The Smiths were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1982. They com… Read Full Bio ↴The Smiths were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1982. They comprised the singer Morrissey, the guitarist Johnny Marr, the bassist Andy Rourke and the drummer Mike Joyce. They are regarded as one of the most important acts to emerge from the 1980s British independent music scene.

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)

Unlovable
The Smiths Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I know I'm unlovable
You don't have to tell me
I don't have much in my life
But take it, it's yours
I don't have much in my life
But take it, it's yours

I know I'm unlovable

You don't have to tell me
Message received
Loud and clear
Loud and clear
I don't have much in my life
But take it, it's yours

I know I'm unlovable
You don't have to tell me
Message received
Loud and clear
Loud and clear
Message received
I don't have much in my life
But take it, it's yours

I wear black on the outside
'Cause black is how I feel on the inside
I wear black on the outside
'Cause black is how I feel on the inside
And if I seem a little strange
Well, that's because I am
And if I seem a little strange
That's because I am

But I know that you would like me
If only you could see me
If only you could meet me

I don't have much in my life
But take it, it's yours

I don't have much in my life
But take it, it's yours

Overall Meaning

The Smiths’ song “Unlovable” is a melancholic and insightful exploration of self-doubt, insecurity, and the search for acceptance. It’s clear from the opening lines that the singer is deeply aware of his perceived unlovability, as he repeats the phrase “I know I’m unlovable” with defeated resignation. The song suggests that this sense of unworthiness is so entrenched in the singer’s psyche that they don’t even need to be told it anymore. The repetition of this phrase throughout the song emphasizes just how thoroughly he believes it to be true, and how trapped he feels by it.

The second verse introduces the idea of a message being “received loud and clear”. It’s unclear who this message is from, but it’s clear that it’s not a positive one, and has likely contributed to the singer’s feelings of unlovability. The repetition of “loud and clear” reinforces the finality and inescapability of this message. However, despite this, he offers everything he has to give with the repeated line, “I don’t have much in my life, but take it, it’s yours”. This line reveals a sense of resignation and hopelessness, but also of willingness to surrender everything to the object of his love.

The chorus is a vulnerable window into the singer’s head and heart. The simple phrase “I wear black on the outside, ‘cause black is how I feel on the inside” is a powerful metaphor for the singer’s inner darkness and despair. This line openly admits that the singer feels fundamentally disconnected from the world around him, and that his feelings of unlovability run deep. The repetition of this line along with the phrase “that’s because I am” emphasizes the location of the problem -- not in outside factors, but within the singer himself.

Line by Line Meaning

I know I'm unlovable
I am aware that I am not capable of being loved

You don't have to tell me
I am aware of that fact and thus, you don't need to repeat it

Message received
I hear you and understand what you are saying

Loud and clear
Your message has been received in a clear and understandable way

I don't have much in my life
I don't possess a lot of things in my life

But take it, it's yours
Whatever little I have, you can have it

I wear black on the outside
I deliberately dress up in all black clothes

'Cause black is how I feel on the inside
I feel dark and gloomy from within, and hence, my choice of clothing reflects the same

And if I seem a little strange
I may appear different or unusual to you

Well, that's because I am
That's because I am genuinely different or unusual

But I know that you would like me
I believe that deep down, despite my flaws, you would still like me