As with every original recording by the Smiths, the music of "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others" was composed by Johnny Marr and the lyrics were written by Morrissey. The recording was given a distinctive intro by engineer Stephen Street, who increased the reverb on the drums, faded the track in then out again, and took the reverb back off when reintroducing the song: "A bit like opening a door, closing it, then opening it again and walking in". The lyric paraphrases Johnny Tillotson's 1962 single "Send Me the Pillow That You Dream On", and broadly references the 1964 comedy Carry On Cleo ("Oooh, I say").
In the mainstream British music press, "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others" was mentioned in the context of "The Queen Is Dead". In the NME, Adrian Thrills wrote, "As an album with humour never far from its surface, it is fitting that "The Queen Is Dead" should conclude with the clipped, undulating frivolity of 'Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others', a hypnotic musical travelogue that verges on the transcendental [...] Again, the Morrissey muse and Marr's musical setting collide marvellously, the track illuminated by some lovely slide guitar from the latter. It would have made another classic Smiths single".
Andy Strickland in Record Mirror said, "Morrissey and Marr still can't quite get it together all the time, 'Never Had No One Ever' and 'Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others' bearing all the hallmarks of the familiar Smiths filler, where music and words hardly embrace," while Nick Kent wrote, "'Vicar in a Tutu' and 'Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others', sensibly restrained arrangement-wise, may well be lesser songs but, constructed within their rightful limitations, sound absolutely stunning".
In Simon Goddard's track-by-track book Songs That Saved Your Life, Johnny Marr describes the song as "a beautiful piece of music", while the author writes, "Possessing one of his most alluring guitar melodies [...] if Marr's tune was heaven-sent, then it seemed very nearly blasphemous of Morrissey to christen it 'Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others' and bestow it with its notoriously frivolous lyric".
"Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others" was performed live only once: at the final concert by the Smiths, at Brixton Academy, London, on 12 December 1986. The performance, which included a verse ("On the shop floor, there's a calendar, as obvious as snow, as if we didn't know") not used in the studio version, was recorded and later featured as a B-side on the 12" and cassette edition of the "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish" single in November 1987.
In Germany, "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others" was released as a single in slightly edited form, on 7" and 12" vinyl, with artwork modified from the cover used for "Ask". The single cover depicts actress Yootha Joyce in a still from the 1965 film Catch Us If You Can. The same photograph had been used on the 1986 single "Ask".
Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others
The Smiths Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There is but one concern
I have just discovered
Some girls are bigger than others
Some girls are bigger than others
Some girls' mothers are bigger than other girls' mothers
Some girls are bigger than othersSome girls are bigger than others
Some girls' mothers are bigger than other girls' mothers
As Anthony said to Cleopatra
As he opened a crate of ale
Oh, I say
Some girls are bigger than others
Some girls are bigger than others
Some girls' mothers are bigger than other girls' mothers
Some girls are bigger than others
Some girls are bigger than others
Some girls' mothers are bigger than other girls' mothers
Send me the pillow (pillow)
The one that you dream on
Send me the pillow (pillow)
The one that you dream on
And I'll send you mine
The lyrics to The Smiths' song, "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others," seem simple, but they have been interpreted in various ways over the years. It is said that this song is a comment on the difference in physical sizes between women. The singer discusses how he has recently discovered "some girls are bigger than others," and he repeats this line throughout the song. He also mentions that some girls' mothers are bigger than other girl's mothers, which implies this is a genetic or inherited trait.
However, there may be more than just a physical size interpretation of the lyrics. Some believe that Morrissey, the lead singer of The Smiths, was commenting on societal expectations and standards of beauty for women. Women who have a more significant physical presence often face ridicule and ostracism from society. Alternatively, it could also mean that people should embrace individual uniqueness, regardless of societal norms.
The song has an intriguing reference to Anthony and Cleopatra, where the lyrics say, "As Anthony said to Cleopatra, as he opened a crate of ale." The meaning of these lyrics is not clear, but it could denote youthfulness and dating stereotypes or love conventions. The conclusion of the song, "send me the pillow, the one that you dream on, and I'll send you mine," is possibly about longing for companionship or missing someone.
Line by Line Meaning
From the ice-age to the dole-age
Through economic troubles and societal changes
There is but one concern
There is one issue that persists
I have just discovered
I have recently become aware
Some girls are bigger than others
Some girls have larger physical attributes
Some girl's mothers are bigger than other girl's mothers
Even their mothers may have different body sizes
As Anthony said to Cleopatra
As legends share in tales of old
As he opened a crate of ale
While indulging in an alcoholic drink
Oh, I say
An exclamation to emphasize the following sentiment
Send me the pillow
Requesting a personal item to exchange
The one that you dream on
A significant object closely associated with the dreamer
And I'll send you mine
Offering to share a personal object of significance
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Steven Morrissey, Johnny Marr
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind