The Smiths — How Soon Is Now
Album: Meat Is MurderAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 8820
Length: 6:38
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I am the son and the heir
Of a shyness that is criminally vulgar
I am the son and heir
Of nothing in particular
You shut your mouth
How can you say
I go about things the wrong way?
I am human and I need to be loved
Just like everybody else does
I am the son and the heir
Of a shyness that is criminally vulgar
I am the son and heir
Of nothing in particular
You shut your mouth
How can you say
I go about things the wrong way?
I am human and I need to be loved
Just like everybody else does
There's a club, if you'd like to go
You could meet somebody who really loves you
So you go, and you stand on your own
And you leave on your own
And you go home, and you cry, and you want to die
When you say it's gonna happen now
Well, when exactly do you mean?
See, I've already waited too long
And all my hope is gone
You shut your mouth
How can you say
I go about things the wrong way?
I am human and I need to be loved
Just like everybody else does
Of a shyness that is criminally vulgar
I am the son and heir
Of nothing in particular
You shut your mouth
How can you say
I go about things the wrong way?
I am human and I need to be loved
Just like everybody else does
I am the son and the heir
Of a shyness that is criminally vulgar
I am the son and heir
Of nothing in particular
You shut your mouth
How can you say
I go about things the wrong way?
I am human and I need to be loved
Just like everybody else does
There's a club, if you'd like to go
You could meet somebody who really loves you
So you go, and you stand on your own
And you leave on your own
And you go home, and you cry, and you want to die
When you say it's gonna happen now
Well, when exactly do you mean?
See, I've already waited too long
And all my hope is gone
You shut your mouth
How can you say
I go about things the wrong way?
I am human and I need to be loved
Just like everybody else does
Comments (1131)add comment
My dad died aged 41, and I find myself thinking of him more often as I approach that age (I'm closing in fast!). When I was a kid, he drove an ancient Morris Minor and almost always played The Smiths on the tape deck. I found both mortally embarrassing and frequently turned down lifts to school. If I could go back in time, I would proudly ride shotgun along those east Manchester streets. You were pretty cool, dad. It just took me a while to realise 
Love this song. Takes me straight back 40 years.
Always a fave, and STILL BLOWS MY MIND every time! Rainbow Lakes Shroom Camping Weekend, late summer of '86 or was it 7; it was me and wild Johnny L and some of his friends from the NIST labs across the street and we had THIS song playing on John's stereo it seemed like repeatedly and we were tripping pretty good and we gathered round the fire and opened up the foil-wrapped curried shark steaks that had baked in the coals and this song was playing and then we all hiked to the glacier and played in the snow and came back and this song was playing again and we talked and tripped and freaked about how EPIC it all felt...
pbouchar wrote:
20s comment. And not in a good way.
80s sound. And not in a good way.
20s comment. And not in a good way.
80s sound. And not in a good way.
Well why not? Seems only fair.
Madness1954 wrote:
YES!!
Oh, that guitar! Johnny Marr.
YES!!
Oh, that guitar! Johnny Marr.
Meat is murder.
Tasty, tasty murder.
(from a T-shirt)
Tasty, tasty murder.
(from a T-shirt)
Great lyrics, great music, great everything about this tune.
Shit hot..
Mr. Marr is a total fucking legend.
Mr. Marr is a total fucking legend.
"Of nothing in particular"
Morrissey bugs me, but the delivery of this line makes me smile.
Morrissey bugs me, but the delivery of this line makes me smile.
Andrew_C wrote:
Yeah -22
(So far, for your comment.)
BLEAGH! Make it stop, PLEASE!
Can we have a rating several below 0?
Yeah -22
(So far, for your comment.)
What a time-marker tune this shall always be! CU undergrad days, summer nights roaming The Hill, looking for the next party to crash... -- Found it! Party vibe coming from inside, this Smiths song, this album blaring from front porch speakers nestled right next to the keg set-up...and everywhere the fragrant wafts of advanced terpene aromatherapy...U2, B-52s, Talking Heads, REM, Dire Straits, The Who, Lou Reed, and David Gilmour were also played, but this was what pulled me up onto the porch and into the party that married and carried us all away till dawn... I am happily still only a few blocks down the street from so many of these precious, indelible memories -- and happily still at Standard Orbit and then some, thanks to RP!
