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)
These Things Take Time
The Smiths Lyrics
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You took me behind a dis-used railway line
And said "I know a place where we can go
Where we are not known"
And then you gave me something that I won't forget too soon
But I can't believe that you'd ever care
And this is why you will never care
But these things take time
The most inept
That ever stepped
I'm spellbound, oh...but a woman divides
And the hills are alive with celibate cries
But you know where you came from, you know where
You're going and you know where you belong
You said I was ill, and you were not wrong
But I can't believe that you'd ever care
And so, you will never care
But these things take time
And I know that I'm
The most inept
That ever stepped
Oh, the alcoholic afternoons
When we sat in your rooms
They meant more to me
Than any, than any living thing on earth
They had more worth
Than any living thing on earth
On earth, on earth, oh ...
Vivid and in your prime
You will leave me behind
You will leave me behind
The Smiths' song "These Things Take Time" begins with the declaration of the wonder and glory of a sacred child prodigy seen through the eyes of the singer. The song then describes a secret meeting between the singer and someone who took them to a secret place, where they were not known. The singer was given something memorable, but they couldn't believe that the person they were with would ever truly care about them.
The singer then confesses to being inept, while also being spellbound by the person who took them behind the railway line. The interlude of the song speaks of a woman dividing, while celibate cries come from the hills. It is clear that the singer is ill, but it is uncertain whether the person they were with recognized this. The singer is unable to believe that the person they were with will ever care about them, leaving them to their ineptitude.
The chorus repeats the phrase "these things take time," emphasizing the length of the journey between the two characters. The lyrics “On alcoholic afternoons, when we sat in your rooms / They meant more to me / Than any, than any living thing on earth / They had more worth” signifies the singer’s emotional attachment to these secret meetings. They matter more to them than anything else.
The lyrics of “These Things Take Time” are steeped in Morrissey's signature themes of longing, isolation, and unrequited love. Morrissey stated that the song is about a love affair he had with a friend whose sexuality he was unaware of. This song captures the essence of Morrissey's songwriting style, with its clever wordplay, introspective storytelling, and poetic turns of phrase.
Line by Line Meaning
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the sacred wunderkind
I have witnessed the brilliance of a gifted child
You took me behind a dis-used railway line
You led me to an abandoned railway line
And said "I know a place where we can go
Where we are not known"
And suggested a place where we could go and remain anonymous
And then you gave me something that I won't forget too soon
Then you shared something with me that will stick with me for a while
But I can't believe that you'd ever care
And this is why you will never care
But I doubt that you truly care about me, and that is why you never will
But these things take time
However, these things require time
I know that I'm
The most inept
That ever stepped
I am aware that I am the most clumsy person ever
I'm spellbound, oh...but a woman divides
I am captivated, but a woman comes between us
And the hills are alive with celibate cries
And the hills resonate with the sounds of those who have taken a vow of celibacy
But you know where you came from, you know where
You're going and you know where you belong
But you are aware of your origins, your destination, and your place in the world
You said I was ill, and you were not wrong
You claimed that I was unwell, and you were correct
But I can't believe that you'd ever care
And so, you will never care
But I find it difficult to believe that you truly care about me, and thus, you never will
But these things take time
And I know that I'm
The most inept
That ever stepped
However, these things require time, and I understand that I am the clumsiest person ever
Oh, the alcoholic afternoons
When we sat in your rooms
They meant more to me
Than any, than any living thing on earth
They had more worth
Than any living thing on earth
On earth, on earth, oh ...
Oh, the afternoons we spent drinking in your rooms were more valuable to me than anything else could be, even life itself
Vivid and in your prime
You will leave me behind
You will leave me behind
Full of life and vitality, you will abandon me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVEN MORRISSEY, JOHNNY MARR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind