Morrissey and the men from Manchester
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we'll
be counting down our picks for the top
ten songs by the Smiths
for this list we've chosen our entries
based on a combination of the artists
fan favorites and their most
commercially successful songs
number ten the headmaster ritual
for the Smith's second studio album lead
singer Morrissey took a more aggressive
approach by lyrically slaying the abuse
of Headmaster's of his Manchester youth
the imagery of the Headmaster's ritual
effectively places the listeners in
Morrissey shoes as he details the life
of a young outsider forced to make up
excuses simply to minimize the pain
I've got this terrible moment as a lead
track off Meat Is Murder
this song raised a few eyebrows thanks
to its killer riff and eye-opening
lyrics
sweet
number nine panic
okay don't let the steady musical groove
and more C's 80s dancing throw you off
given that this rebellious track was the
cause of a political and racial
firestorm
yeah
while conspiracy theories have long
revolved around the true nature of panic
it's essentially a personal manifesto of
morsi's frustration with popular music
his beef is undoubtedly with disco and
the song's final lyrics offer a
repetitive phrase to reinforce his
stance all in all panic marked the
continuing evolution of a band that had
something real to say
number eight asleep
life can be extremely difficult and
unfortunately desperation often takes a
grip on individuals struggling to cope
with emotional pain
glad to go on this heartbreaking ballad
the lyrics convey someone contemplating
death and the afterlife before they
ultimately offer a final goodbye
want to go if a sleep doesn't grab your
attention well hopefully someone
conveying the same kind of message will
before it's too late
on an album entitled the world won't
listen this song hit home for a world of
fans I can feel the soul
number seven I know it's over under
Climate unum tuba the music industry has
seen plenty of crooners over the decades
but nobody has ever quite performed a
sad song quite like this melancholic and
mystical I know it's over represents the
feeling of being unlucky in love and how
a constant state of loneliness can
seemingly crush your dreams cuz tonight
is just like
we've all heard the phrase well how come
you're single as Morrissey shines a
light on the negative sides of being in
love
number six please please please let me
get what I want good times for a change
see the luck I've had with a title like
please please please let me get what I
want
this song conveys a universal message of
positivity
however Morrissey also expresses the
idea that he knows good fortune may not
necessarily make life better but see the
life I've had
he simply wants to get what he wants
even if it's not what he needs
lyrically sparse this classic single
from the Smiths is short and sweet
clocking in at just under two minutes
with a beautiful mandolin section
towards the latter half of the track and
some melodic acoustic guitar this is a
classic in the Smiths legendary
discography
number five bigmouth strikes again
whoa whoa I was only yanking your chain
that's the message of this wiseass track
as the Smiths paint a portrait of
someone dealing with their words being
taken out of context
horsie compares himself to Joan of Arc
but in his case Morrissey's big mouth
gets him in trouble with critics
described by guitarist Johnny Marr as
the Smith's answer to jumpin Jack flash
bigmouth strikes again contains some of
the Bands best writing as well as one of
its best books
number four heaven knows a miserable nap
that happen
money and fame doesn't always equal
happiness and for the cover of their
1984 existential single the Smiths
featured viv Nicholson a Yorkshireman
who won the lottery but still managed to
spend herself silly
the lyrics referenced someone achieving
small goals only to find out they're
surrounded by haters who can care less
about such things like personal
happiness
they are
you know who they are drinking buddies
groupies or anyone more interested in
the idea of fame and fortune rather than
friendship itself
- babe
number three this charming man here's a
short story about being down on your
luck oh and it's also morsi's coded
rebellion against particular English
social norms of the early 80s musically
this charming man has a dance Vil beat
and lyrically it's an adept look at a
poor boy coming in contact with the
upper class but feeling unwelcome due to
his lack of material things
as only the second single released by
the Smiths this charming man highlighted
morsi's profound yet cynical lyrics I
would help earn the band a cult
following a country boy
is
number two there is a light that never
goes out
written by Johnny more and more see
here's a song about that special moment
when you believe that life can't get any
better or when you're perhaps a bit
afraid to imagine a perpetually happy
future
while some early lyrics centered on
nightlife and good times the mood
becomes a little more existential as
Morrissey sings about getting drilled by
a double-decker bus and a 10-ton semi
all in the name of love
here's the
perhaps that's not the ideal scenario
for most young lovers but with lyrical
themes closely associated with the film
rebel without a cause of which Morrissey
was a fan the Smiths were bailed in
their own way against adulthood
along
before we unveil our topic here are a
few honorable mentions
only God
number one how soon is now
for this mid-80s psychedelic single
which believe it or not came about from
a tiny bits of mary-jane
The Smiths constructed a classic that
any man or woman could relate to
with a reference to the English novel
Middlemarch how soon is now showcases
each band member at their best from
Johnny Mars iconic guitar tone - Andy
works impressive bass playing
as soon as now offered a new wave trip
for social outcasts and remains one of
the most beloved tracks released by the
Smiths during their brief tenure
together
so do you agree with our selections what
is your favorite song by the Smiths
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