Some of the best stuff kicked out in the 80s
Oh my! Watch the movie "The Killer" with Michael Fassbender.
Total knockout Smiths soundtrack on it.
And, I loved the movie.
This is as tight as a gnat's jockstrap and oh the memories I have of dancing to it at The Hacienda in Manch.
Total knockout Smiths soundtrack on it.
And, I loved the movie.
This is as tight as a gnat's jockstrap and oh the memories I have of dancing to it at The Hacienda in Manch.
Stone cold classic. One of the few straight 10s in my book.
Critty wrote:
Yeah, I have never been able to stand Morrissey but I still love this song.
I Agree! GREAT TUNE!! Morrissey is creepy!
Yeah, I have never been able to stand Morrissey but I still love this song.
I Agree! GREAT TUNE!! Morrissey is creepy!
Madness1954 wrote:
Yeah, I have never been able to stand Morrissey but I still love this song.
It's Johnny Marr's guitar work that really makes this so outstanding.
Yeah, I have never been able to stand Morrissey but I still love this song.
springof63 wrote:
skip!
springof63 wrote:
In the words of 10cc "How Dare You" !!
skip!
In the words of 10cc "How Dare You" !!
skip!
Morrissey is a subpar singer, and holds some pretty lousy viewpoints.
But this song still slaps, almost four decades on.
But this song still slaps, almost four decades on.
Godspeed Andy!
Madness1954 wrote:
Absolutely, Marr's creativity and studio alchemy with the guitar sounds make this song great. I personally had never heard anything like it upon first listen, and I don't think I've ever heard anything similar since.
It's Johnny Marr's guitar work that really makes this so outstanding.
Absolutely, Marr's creativity and studio alchemy with the guitar sounds make this song great. I personally had never heard anything like it upon first listen, and I don't think I've ever heard anything similar since.
sjccroquet wrote:
This song just shines in FLAC.
Yes! I Agree!
This song just shines in FLAC.
Yes! I Agree!
Madness1954 wrote:
This song just shines in FLAC.
It's Johnny Marr's guitar work that really makes this so outstanding.
This song just shines in FLAC.
The way they achieved the pulsating guitar effect was with syncing multiple guitar amps that would constanty need adjusting during the recording, it's worth a read if you have the interest.
They recall the session as being accompanied by heavy marijuana use. "We used to smoke dope from when we got out of bed to when we got back to bed",
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
They recall the session as being accompanied by heavy marijuana use. "We used to smoke dope from when we got out of bed to when we got back to bed",
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
Reverb and Plaintiveness will get me everytime...
Jakethemuss wrote:
After that the miners became so mainstream. I liked them better when they were underground.
I’ve loved this since the minor’s strike.
After that the miners became so mainstream. I liked them better when they were underground.
KJET -
1600 AM Radio
SEATTLE
1985
Long live Johnny!
wonderunit wrote:
Well that, and the innovative production.
And the whistling - so many great songs have whistling.
Well that, and the innovative production.
And the whistling - so many great songs have whistling.
KUSF 1984. Howie Klein.
The Smiths have long been one of my absolute favourite bands, despite how much less I like Morrissey with every passing year. Yeah, they were emo before emo, but despite his incredible obtuseness, there was a self-awareness about Morrissey. Always teetering on self-parody. You can almost laugh to it (indeed, the subtle humour is lost on many), but that inner 14 year old in you still really gets it on some completely serious level.
It's true that this really sounds like nothing else in their catalogue, and yet it still is quintessential Smiths. And the musicianship as always, second to none. I love this band, and I love this overplayed song.
Top shelf stuff.
It's true that this really sounds like nothing else in their catalogue, and yet it still is quintessential Smiths. And the musicianship as always, second to none. I love this band, and I love this overplayed song.
Top shelf stuff.
