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)
The Headmaster Ritual
The Smiths Lyrics
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Run Manchester schools
Spineless swines
Cemented minds
Sir leads the troops
Jealous of youth
He does the military two-step down
The nape of my neck
I want to go home
I don't want to stay
Give up education
As a bad mistake
Mid-week on the playing fields
Sir thwacks you on the knees
Knees you in the groin
Elbow in the face
Bruises bigger than dinner plates
I want to go home
I don't want to stay
Da-da-da
Da-da-da
Da-da-da
Da-da-da
Da-da-da
Da-da-da
Da-da-da
Da-da-da
Da-da-da
Da-da-da
Belligerent ghouls
Run Manchester schools
Spineless bastards all
Sir leads the troops
Jealous of youth
Same old jokes since nineteen- oh- two
He does the military two-step down
The nape of my neck
I want to go home
I don't want to stay
Give up life
As a bad mistake
Please excuse me from gym
I've got this terrible cold coming on
He grabs and devours
He kicks me in the showers
Kicks me in the showers
And he grabs and devours
I want to go home
I don't want to stay
"The Headmaster Ritual" is a song by English rock band The Smiths, released in 1985. The lyrics describe the brutal and oppressive atmosphere of English schools, as personified by the cruel and militaristic headmaster. The first verse introduces the "belligerent ghouls", a reference to the teachers who run Manchester schools. These teachers are described as "spineless swines" with "cemented minds", who are unable to think creatively and empathetically.
The headmaster himself is portrayed as a jealous, authoritarian figure who is stuck in his ways. He wears the same suit he has worn since 1962 and leads his "troops" in a "military two-step" down the backs of students' necks. The second verse focuses on the physical abuse inflicted by the headmaster, including kneeing and elbowing students, leaving them bruised and battered. The chorus repeats the phrase "I want to go home, I don't want to stay", making the plea of the suffering students clear.
The song highlights the systematic problems found in educational institutions such as oppressive leadership, lack of creativity, and physical abuse. It illuminates the darker side of the English educational system and the immense pressure that students are placed under.
Line by Line Meaning
Belligerent ghouls
Stubborn misfits
Run Manchester schools
Attend schools in Manchester
Spineless swines
Cowardly pigs
Cemented minds
Unchanging thoughts
Sir leads the troops
The headmaster is in charge
Jealous of youth
Envious of young people
Same old suit since nineteen sixty two
Wearing the same outdated clothing for a long time
He does the military two-step down
He walks with a rigid posture
The nape of my neck
The back of my neck
I want to go home
I want to leave this place
I don't want to stay
I don't want to remain here
Give up education
Abandon learning
As a bad mistake
As something regrettable
Mid-week on the playing fields
During the week at sports grounds
Sir thwacks you on the knees
The headmaster hits you on the knees
Knees you in the groin
Kicks you below the waist
Elbow in the face
Hits your face with his elbow
Bruises bigger than dinner plates
Large injuries and bruises
Da-da-da
Instrumental interlude
Spineless bastards all
Gutless cowards
Same old jokes since nineteen- oh- two
Repeating outdated jokes
Please excuse me from gym
Requesting to be excused from athletic activities
I've got this terrible cold coming on
I am starting to feel very sick
He grabs and devours
He takes and consumes
He kicks me in the showers
He strikes me with his foot in the shower
And he grabs and devours
And he takes and consumes
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Universal Music Publishing Ltd, WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC FRANCE
Written by: STEVEN MORRISSEY, JOHNNY MARR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
비정한세상
[Verse 1]Belligerent ghouls
Run Manchester schools
Spineless swines
Cemented minds
Sir leads the troops
Jealous of youth
Same old suit since ninteteen-sixty-two
He does the military two-step
Down the nape of my neck
[Chorus 1]I want to go home
I don't want to stay
Give up education as a bad mistake
[Verse 2]Mid-week on the playing fields
Sir thwacks you on the knees
Knees you in the groin
Elbow in the face
Bruises bigger than dinner plates
[Verse 3]Belligerent ghouls
Run Manchester schools
Spineless bastards, all
Sir leads the troops
Jealous of youth
Same old jokes since nineteen-two
He does the military two-step
Down the nape of my neck
[Chorus]I want to go home
I don't want to stay
Give up life as a bad mistake
[Verse 4]Please excuse me from gym
I've got this terrible cold coming on
He grabs and devours
He kicks me in the showers
Kicks me in the showers
And he grabs and devours
Kin Whevnyz
Lyrics
Belligerent ghouls
Run Manchester schools
Spineless swines
Cemented minds
Sir leads the troops
Jealous of youth
Same old suit since nineteen sixty two
He does the military two-step down
The nape of my neck
I want to go home
I don't want to stay
Give up education
As a bad mistake
Mid-week on the playing fields
Sir thwacks you on the knees
Knees you in the groin
Elbow in the face
Bruises bigger than dinner plates
I want to go home
I don't want to stay
Da-da-da
Da-da-da
Da-da-da
Da-da-da
Da-da-da
Da-da-da
Da-da-da
Da-da-da
Da-da-da
Da-da-da
Belligerent ghouls
Run Manchester schools
Spineless bastards all
Sir leads the troops
Jealous of youth
Same old jokes since nineteen- oh- two
He does the military two-step down
The nape of my neck
I want to go home
I don't want to stay
Give up life
As a bad mistake
Please excuse me from gym
I've got this terrible cold coming on
He grabs and devours
He kicks me in the showers
Kicks me in the showers
And he grabs and devours
I want to go home
I don't want to stay
Da-da-da
Da-da-da
Da-da-da
Da-da-da
Da-da-da
Da-da-da
Da-da-da
Da-da-da
Da-da-da
Da-da-da
Matt Harrison
RIP Andy Rourke, to me, this is the greatest bass line ever
Blue LeStrange
Yes, first I thought of when hearing he passed. That Bass ! Fav band of my youth
Darren Codd
Respect 😢
Gabriel Prado
I will say, yes. In addition, and structurally, the whole song is pretty f*****' E P I C af. Just saying.
MegaHariboboy
The bassline in Barbarism begins at home is so clear of this one though.
Knonnynonny
@MegaHariboboy Crrrrrackin' good observation!!!! I am in love with so many of their bass lines. LOVE GREAT BASS!!!!!!!
Disco/Secret
Andy Rourke shines on this album. His bass playing is so integral to the Sound of the Smiths and it is ‘criminally vulgar’ how little attention is paid to his talents. That being said, Side 1 of Meat is Murder could very well be one of the finest album sides, ever.
Salomé Vanel
I agree so much
Felipe Ahumada Jegó
bloody hell yeah! i decided to be a bassist because of this album. Nowadays i practice at least two hours per day. Rourke's fault!!!!
William Otey
Disco/Secret I concur!!!