List of songs recorded by the Smiths

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The Smiths members post-break-up
The members of the Smiths in the 2000s. Clockwise from left: Morrissey, Johnny Marr, Mike Joyce, and Andy Rourke.

The English rock band the Smiths recorded 74 songs during their five-year career, which included 70 originals and 4 covers. The band was formed in Manchester in 1982 and signed a one-off recording contract with independent record label Rough Trade Records, releasing their debut single, "Hand in Glove" in May 1983.[1] The single found success in the UK, earning the group a full contract.[2] Their follow-up singles, "This Charming Man" and "What Difference Does It Make?" fared better on the UK charts and helped increase the band's popularity.[2] The next year saw the release of their self-titled debut album, several non-album singles, and Hatful of Hollow, a collection of B-sides, live recordings, and numerous non-album singles.[2][3][4] The band's popularity increased with Meat Is Murder (1985), their only UK number one studio album, and The Queen Is Dead (1986), which reached number two on the UK charts and peaked in the US Top 100.[2] Several non-album singles after Hatful of Hollow saw release on the compilations The World Won't Listen and Louder Than Bombs in early 1987.[2][5][6] Despite their chart success, tensions began growing in the band, mainly between Marr and Morrissey and the band's label; the band announced their break-up shortly before the release of their final album, Strangeways, Here We Come.[2][7] The live album Rank followed in 1988.[8]

The majority of the Smiths' songs were written by the songwriting partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr.[1] Throughout their career, their songs differed from the predominant synth-pop British sound of the early 1980s,[2] instead fusing together 1960s rock and post-punk.[9] In their early years, the band purposely rejected synthesisers and dance music,[10] until Meat Is Murder, which contained keyboards as well as rockabilly and funk influences.[11] The Queen Is Dead was notable for featuring harder-rocking songs with witty, satirical lyrics of British social mores, intellectualism and class.[12] Throughout their career, Morrissey drew attention during interviews and live performances for his provocative statements, such as criticising the Thatcher administration and being pro-vegetarian, as shown in the title track of Meat Is Murder.[13] The Smiths often addressed controversial topics in their lyrics, including homosexuality ("Hand in Glove"),[2] the Moors murders ("Suffer Little Children"),[2] as well as burning "the disco" and hanging "the DJ" ("Panic").[14] Since their breakup, the Smiths have been considered one of the most influential bands of the 1980s,[2] with Ian Youngs of BBC News describing them as "the band that inspired deeper devotion than any British group since the Beatles."[15]

Songs[edit]

Contents
A · B · C · D · F · G · H · I · J · L · M · N · O · P · Q · R · S · T · U · V · W · Y
Key
‡ Song released as a single
† Song not written by Johnny Marr and Morrissey
# Song originally released as a B-side
Twinkle in a trade ad in 1964
The Smiths covered Twinkle's song "Golden Lights" in 1986.
Don Black in 2010
Cilla Black in 1970
The Smiths covered Guy Woolfenden (not pictured) and Don Black's (top) song "Work Is a Four Letter Word" - originally recorded by Cilla Black (bottom) - in 1987.
Name of song, writer(s), original release, and year of release
Song Writer(s) Original release Year Ref(s)
"Accept Yourself" # Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		Hatful of Hollow
(B-side to "This Charming Man") 		1984 [16]
"Ask" ‡ Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		The World Won't Listen
(Non-album single) 		1986 [17][18]
"Asleep" # Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		The World Won't Listen
(B-side to "The Boy with the Thorn in His Side") 		1985 [19][17]
"Back to the Old House" # Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		Hatful of Hollow
(B-side to "What Difference Does It Make?") 		1984 [16][20]
"Barbarism Begins at Home" ‡ Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		Meat Is Murder 1985 [21]
"Bigmouth Strikes Again" ‡ Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		The Queen Is Dead 1986 [22]
"The Boy with the Thorn in His Side" ‡ Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		The Queen Is Dead 1986 [22]
"Cemetry Gates" Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		The Queen Is Dead 1986 [22]
"Death at One's Elbow" Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		Strangeways, Here We Come 1987 [23]
"Death of a Disco Dancer" Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		Strangeways, Here We Come 1987 [23]
"The Draize Train" # Johnny Marr Non-album single
(B-side to "Panic" and "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others") 		1986 [24]
"Frankly, Mr. Shankly" Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		The Queen Is Dead 1986 [22]
"Girl Afraid" # Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		Hatful of Hollow
(B-side to "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now") 		1984 [16][25]
"Girlfriend in a Coma" ‡ Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		Strangeways, Here We Come 1987 [23]
"Golden Lights" # Twinkle † Louder Than Bombs
(B-side to "Ask") 		1987 [26][27]
"Half a Person" # Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		The World Won't Listen
(B-side to "Shoplifters of the World Unite") 		1987 [28][17]
"Hand in Glove" ‡ Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		The Smiths 1984 [29]
"The Hand That Rocks the Cradle" Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		The Smiths 1984 [29]
"Handsome Devil" # Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		Hatful of Hollow
(B-side to "Hand in Glove") 		1984 [16]
"The Headmaster Ritual" Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		Meat Is Murder 1985 [21]
"Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" ‡ Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		Hatful of Hollow
(Non-album single) 		1984 [16][30]
"His Latest Flame"[a] (live) Doc Pomus
Mort Shuman † 		Rank 1988 [31]
"How Soon Is Now?" # Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		Hatful of Hollow
(B-side to "William, It Was Really Nothing") 		1984 [16][32]
"I Don't Owe You Anything" Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		The Smiths 1984 [29]
"I Keep Mine Hidden" # Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		Non-album single
(B-side to "Girlfriend in a Coma") 		1987 [33]
"I Know It's Over" Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		The Queen Is Dead 1986 [22]
"I Started Something I Couldn't Finish" ‡ Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		Strangeways, Here We Come 1987 [23]
"I Want the One I Can't Have" Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		Meat Is Murder 1985 [21]
"I Won't Share You" Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		Strangeways, Here We Come 1987 [23]
"Is It Really So Strange?" # Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		Louder Than Bombs
(B-side to "Sheila Take a Bow") 		1987 [26][34]
"Jeane" # Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		Non-album single
(B-side to "This Charming Man") 		1983 [35]
"Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me" ‡ Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		Strangeways, Here We Come 1987 [23]
"London" # Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		The World Won't Listen
(B-side to "Shoplifters of the World Unite") 		1987 [28][17]
"Meat Is Murder" Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		Meat Is Murder 1985 [21]
"Miserable Lie" Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		The Smiths 1984 [29]
"Money Changes Everything" # Johnny Marr The World Won't Listen
(B-side to "Bigmouth Strikes Again") 		1986 [17][36]
"Never Had No One Ever" Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		The Queen Is Dead 1986 [22]
"Nowhere Fast" Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		Meat Is Murder 1985 [21]
"Oscillate Wildly" # Johnny Marr The World Won't Listen
(B-side to "How Soon Is Now?") 		1985 [17][37]
"Paint a Vulgar Picture" Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		Strangeways, Here We Come 1987 [23]
"Panic" ‡ Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		The World Won't Listen
(Non-album single) 		1986 [38][17]
"Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want" # Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		Hatful of Hollow
(B-side to "William, It Was Really Nothing") 		1984 [16][32]
"Pretty Girls Make Graves" Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		The Smiths 1984 [29]
"The Queen Is Dead" ‡ Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		The Queen Is Dead 1986 [22]
"Reel Around the Fountain" Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		The Smiths 1984 [29]
"Rubber Ring" # Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		The World Won't Listen
(B-side to "The Boy with the Thorn in His Side") 		1985 [17][19]
"A Rush and a Push and the Land Is Ours" Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		Strangeways, Here We Come 1987 [23]
"Rusholme Ruffians" Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		Meat Is Murder 1985 [21]
"Shakespeare's Sister" ‡ Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		The World Won't Listen
(Non-album single) 		1985 [17][39]
"Sheila Take a Bow" ‡ Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		Louder Than Bombs
(Non-album single) 		1987 [26][40]
"Shoplifters of the World Unite" ‡ Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		The World Won't Listen
(Non-album single) 		1986 [17][41]
"Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others" ‡ Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		The Queen Is Dead 1986 [22]
"Still Ill" Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		The Smiths 1984 [29]
"Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before" ‡ Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		Strangeways, Here We Come 1987 [23]
"Stretch Out and Wait" # Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		The World Won't Listen
(B-side to "Shakespeare's Sister") 		1985 [17][42]
"Suffer Little Children" Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		The Smiths 1984 [29]
"Sweet and Tender Hooligan" # Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		Louder Than Bombs
(B-side to "Sheila Take a Bow") 		1987 [26][34]
"That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" ‡ Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		Meat Is Murder 1985 [21]
"There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" ‡ Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		The Queen Is Dead 1986 [22]
"These Things Take Time" # Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		Hatful of Hollow
(B-side to "What Difference Does It Make?") 		1984 [16][20]
"This Charming Man" ‡ Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		Hatful of Hollow
(Non-album single) 		1983 [16][43]
"This Night Has Opened My Eyes" Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		Hatful of Hollow 1984 [16]
"Unhappy Birthday" Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		Strangeways, Here We Come 1987 [23]
"Unloveable" # Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		The World Won't Listen
(B-side to "Bigmouth Strikes Again") 		1987 [17][36]
"Vicar in a Tutu" Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		The Queen Is Dead 1986 [22]
"Well I Wonder" Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		Meat Is Murder 1985 [21]
"What Difference Does It Make?" ‡ Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		The Smiths 1984 [29]
"What She Said" Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		Meat Is Murder 1985 [21]
"What's the World" (live) # James † Non-album single
(B-side to "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish") 		1987 [44]
"William, It Was Really Nothing" ‡ Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		Hatful of Hollow
(Non-album single) 		1984 [16][45]
"Wonderful Woman" # Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		Non-album single
(B-side to "This Charming Man") 		1983 [46]
"Work is a Four Letter Word" # Guy Woolfenden
Don Black † 		Non-album single
(B-side to "Girlfriend in a Coma") 		1987 [33]
"You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby" Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		The World Won't Listen 1987 [17]
"You've Got Everything Now" Johnny Marr
Morrissey 		The Smiths 1984 [29]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Performed live as a medley with "Rusholme Ruffians"[31]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Goddard, Simon (2006). The Smiths: Songs That Saved Your Life. Reynolds and Hearn. p. 38. ISBN 978-1-905287-14-7.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Smiths – Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  3. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Smiths – The Smiths". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  4. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Hatful of Hollow – The Smiths". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 12 February 2019. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  5. ^ DiGravina, Tim. "The World Won't Listen – The Smiths". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 12 February 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  6. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Louder Than Bombs – The Smiths". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 12 February 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  7. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Strangeways, Here We Come – The Smiths". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 30 October 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  8. ^ DiGravina, Tim. "Rank – The Smiths". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 7 June 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  9. ^ Reynolds, Simon C. W. "The Smiths – Members, Songs, & Facts". Britannica Online. Archived from the original on 30 January 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  10. ^ Rogan, Johnny (1992). Morrissey and Marr: The Severed Alliance. London: Omnibus. pp. 281–282. ISBN 978-0-7119-3000-1.