How soon is now - well now it's sad when you get older - your nose fattens and you start looking like your grandfather ...
nate917 wrote:
Marr is quoted on the subject in Wikipedia, from an interview:
"The vibrato sound is fucking incredible, and it took a long time. I put down the rhythm track on an Epiphone Casino through a Fender Twin Reverb without vibrato. Then we played the track back through four old Twins, one on each side. We had to keep all the amps vibrating in time to the track and each other, so we had to keep stopping and starting the track, recording it in 10-second bursts... I wish I could remember exactly how we did the slide part — not writing it down is one of the banes of my life! We did it in three passes through a harmonizer, set to some weird interval, like a sixth. There was a different harmonization for each pass. For the line in harmonics, I retuned the guitar so that I could play it all at the 12th fret with natural harmonics. It's doubled several times."
Marr is quoted on the subject in Wikipedia, from an interview:
"The vibrato sound is fucking incredible, and it took a long time. I put down the rhythm track on an Epiphone Casino through a Fender Twin Reverb without vibrato. Then we played the track back through four old Twins, one on each side. We had to keep all the amps vibrating in time to the track and each other, so we had to keep stopping and starting the track, recording it in 10-second bursts... I wish I could remember exactly how we did the slide part — not writing it down is one of the banes of my life! We did it in three passes through a harmonizer, set to some weird interval, like a sixth. There was a different harmonization for each pass. For the line in harmonics, I retuned the guitar so that I could play it all at the 12th fret with natural harmonics. It's doubled several times."
I’ve loved this since the miner’s strike.
acolt wrote:
Because then you'd get a whole bunch of people saying "HOW IS THIS SONG ONLY A 16" or some such.
LOL!! TOO FUNNY!! But, true!
Because then you'd get a whole bunch of people saying "HOW IS THIS SONG ONLY A 16" or some such.
LOL!! TOO FUNNY!! But, true!
jp33442 wrote:
Because then you'd get a whole bunch of people saying "HOW IS THIS SONG ONLY A 16" or some such.
Always wondered why the ratings don’t go to 20
Because then you'd get a whole bunch of people saying "HOW IS THIS SONG ONLY A 16" or some such.
GODLIKE!!!
the brilliancy of this song starts with its title. Can´t think of a title that made me think that much.
Excellent!!
The_Enemy wrote:
Always wondered why the ratings don’t go to 20
How come the ratings don't go to 12?
GODLIKE!!
How come the ratings don't go to 12?
Cheer up Morrissey. You'll be famous some day.
Be So much better as an instrumental... 😶
The Smiths - reinvented music at the time - they created something that nobody else could do. Unique and wonderful.
rdloewen wrote:
Your Nick Name? ...eh?
sucko-barfo
Your Nick Name? ...eh?
I'm currently reading Morrissey and Marr: The Severed Alliance and listening to every album from first to last. I'd forgotten how brilliant they were.
mortmodre wrote:
So is your mom.
This is overrated
So is your mom.
Morrissey is based
mortmodre wrote:
Almost a plain stated, three word sentence. Go against your trusty, detailed, heartfelt description and throw a reliable punctuation period in there and it'll just be a perfectly valid, worthless statement.
This is overrated
Almost a plain stated, three word sentence. Go against your trusty, detailed, heartfelt description and throw a reliable punctuation period in there and it'll just be a perfectly valid, worthless statement.
This is overrated
Madness1954 wrote:
Well that, and the innovative production.
It's Johnny Marr's guitar work that really makes this so outstanding.
Well that, and the innovative production.
It's Johnny Marr's guitar work that really makes this so outstanding.
I'm not a great Smiths fan, I can do suicidal thoughts without any help from Morrisey 
But this, I have always loved this!!!
But this, I have always loved this!!!
This SO Rocks. On all cylinders.
Critty wrote:
But for me, only this song and it is mainly because of Johnny Marr.
Yup. Totally identify. I bought a Smith's album in the 80's because I liked the cover (The Queen is Dead). Hated the music. But now... umm... kinda... like it again.
But for me, only this song and it is mainly because of Johnny Marr.
Yup. Totally identify. I bought a Smith's album in the 80's because I liked the cover (The Queen is Dead). Hated the music. But now... umm... kinda... like it again.
xkolibuul wrote:
But for me, only this song and it is mainly because of Johnny Marr.
