is not gay , he fall in love without care the genre of the people
@Fueguit3
Shakira is nothing compared to those Morrissey's hip moves
@putin6018
Shakira sucks ass
@stephen.s5089
🤣
@lanavmadsen3393
He is Just EATEBLE