“The Smiths” tribute site and gig guide

Nowhere Fast
Footage and Lyrics
The Smiths perform Nowhere Fast in Madrid 1985

Nowhere Fast
I’d like to drop my trousers to the world
I am a man of means (of slender means)
each household appliance
is like a new science in my town
and if the day came when I felt a
natural emotion
I’d get such a shock I’d probably jump
in the [...]

That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore
Footage and Lyrics
Salford 1986

That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore
Park the car at the side of the road
you should know
time’s tide will smother you
and I will too
when you laugh about people who feel so
very lonely
their only desire is to die
well I’m afraid
it doesn’t make me smile
I wish I could laugh
but that joke isn’t [...]

What She Said
Footage and Lyrics
1 December 1984 - Versailles (Paris), France

What She Said
What she said:
“How come someone hasn’t noticed
that I’m dead
and decided to bury me
God knows, I’m ready”
What she said was sad
but then, all the rejection she’s had
to pretend to be happy
could only be idiocy
What she said was not for the job or
lover that [...]

Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want
Footage and Lyrics

Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want
Good times for a change
See, the luck I’ve had
would make a good man
turn bad
So please please please
let me, let me, let me
let me get what I want
this time
Haven’t had a dream in a long time
See, the [...]

I Want The One I Can’t Have
Footage and Lyrics

I Want The One I Can’t Have
On the day that your mentality
catches up with your biology
I want the one I can’t have
and it’s driving me mad
it’s written all over my face
A double-bad
and a stalwart lover, for sure
these are the riches of the poor
A tough kid [...]

Rusholme Ruffians
Footage and Lyrics
Rusholme Ruffians (Salford 86)

Rusholme Ruffians
The last night of the fair
by the big wheel generator
a boy is stabbed
and his money is grabbed
and the air hangs heavy like a dulling wine
she is Famous
she is Funny
an engagement ring
doesn’t mean a thing
to a mind consumed by brass (money)
and though I walk home alone
my faith in love [...]

The Headmaster Ritual
Footage and Lyrics
The Smiths Live in Madrid

The Headmaster Ritual
Belligerent ghouls
run Manchester schools
spineless swines
cemented minds
Sir leads the troops
jealous of youth
same old suit since 1962
he does the military two-step
down the nape of my neck
I wanna go home
I don’t want to stay
give up education
as a bad mistake
mid-week on the playing fields
Sir thwacks you on the knees
knees [...]

Back To The Old House
Footage and Lyrics

Back To The Old House
I would rather not go
back to the old house
I would rather not go
back to the old house
there’s too many
bad memories
too many memories there
When you cycled by
here began all my dreams
the saddest thing I’ve ever seen
and you never knew
how much I really liked you
because I never [...]

Girl Afraid
Footage and Lyrics
The Smiths - Girl Afraid - Rockpalast 1984

Girl Afraid
Girl afraid
where do his intentions lay?
Or does he even have any?
She says:
“He never really looks at me
I give him every opportunity
in the room downstairs
he sat and stared
in the room downstairs
he sat and stared
I’ll never make that mistake again!”
Boy afraid
prudence never pays
and [...]

Accept Yourself
Footage and Lyrics
Live at the Hacienda

Everyday you must say
oh how do I feel about my life
anything is hard to find
when you will not open your eyes
when will you accept yourself?
I am sick and I am dull
and I am plain
how dearly I’d love to get carried away
but dreams have a knack of just not coming [...]