Couldn't stand The Smiths in the 80s. But I have to admit now, three decades later, this is kinda growing on me.
But for me, only this song and it is mainly because of Johnny Marr.
...... "
There's a club if you'd like to go
You could meet somebody who really loves you
So you go and you stand on your own
And you leave on your own
And you go home and you cry
And you want to die "..... wow
There's a club if you'd like to go
You could meet somebody who really loves you
So you go and you stand on your own
And you leave on your own
And you go home and you cry
And you want to die "..... wow
The repeating guitar wail in the background envisions a distant and fading train whistle, which, after reading the lyrics, makes sense.
The perfect match of music with his voice. No matter what you think of Morrissey, this track worked.
bloody hell, I had to check that I wasn't playing my favourites channel! all 10 ratings for the last few songs
Andrew_C wrote:
I would just respectfully request that you listen to the guitar & base work on this song. Pretty incredible - just sayin'
BLEAGH! Make it stop, PLEASE!
Can we have a rating several below 0?
Can we have a rating several below 0?
I would just respectfully request that you listen to the guitar & base work on this song. Pretty incredible - just sayin'
Fucking Johnny Marr!
I don't know why some people think they have to defend themselves for eating meat. Every violence starts in the mind and should be stopped right there.
KJET - Seattle - 1984
On_The_Beach wrote:
Premo!
'Nition!
Premo!
'Nition!
Such a brilliant, atmospheric song. Perfect for these difficult times, and strangely uplifting.
I just love the gridding guitar in the back. Such a powerful moving sound. Gets you inside. You just feel tough!
Henkjan wrote:
are you ignoring the lyrics?
one of the greatest songs ever.
are you ignoring the lyrics?
Oxen1morale wrote:
Oh sorry, I totally missed it. The song was used in the "charmed" Intro. A 90th series. The same generation as Buffy the vampire slayer. That's why I misstook it. Shame on me. I didn't know it is a Smiths song.
?? I guess i'm missing something as well. What do you mean?
sunnyS wrote:
sunnyS wrote:
Is there anybody out there?
Buffy?!?
I think I am the wrong generation;)
Buffy?!?
I think I am the wrong generation;)
Oh sorry, I totally missed it. The song was used in the "charmed" Intro. A 90th series. The same generation as Buffy the vampire slayer. That's why I misstook it. Shame on me. I didn't know it is a Smiths song.
kcar wrote:
Phew! Good call, man, good call.
ableape wrote:
I used to think he was singing, "I am the sun and the air" until I realized it made more sense that he's "the son and the heir". Brilliant.
ShamanManu wrote:
me too!
Wikipedia sez... the lines
I am the son, and the heir, of a shyness that is criminally vulgar
I am the son and heir, of nothing in particular
were adapted from a passage in George Eliot's novel "Middlemarch" :
"To be born the son of a Middlemarch manufacturer, and inevitable heir to nothing in particular"
I used to think he was singing, "I am the sun and the air" until I realized it made more sense that he's "the son and the heir". Brilliant.
ShamanManu wrote:
me too!
Wikipedia sez... the lines
I am the son, and the heir, of a shyness that is criminally vulgar
I am the son and heir, of nothing in particular
were adapted from a passage in George Eliot's novel "Middlemarch" :
"To be born the son of a Middlemarch manufacturer, and inevitable heir to nothing in particular"
Phew! Good call, man, good call.
?? I guess i'm missing something as well. What do you mean?
sunnyS wrote:
sunnyS wrote:
Is there anybody out there?
Buffy?!?
I think I am the wrong generation;)
Buffy?!?
I think I am the wrong generation;)
Is there anybody out there?
Buffy?!?
I think I am the wrong generation;)
Buffy?!?
I think I am the wrong generation;)
The voice of an entire Emo generation that came into being about 20 years after its release.
Proclivities wrote:
SquiddlyDiddly wrote:
I assume you mean "fanatical" aliens, and not aliens who have rabies. Either way, it's difficult to know for sure until they show up. Do you really think rabid, carnivorous aliens would spare vegetarians and vegans? It doesn't seem likely. It could make for a fun sci-fi story.
Already been done...See the old TwilightZone episode "To Serve Man"...
"It's a cookbook!"
Tony in NJ
W.A.S.T.E.
. . . if we have a race of rabid aliens descend on planet earth and start farming us. . . then I'd suggest anyone who is still comfortable eating other sentient animals should not have any argument with that.
Just saying.
Just saying.
I assume you mean "fanatical" aliens, and not aliens who have rabies. Either way, it's difficult to know for sure until they show up. Do you really think rabid, carnivorous aliens would spare vegetarians and vegans? It doesn't seem likely. It could make for a fun sci-fi story.
Already been done...See the old TwilightZone episode "To Serve Man"...
"It's a cookbook!"
Tony in NJ
W.A.S.T.E.
Excelente!
Genius!
ableape wrote:
I used to think he was singing, "I am the sun and the air" until I realized it made more sense that he's "the son and the heir". Brilliant.
ShamanManu wrote:
me too!
Wikipedia sez... the lines
were adapted from a passage in George Eliot's novel "Middlemarch" :
"To be born the son of a Middlemarch manufacturer, and inevitable heir to nothing in particular"
I used to think he was singing, "I am the sun and the air" until I realized it made more sense that he's "the son and the heir". Brilliant.
ShamanManu wrote:
me too!
Wikipedia sez... the lines
I am the son, and the heir, of a shyness that is criminally vulgar
I am the son and heir, of nothing in particular
were adapted from a passage in George Eliot's novel "Middlemarch" :
"To be born the son of a Middlemarch manufacturer, and inevitable heir to nothing in particular"
I have memories of throwing myself around the dancefloor to this back in the early 90's.
ableape wrote:
me too!
I used to think he was singing, "I am the sun and the air" until I realized it made more sense that he's "the son and the heir". Brilliant.
me too!
cavemanleong wrote:
Better don’t ;)
Channeling my inner Morrisey
Better don’t ;)
Best Smiths Tune Ever!!! I was just thinking, "I havent heard the Smiths lately"...and you played them. Wow. Thanks. Alot!
sucko-barfo
Andrew_C wrote:
Yep, so far your rating is -3
BLEAGH! Make it stop, PLEASE!
Can we have a rating several below 0?
Can we have a rating several below 0?
Yep, so far your rating is -3
nate917 wrote:
Marr is quoted on the subject in Wikipedia, from an interview:
"The vibrato sound is fucking incredible, and it took a long time. ... "
The flange on the bass is also gorgeous.
Marr is quoted on the subject in Wikipedia, from an interview:
"The vibrato sound is fucking incredible, and it took a long time. ... "
The flange on the bass is also gorgeous.
Wow, this reminds me of when I first went into the Army. Great memories and I've always liked this song. Thanks RP.
BLEAGH! Make it stop, PLEASE!
Can we have a rating several below 0?
Can we have a rating several below 0?
spidergraham wrote:
Superb guitar sound!
One of the finest songs ever created. Johnny Marr on Guitar doesn't hurt either!
Superb guitar sound!
The Smiths are hit or miss for me. This song is one of their hits for me! ...GREAT song!
Thanks Bill ... this one of those songs that pull you in.
Ihatethissong wrote:
Premo!
emo before emo was emo
Premo!
First time I heard The Headmaster Ritual was on RP. would love to hear it soon again
One of the finest songs ever created. Johnny Marr on Guitar doesn't hurt either!
nate917 wrote:
Marr is quoted on the subject in Wikipedia, from an interview:
"The vibrato sound is fucking incredible, and it took a long time. I put down the rhythm track on an Epiphone Casino through a Fender Twin Reverb without vibrato. Then we played the track back through four old Twins, one on each side. We had to keep all the amps vibrating in time to the track and each other, so we had to keep stopping and starting the track, recording it in 10-second bursts... I wish I could remember exactly how we did the slide part — not writing it down is one of the banes of my life! We did it in three passes through a harmonizer, set to some weird interval, like a sixth. There was a different harmonization for each pass. For the line in harmonics, I retuned the guitar so that I could play it all at the 12th fret with natural harmonics. It's doubled several times."