  11. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Meat Is Murder – The Smiths". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 24 January 2019. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  12. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Queen Is Dead – The Smiths". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  13. ^ Adams, Erik (28 February 2015). "The Smiths' "Meat Is Murder" is nauseating to vegetarians and carnivores alike". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on 10 February 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  14. ^ "What is the Meaning of "Panic" By The Smiths?". Radio X. 13 October 2018. Archived from the original on 10 February 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  15. ^ Youngs, Ian (17 February 2013). "Johnny Marr on The Smiths and going solo". BBC News. Archived from the original on 19 April 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Hatful of Hollow (LP liner notes). The Smiths. UK: Rough Trade Records. 1984.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m The World Won't Listen (liner notes). The Smiths. UK: Rough Trade. 1987.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. ^ "Ask" (liner notes). The Smiths. UK: Rough Trade Records. 1986. RTT 194.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. ^ a b "Rubber Ring"/"Asleep" (liner notes). The Smiths. UK: Rough Trade Records. 1985. RTT 191.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. ^ a b "Back to the Old House"/"These Things Take Time" (liner notes). The Smiths. UK: Rough Trade Records. 1984. RTT 146.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h i Meat Is Murder (LP liner notes). The Smiths. UK: Rough Trade Records. 1985.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h i j The Queen Is Dead (LP liner notes). The Smiths. UK: Rough Trade Records. 1986.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  23. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Strangeways, Here We Come (LP liner notes). The Smiths. UK: Rough Trade Records. 1987.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  24. ^ "Frankly Mr. Shankly"/"The Draize Train" (liner notes). The Smiths. Germany: Zensor. 1986. 6.20628 AE.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  25. ^ "Girl Afraid" (liner notes). The Smiths. UK: Rough Trade Records. 1986. RTT 156.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  26. ^ a b c d Louder Than Bombs (LP liner notes). The Smiths. UK: Rough Trade Records. 1987.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  27. ^ "Golden Lights" (liner notes). The Smiths. UK: Rough Trade Records. 1986. RTT 194.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  28. ^ a b "London"/"Half a Person" (liner notes). The Smiths. UK: Rough Trade Records. 1986. RTT 195.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  29. ^ a b c d e f g h i j The Smiths (LP liner notes). The Smiths. UK: Rough Trade Records. 1984.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  30. ^ "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" (liner notes). The Smiths. UK: Rough Trade Records. 1986. RTT 156.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  31. ^ a b Rank (LP liner notes). The Smiths. UK: Rough Trade Records. 1988.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  32. ^ a b "How Soon Is Now" (liner notes). The Smiths. UK: Rough Trade Records. 1984. RTT 166.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  33. ^ a b "Work is a Four-Letter Word"/"I Keep Mine Hidden (liner notes). The Smiths. UK: Rough Trade Records. 1987. RTT 197.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  34. ^ a b "Is It Really So Strange?" (liner notes). The Smiths. UK: Rough Trade Records. 1987. RTT 196.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  35. ^ "Jeane" (liner notes). The Smiths. UK: Rough Trade Records. 1983. RTT 156.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  36. ^ a b "Money Changes Everything"/"Unloveable" (liner notes). The Smiths. UK: Rough Trade Records. 1986. RTT 192.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  37. ^ "Well I Wonder"/"Oscillate Wildly" (liner notes). The Smiths. UK: Rough Trade Records. 1985. RTT 176.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  38. ^ "Panic" (liner notes). The Smiths. UK: Rough Trade Records. 1986. RTT 193.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  39. ^ "Shakespeare's Sister" (liner notes). The Smiths. UK: Rough Trade Records. 1985. RTT 181.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  40. ^ "Sheila Take a Bow" (liner notes). The Smiths. UK: Rough Trade Records. 1987. RTT 196.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  41. ^ "Shoplifters of the World Unite" (liner notes). The Smiths. UK: Rough Trade Records. 1986. RTT 195.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  42. ^ "What She Said"/"Stretch Out and Wait" (liner notes). The Smiths. UK: Rough Trade Records. 1985. RTT 181.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  43. ^ "This Charming Man" (liner notes). The Smiths. UK: Rough Trade Records. 1983. RTT 136.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  44. ^ "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish" (Cassette single label). The Smiths. UK: Rough Trade Records. 1987. RTT 198C.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  45. ^ "William, It Was Really Nothing" (liner notes). The Smiths. UK: Rough Trade Records. 1984. RTT 166.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  46. ^ "Wonderful Woman" (liner notes). The Smiths. UK: Rough Trade Records. 1983. RTT 136.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

External links[edit]

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