Some would have him believe that to love and lose is better than having nothing at all (the usual).
Unhappy Birthday
The Smiths Lyrics
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I've come to wish you an unhappy birthday
'Cause you're evil
And you lie
And if you should die
I may feel slightly sad
But I won't cry
And some may say
When usually it's nothing
Surely you're happy
It should be this way
I say no, I'm gonna kill my dog
May the lines sag, the lines sag heavy and deep tonight
I've come to wish you an unhappy birthday
I've come to wish you an unhappy birthday
'Cause you're evil
And you lie
And if you should die
I may feel slightly sad
But I won't cry
Loved and lost
And some may say
When usually it's nothing
Surely you're happy
It should be this way
I said no
And then I shot myself
So, drink, drink, drink
And be ill tonight
From the one you left behind
From the one you left behind
From the one you left behind
From the one you left behind
Behind
Behind
Behind
Behind
Behind
Behind
Oh, unhappy birthday
Behind
Behind
Behind
The lyrics to The Smiths's song Unhappy Birthday are a strong expression of disapproval and animosity towards the intended recipient of the birthday wishes. The first two lines repeat the phrase "I've come to wish you an unhappy birthday," which sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer goes on to express their dislike for the person and accuses them of being evil and lying. The lines "And if you should die, I may feel slightly sad, but I won't cry" suggest that their feelings towards that person are not based on love or compassion.
The second verse begins by discussing the idea of being loved and lost, which is a common theme in many songs. However, the singer goes on to say that the idea of being happy after losing love is not true. They state that they would rather "kill their dog" than be happy after the loss of a loved one. The final lines of the verse "May the lines sag, the lines sag heavy and deep tonight" seem to imply a wish for bad fortune or punishment for the person they are addressing.
The final verse takes a darker turn, with the singer stating that they "shot themselves" after saying no to the idea of happiness without their loved one. They then encourage the person to "drink, drink, drink and be ill tonight" out of spite. The repeated use of "From the one you left behind" in the final lines suggests that the singer is addressing someone who has caused them pain or heartbreak.
Overall, Unhappy Birthday is a song that conveys a strong message of resentment and negative emotions towards someone. The lyrics are blunt and straightforward, leaving no room for doubt about the singer's feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
I've come to wish you an unhappy birthday
I came here not to celebrate your birthday, but to wish you an unhappy one
'Cause you're evil
The reason why I want you to have an unhappy birthday is that you're evil
And you lie
One of the reasons why you're evil is that you're a liar
And if you should die, I may feel slightly sad but I won't cry
Although I may feel somewhat sad if you die, I won't cry because you're not worth it
Loved and lost
Perhaps you have been in love before
And some may say, when usually it's nothing
People may think that losing love is not a big deal, but it actually is
Surely you're happy, it should be this way
People may assume that you're happy on your birthday, but it's not necessarily true
I say no, I'm gonna kill my dog
I reject the idea that you should be happy on your birthday, and I express my anger by threatening to kill my dog
May the lines sag, the lines sag heavy and deep tonight
I hope that everything goes wrong for you and that you feel terrible tonight
And then I shot myself
I want to end my own life because of the pain of this situation
So, drink, drink, drink, and be ill tonight
I encourage you to drink excessively tonight and suffer the consequences
From the one you left behind
I am speaking from the perspective of someone you have hurt or left behind
Oh, unhappy birthday
Again, I wish you an unhappy birthday
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVEN MORRISSEY, JOHNNY MARR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind