The Queen Is Dead / Take Me Back To Dear Old Blighty
The Smiths Lyrics

Oh! Take me back to dear old Blighty,
The singer longs to return to England, which they refer to as 'Blighty'.

Put me on the train for London Town,
They express a desire to go to London, which is affectionately called 'London Town'.

Take me anywhere,
They are open to going anywhere, as long as it is in England.

Drop me anywhere,
The artist doesn't have a specific preference or destination in mind.

Liverpool, Leeds or Birmingham
These are just a few examples of places the artist wouldn't mind going.

But I don't care,
The singer doesn't have a strong preference for where they end up in England.

I should like to see my
The singer is interrupted mid-thought, and it's unclear what they were going to say.

I don't bless them
The artist doesn't approve of or bless the people they are referring to.

Farewell to this land's cheerless marshes
They are bidding goodbye to the bleak, uninviting landscapes of England.

Hemmed in like a boar between arches
The artist feels trapped, like a wild animal caught between two structures.

Her very Lowness with a head in a sling
The Queen, who is the embodiment of the nation, is depicted as being in a fragile state.

I'm truly sorry, but it sounds like a wonderful thing
Despite feeling sympathetic towards the Queen's plight, the artist can't help but find her situation fascinating.

I said Charles, don't you ever crave
The singer is speaking to someone named Charles, asking if they've ever desired something unorthodox.

To appear on the front of the Daily Mail
They are specifically asking if Charles has ever dreamed of being featured in the news or media.

Dressed in your Mother's bridal veil?
The singer is asking if Charles would ever be daring enough to wear something taboo, like his mother's bridal veil.

Some nine-year old tough who peddles drugs
The artist is referencing a young drug dealer who is tough despite their age.

I swear to God
The artist is emphasizing the truth of their next statement by swearing to God.

I swear, I never even knew what drugs were
They are insisting that they have never used drugs before.

So, I broke into the palace
The singer admits to having broken into the royal palace.

With a sponge and a rusty spanner
The artist used unconventional tools to break into the palace.

She said, "Eh, I know you, and you cannot sing"
The Queen recognizes the artist, but dismisses their musical ability.

I said, "That's nothing, you should hear me play piano"
The artist is confident in their piano-playing skills despite not being able to sing.

We can go for a walk where it's quiet and dry
The singer is inviting someone to take a walk with them to a quiet, dry location.

And talk about precious things
The artist is hoping to have a meaningful conversation with the person they are inviting.

But when you're tied to your Mother's apron
The singer implies that it's difficult to have meaningful conversations when you're under your mother's control or influence.

No-one talks about castration
The singer laments the fact that certain topics, like castration, are off-limits or uncomfortable to talk about.

Like love and law and poverty
The singer highlights some of the deep topics they would like to discuss on their walk.

Oh, these are the things that kill me
The artist is passionate about discussing these topics, and it 'kills' them not to be able to discuss them.

But the rain that flattens my hair
The artist is now focusing on something that bothers them - the rain that ruins their hair-do.

Oh, these are the things that kill me
The singer is being somewhat facetious, as they aren't truly killed by their appearance.

All their lies about make-up and long hair, are still there
The singer comments on how society still expects women to conform to certain beauty standards, despite recognizing that they're lies.

Past the pub who saps your body
The artist is passing by a pub that is damaging to the body or health.

And the church who'll snatch your money
The artist is also passing by a church that is after their money.

The Queen is dead, boys
The artist makes a shocking announcement that the Queen is dead.

And it's so lonely on a limb
The singer reflects on how isolating it can be to hold an unpopular opinion or stand alone in their beliefs.

Life is very long, when you're lonely
The artist expresses how long and difficult life can feel when you're going through it alone.