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)
What's The World?
The Smiths Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What would you sell?
Loose glasses and suit
Heart and soul
Won't wear out
That's not enough!
I wonder what's inside
Can cut
Right through my eye...
I'm looking for some words
To call my own
Worn-out phrases
And a hand-me-down
They'll knock me
Under where I stand
Sad on his back
In a corned beef pan
Going under
You can feel them pulling me down
To the rust inside...
This is the way...
Franken-star is born
Bits and pieces
Others have worn
All held together by a management glue
Too much glue
Watch the stars turn blue
Turn blue
Turn blue
Turn blue
Turn blue
I'm going under
You can feel them pulling me down
To the halls of rust
Eeh...
I, I, I, I, I...
Thank you...
The lyrics to The Smiths's song "What's the World?" seem almost nonsensical at first glance. The opening lines, "Um ... this song was written by ... erm, erm..." suggest that the songwriter, Morrissey, is poking fun at himself or his audience. However, the following lines present a more serious question: "What would you sell? Loose glasses and suit, heart and soul won't wear out, that's not enough!" Morrissey seems to be asking whether, in a world that values material goods above all else, our own humanity is enough to sustain us.
The next verse takes a darker turn as Morrissey describes a "fish fillet knife" that "can cut right through my eye." This image suggests violence and danger, but it is unclear whether the knife is literal or metaphorical. The line "I'm looking for some words to call my own" suggests that Morrissey is struggling to find his place in the world and to express himself in a meaningful way.
The final verse introduces the image of a "Franken-star," made up of "bits and pieces others have worn" and held together by "management glue." This seems to be a commentary on the music industry and the way that artists are manipulated and controlled by those in power. The repetition of "turn blue" at the end of the song creates a feeling of suffocation and desperation, as if Morrissey is being swallowed up by the world around him.
Line by Line Meaning
What would you sell?
If you had to sell something valuable, what would it be?
Loose glasses and suit
I have nothing much to sell, just some cheap and old items like a pair of glasses and a suit that doesn't fit me anymore.
Heart and soul
But I'd rather keep my emotions and spirit intact, which are priceless to me.
Won't wear out
They may not have a physical form, but unlike material objects, they won't deteriorate over time.
That's not enough!
However, that's not sufficient to make a living or to fulfill one's desires.
I wonder what's inside
I'm curious about the contents of other people's minds and what motivates them to buy and sell.
Fish fillet knife
For instance, owning a sharp knife like a fish fillet knife can give someone a sense of power and control.
Can cut
It can be used to sever ties or to defend oneself against others.
Right through my eye...
But it can also lead to harming oneself or others, figuratively or literally.
I'm looking for some words
I'm searching for a way to express myself through words that convey my thoughts and feelings.
To call my own
I don't want to rely on cliches or quotes from others, I want to find my own voice and message.
Worn-out phrases
Using overly-used and hackneyed expressions is not fulfilling to me, I want to strive for originality and authenticity.
And a hand-me-down
I don't want to inherit someone else's ideas or perspectives, I want to create my own path.
They'll knock me
People or circumstances may bring me down or discourage me from pursuing my dreams.
Under where I stand
I may feel trapped and unable to escape from my current situation.
Sad on his back
I may feel defeated or oppressed, like a burden on my shoulders.
In a corned beef pan
My situation may be impoverished or low-class, like cheap food in a can.
Going under
I'm sinking deeper into despair and hopelessness.
You can feel them pulling me down
Others or external forces are exerting influence on me that I can't resist.
To the rust inside...
I'm being corroded by negative emotions and experiences that are eating away at my soul.
This is the way...
This is how the world works, and how I have to adapt to it.
Franken-star is born
A new creation is formed from combining different parts, like the monster from Frankenstein.
Bits and pieces
Different elements or ideas can be brought together to create something unique.
Others have worn
These elements or ideas may have been used by others in the past, but they can be reimagined and repurposed.
All held together by a management glue
A cohesive force, like a glue, is needed to bring these elements together and to make them thrive.
Too much glue
However, too much of this force can become oppressive or stifling.
Watch the stars turn blue
Observing the universe and its mysteries can be a source of awe and inspiration.
I'm going under
I'm descending into chaos and confusion.
To the halls of rust
I'm entering a place of decay and disintegration.
Eeh...
An exclamation of resignation or despair.
I, I, I, I, I...
Repeating the sound of the word 'I' can signify a focus on one's self or personal struggles.
Thank you...
As if acknowledging the listener's attention or support, or ironically thanking them for listening to this depressing song.
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: GAVIN WHELAN, JAMES GLENNIE, PAUL KENNETH GILBERTSON, TIMOTHY BOOTH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind