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)
Stretch Out and Wait
The Smiths Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What's at the back of your mind?
Oh, your face I can see
And it's desperately kind
But what's at the back of your mind?
Two icy-cold hands conducting the way
It's the Eskimo blood in my veins
And general decay
Nature must still find a way
So ignore all the codes of the day
Let your juvenile impulses sway
This way and that way
This way, that way
God, how sex implores you
To let yourself lose yourself
Stretch out and wait
Stretch out and wait
Let your puny body, lie down, lie down
As we lie, you say
As we lie, you say
Stretch out and...
Stretch out and wait
Stretch out and wait
Let your puny body lie down, lie down
As we lie, you say :
Will the world end in the night time?
(I really don't know)
Or will the world end in the day time?
(I really don't know)
And is there any point ever having children?
Oh, I don't know
All I do know is we're here and it's now
So...stretch out and wait
Stretch out and wait
There is no debate, no debate, no debate
How can you consciously contemplate
When there's no debate, no debate?
Stretch out and wait
Stretch out and wait
Stretch out and wait
Wait
Wait
Wait
Wait
Oh...
The lyrics of Stretch Out and Wait by The Smiths are open to interpretation like most of their songs. At first, Morrissey seems to address someone who is deceiving or lying, wanting to know what’s behind their actions. The second stanza depicts two hands conducting a way, which are said to be icy-cold, something typically associated with Eskimos. Morrissey then continues to explore the contradiction between nature and the urban environment, with the chorus of "stretch out and wait" implying that time will yield answers in it's own way - a mix of impatience and uncertainty.
The song takes a turn in the third stanza, with a focus on sex and physical pleasure, subverting the darker tone of the previous lines. This develops into the chorus again, taking on more repetitive and ritualistic qualities, suggesting a sense of escapism. The fourth and final stanza explicitly questions the value of having children, ultimately concluding that the world is here and now, calling for a focus on the present moment rather than the future. Overall, the song suggests that life is about enjoying the moment, not worrying about the future, and finding pleasure where it's possible.
Line by Line Meaning
All the lies that you make up
Every falsehood that you concoct
What's at the back of your mind?
What thoughts lie hidden in your subconscious?
Oh, your face I can see
I can see the expression on your face
And it's desperately kind
It is incredibly compassionate
But what's at the back of your mind?
What is your true, hidden motive?
Two icy-cold hands conducting the way
My frosty fingers guide the path
It's the Eskimo blood in my veins
My Inuit heritage runs deep
Amid concrete and clay
In the midst of an urban landscape
And general decay
In the midst of widespread decay
Nature must still find a way
Despite all obstacles, nature perseveres
So ignore all the codes of the day
Disregard societal norms and conventions
Let your juvenile impulses sway
Allow your childlike instincts to guide you
This way and that way
Without any particular direction
This way, that way
In a random and unpredictable manner
God, how sex implores you
How desire for physical intimacy drives you
To let yourself lose yourself
To give in to your carnal desires
Stretch out and wait
Relax and be patient
Let your puny body, lie down, lie down
Allow your small, insignificant self to rest
As we lie, you say
As we recline, you ask
Will the world end in the night time?
Will doomsday come under the cover of darkness?
(I really don't know)
(I am truly ignorant)
Or will the world end in the day time?
Or will the end of humanity come in the light of day?
(I really don't know)
(I am truly ignorant)
And is there any point ever having children?
Is having offspring truly worthwhile?
Oh, I don't know
I genuinely have no idea
All I do know is we're here and it's now
What I do know is that we exist in this moment
So...stretch out and wait
So...be still and patient
There is no debate, no debate, no debate
There is no argument, no argument, no argument
How can you consciously contemplate
How can you even consider debating
When there's no debate, no debate?
When there is nothing worth arguing over?
Stretch out and wait
Be at peace and wait patiently
Wait
Be still
Wait
Be patient
Wait
Hold on
Wait
Do not act impulsively
Oh...
Sigh
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVEN MORRISSEY, JOHNNY MARR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Roiy Benkel
On the high-rise estate
What's at the back of your mind?
Oh, a three-day debate
On a high-rise estate
What's at the back of your mind?
Two icy-cold hands conducting the way
It's the Eskimo blood in my veins
Amid concrete and clay
And general decay
Nature must still find a way
So ignore all the codes of the day
Let your juvenile influences sway
This way and that way (this way)
This way and that way (this way)
God, how sex implores you
To let yourself lose yourself
Stretch out and wait
Stretch out and wait
Oh... let your puny body, lie down, lie down
As we lie, you say
As we lie, you say
Stretch out and...
Stretch out and wait
Stretch out and wait
Oh... let your puny body lie down, lie down
As we lie, you say :
Will the world end in the night time?
(I really don't know)
Or will the world end in the day time?
(I really don't know)
And is there any point ever having children?
Oh, I don't know
What I do know is we're Here and it's Now
So... stretch out and wait
Stretch out and wait
There is no debate, no debate, no debate
How can you conciously contemplate
When there's no debate, no debate?
Stretch out and wait
Stretch out and wait
Stretch out and wait
Wait
Wait
Wait
Wait
The Smiths
New! The Smiths Spotify Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7sy3NL9RCKUJknQ8fvkdAv?si=t3pvD2P0TlKw8bu1lF5zUg
slocamel
Decades later this one often rises to the top of the list. So extremely beautiful among many beautiful songs they made
teK herdz
yea this one kinda blew me away when i heard it first time, made me a lifelong fan
MrDLOC11
A buried treasure of a song, an absolute gem.
Writing like this does not come often. How can you consciously contemplate, when there's no debate?
😍😍😍😍😍😍😍
x munki
Smiths music is probably the closest thing to heavenly realm in audio form. Their sound is just so otherworldly to me.
Roiy Benkel
On the high-rise estate
What's at the back of your mind?
Oh, a three-day debate
On a high-rise estate
What's at the back of your mind?
Two icy-cold hands conducting the way
It's the Eskimo blood in my veins
Amid concrete and clay
And general decay
Nature must still find a way
So ignore all the codes of the day
Let your juvenile influences sway
This way and that way (this way)
This way and that way (this way)
God, how sex implores you
To let yourself lose yourself
Stretch out and wait
Stretch out and wait
Oh... let your puny body, lie down, lie down
As we lie, you say
As we lie, you say
Stretch out and...
Stretch out and wait
Stretch out and wait
Oh... let your puny body lie down, lie down
As we lie, you say :
Will the world end in the night time?
(I really don't know)
Or will the world end in the day time?
(I really don't know)
And is there any point ever having children?
Oh, I don't know
What I do know is we're Here and it's Now
So... stretch out and wait
Stretch out and wait
There is no debate, no debate, no debate
How can you conciously contemplate
When there's no debate, no debate?
Stretch out and wait
Stretch out and wait
Stretch out and wait
Wait
Wait
Wait
Wait
Chris Talliss
serious goosebumps every time with this track !
The Smiths
I know the feeling!
Roscoe.P ColdChain
Fuckin awesome ☮️🇬🇧
Pablo Isusi
Since the first listen