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)
Wonderful Woman
The Smiths Lyrics
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Until she'd rise and say,
"I'm starved of mirth,
Let's go and trip a dwarf"
Oh, what to be done with her?
Oh, what to be done with her?
With neither heart or spine
And then just
To pass time; let us go and rob the blind
What to be done with her?
I ask myself,
What to be said of her?
But when she calls me, I do not walk, I run
Oh, when she calls, I do not walk, I run
The lyrics to The Smiths' song "Wonderful Woman" are often interpreted as a commentary on the difficulty of dealing with someone who is unpredictable and possibly unstable, but who also exerts a magnetic pull on the singer. The opening lines describe the woman lying down with a sense of ennui, longing for something more exciting than what she currently has. She suggests going to "trip a dwarf" - a surreal and potentially violent activity - as a way to inject some novelty and excitement into her life. This observation is delivered in a matter-of-fact tone that suggests the singer is used to her unusual requests.
The chorus, in which the singer asks themselves "what to be done with her", suggests that the woman's behavior is troubling and potentially dangerous. She has "ice water for blood" and is apparently callous enough to suggest robbing the blind as a way to pass the time. Despite this, the singer is undeniably drawn to her - when she calls, he doesn't walk but runs to her side. The song thus functions as a meditation on the complexity of human relationships and the appeal of the mysterious or dangerous.
Line by Line Meaning
Here her head, she lay
She's physically present, but she seems lost in her own world.
Until she'd rise and say, 'I'm starved of mirth, Let's go and trip a dwarf'
She intermittently snaps out of her thoughts and voices her desire for something fun but unusual.
Oh, what to be done with her? Oh, what to be done with her?
The singer is confused and unsure how to handle this unpredictable and unconventional person.
Ice water for blood, With neither heart or spine
She appears to lack compassion and courage, and is cold and detached, like a block of ice.
And then just To pass time; let us go and rob the blind
She seems to be suggesting something cruel and unethical just to alleviate boredom.
What to be done with her? I ask myself, What to be said of her?
The singer is still grappling with how to understand and respond to this woman.
But when she calls me, I do not walk, I run
Despite her eccentricities, the singer is drawn to her, and eagerly responds to her beckoning.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVEN MORRISSEY, JOHNNY MARR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind