Definitely a contender for best song of the '80s. Here's the official version.

http://uk.youtube.com/wat...NgXzChwipY

And a recent live version.

http://uk.youtube.com/wat...re=related

Probably the best song by my favourite band of all time.

One of my alltime favourite tracks..

All hail The Smiths

Great song, but they have so so many great songs.

This is my probably my favorite song they did.

From a great album too, in my all-time top ten albums. I remember buying it on day of release in 86, strictly limited copy signed by Morrissey only available at Virgin Megastore in Manchester

Take it from somebody who used to be a huge fan in his teens: Morrissey (with the exception of the song "That's How People Grow Up") is bad for your health.

Seriously.

Ace said:

Bad for your sex life maybe

One of my favorite songs by one of my favorite bands on one of my favorite albums, ever.




good times, good times.

Not funky at all!

Never got The Smiths, i've tried, upon the insistance of numerous friends many times. Marr and Morrisey did have something special going on though, just not my bag. sometime i do feel i'm missing out.

Smith fans!!!

(except for Marrk)

Ace said:

I know what you mean. My dad still occasionally refers to the period in my life when I was listening to "that depressing music"...

heartbeatocean said:

I got into them when I was at my most desolate but they were like my life preserver at the same time. Plus they were too clever and funny to be completely depressing and thank god Morrissey had Marr to write such beautiful, and often happy melodies.

Have you heard about the fan who took a radio station hostage (I think it was in Colorado) and demanded they play Smiths records nonstop? I totally relate

I’ve always found listening to Morrisey to be a lot like spending the evening with my brother-in-law. At first he seems clever & charming. After 1/2 an hour his witticisms are getting a little stale and I’m starting to wish he’d stop talking for a spell. At the end of the evening I’m usually plotting out murder scenarios in my head.

mynameisnotsusan said:

Yes!

I was in Germany when that happenned I believe. News reached us all the way over there.

I laughed my arse off.

Ace said:

I would have to agree but I think most people discover the Smiths when they are already in that headspace. I sure did.


That's How People Grow Up

I was wasting my time
Trying to fall in love
Disappointment came to me and
Booted me and bruised and hurt me

But that's how people grow up
That's how people grow up

I was wasting my time
Looking for love
Someone must look at me and
See their sunlit dream
I was wasting my time
Praying for love
For a love that never comes
From someone who does not exist

And that's how people grow up
That's how people grow up

Let me live
Before I die
No not me
Not I

I was wasting my life
Always thinking about myself
Someone on their deathbed said
There are other sorrows too

I was driving my car
I crashed and broke my spine
So yes there are things worse in life than
Never being someone's sweetie

That's how people grow up
That's how people grow up

That's how people grow up
That's how people grow up

As for me I'm okay
For now anyway

What a snore. So overrated.

mynameisnotsusan said:

Yeah, at the time, the Smiths exactly matched my emotional state. So it was very cathartic. Not to mention, I pretty much ONLY listened to Smiths, non-stop, all the time. It was like a good drug. So I relate to that fan's impulse.

Cinnie said:

I remember as a kid hating the fact that all the songs on the airwaves were about love. I mean ALL OF THEM. When the Smiths came around, it was like "Finally, somebody speaks to MY situation."

heartbeatocean said:

The exact sentiment of "Panic". Genius single!

damosuzuki said:

Yeah, I prefer small doses now. With large gaps in between.

heartbeatocean said:

Here's my thing with Morrissey: he romanticizes depression. Dangerous.

On a side note, he's also full of shit: a journalist who profiled him said that, despite claiming to be a Luddite, he checks his email every day.

I like Neil Finn's live cover a lot:

guess who's on the guitar?

Ace said:

Here's what I don't get - putting aside the fact that Morrissey irritates me, I don't find him depressing in the least. He's a big, floppy, prancing dandy - to quote Mark Prindle, he's 'the most blatantly gay homosexual swish man ever born' - and every utterance of his seems like complete camp humour to me.

I suppose the answer to my question is that the humour is borne out of a depressive state...most humour is, i suppose. that, or anger, maybe.
[Edited 11/2/08 5:17am]

jn2 said:

oh my god

Morrissey can't even do that shit right live like this dude does

jn2 said:

I love it, too. Of course, I love everything Neil does. They also did "How Soon Is Now," but it didn't make the CD or DVD.

Word is the all-star "7 Worlds Collide" group is going to get together again soon. Maybe they'll do some Radiohead songs this time.

Yo, this is one of my favorite songs ever.

Ace said:

I don't go for this argument that listening to Morrissey is dangerous as he 'romanticizes' depression. Have you thought that he may actually be depressed himself and why not talk about it...would you prefer that he said nothing and sung about sex, drugs, rock and roll. Not everyone can relate to that.
In the 80's when I first discovered The Smiths they were much needed in my life as I was living in terrible conditions with horrible people doing dreadful things to survive...and because of this I was depressed. Everything was awful and I couldn't relate to Duran Duran singing about the untouchable things in life and glorifying a good life or understand my friends obsessions with football, skateboards, 'up' music or Rambo- none of this was helpful, actually the things in life that were supposed to make you feel better just made me feel worse. Then The Smiths appeared with humour, second hand style, cheekiness and understanding. Morrissey's lyrics appealed to me, not only because I loved that someone was singing about the way that I was feeling, but that for every song about suicide or dark clouds, there were songs about the things in life that could be had and suddenly I had encouragement and understanding in my life...the things that the endless supply of doctors and constant change of tablets just couldn't achieve. I was well again and lived my strength through this singer- he was my shield against...well...everything.
I know more people who's lives Morrissey has saved than the fans that have died as a result of his 'flirtation' with depression...me included. I really wouldn't be here today if I had been left to my distant councilor, numbing pills and the rotation of doctors- I faced my fears through someone saying "I know how you feel and isn't it silly, but it happens- now, let's go pick on the Queen and Margaret Thatcher!"
Growing up with Morrissey and hearing recent songs like "That's How People Grow Up", "At Last I Am Born" and "In The Future When All's Well" continues to give me that much needed boost during down days...the sad songs are still there, but life is sad sometimes- it's just great that someone understands this and is still there for people like me. I lost a good friend last year who took his own life- he was life and soul of the party, always 'happy' and smiling, always present- listened to the most upbeat, positive music...he committed suicide as he was secretly unhappy- he did it because he didn't want to BE anymore, he wanted release from himself, he didn't want to burden anyone with how he was feeling- now his life was set up to be the most positive and he inspired everyone to live life when in actual fact he was so unhappy and no one knew- no signs in his tastes in music, the films he watched, the places he'd been to, the massive circle of friends he had...sometimes just nothing helps. I'm glad I had something/someone that knew how I was feeling. If I did do anything stupid then it would be because of my brain, American Idol, endless wars, drugs or the lack of someone saying, "I feel your pain". So for me: There is a light that never goes out.
[Edited 11/3/08 2:24am]

mynameisnotsusan said:

Me also. I'm not in that headspace anymore and I feel like I ate too many potato chips and can never go back. Too much indulgence!