I like how Marr is the guy lurking behind Morrissey in the Wikipedia band photo.
Marr is quoted on the subject in Wikipedia, from an interview:
"The vibrato sound is fucking incredible, and it took a long time. I put down the rhythm track on an Epiphone Casino through a Fender Twin Reverb without vibrato. Then we played the track back through four old Twins, one on each side. We had to keep all the amps vibrating in time to the track and each other, so we had to keep stopping and starting the track, recording it in 10-second bursts... I wish I could remember exactly how we did the slide part — not writing it down is one of the banes of my life! We did it in three passes through a harmonizer, set to some weird interval, like a sixth. There was a different harmonization for each pass. For the line in harmonics, I retuned the guitar so that I could play it all at the 12th fret with natural harmonics. It's doubled several times."
I like how Marr is the guy lurking behind Morrissey in the Wikipedia band photo.
Thanks RP.
I'm a musician and guitar player, and I've read this part over and over and I STILL don't get how it was done. I need like an animation or something that shows how it was built up from organic instrumentation.
nate917 wrote:
Marr is quoted on the subject in Wikipedia, from an interview:
"The vibrato sound is fucking incredible, and it took a long time. I put down the rhythm track on an Epiphone Casino through a Fender Twin Reverb without vibrato. Then we played the track back through four old Twins, one on each side. We had to keep all the amps vibrating in time to the track and each other, so we had to keep stopping and starting the track, recording it in 10-second bursts... I wish I could remember exactly how we did the slide part — not writing it down is one of the banes of my life! We did it in three passes through a harmonizer, set to some weird interval, like a sixth. There was a different harmonization for each pass. For the line in harmonics, I retuned the guitar so that I could play it all at the 12th fret with natural harmonics. It's doubled several times."
nate917 wrote:
Marr is quoted on the subject in Wikipedia, from an interview:
"The vibrato sound is fucking incredible, and it took a long time. I put down the rhythm track on an Epiphone Casino through a Fender Twin Reverb without vibrato. Then we played the track back through four old Twins, one on each side. We had to keep all the amps vibrating in time to the track and each other, so we had to keep stopping and starting the track, recording it in 10-second bursts... I wish I could remember exactly how we did the slide part — not writing it down is one of the banes of my life! We did it in three passes through a harmonizer, set to some weird interval, like a sixth. There was a different harmonization for each pass. For the line in harmonics, I retuned the guitar so that I could play it all at the 12th fret with natural harmonics. It's doubled several times."
I cannot stand this band, especially the twat at the front. The only decent song they've ever done IMHO. 8.
Not a particular fan of the Smiths but this tune is awesome!
Not a fan of Morrisey, but I really liked The Smiths. Johnny Marr does some brilliant things with his guitar.
thewiseking wrote:
A Masterpiece. Of course it is a simple riff on Disney's Whistle While You Work.
LOL!Sadness, hopelessness and despair has never sounded more beautiful than in this song! Raising from 8 to 9!
One of the best songs to come out of the 80s. I am transported every time I hear it.
27 years as a veggie, I did my time. Now I eat my steaks blue.
This tune and everything they did is genius. No-one but you gives a monkey's about your diet though; take it off RP. Let's discuss the majesty of the music instead.
This tune and everything they did is genius. No-one but you gives a monkey's about your diet though; take it off RP. Let's discuss the majesty of the music instead.
How can anyone say there wasn’t great music in the 80’s!?!?
When this came out I was 6 months sober. Blew me away!!!
A Masterpiece. Of course it is a simple riff on Disney's Whistle While You Work.
Lyndont wrote:
What is with this tune - I always cringe when I hear the 1st few notes.
horrible!!
What is with this tune - I always cringe when I hear the 1st few notes.
horrible!!
Best Smiths song, Johnny Marr killin' it!
first heard this on Miami Vice. It still holds up well. Did anyone ever see the Smiths perform this one live? Wondering how they handled the vibrato thing that according to Marr took all sorts of audio gymnastics.
Also wondering why it took someone so long to sample that (1 hit wonders Soho, Hippychick, 1990) amazing riff.
Also wondering why it took someone so long to sample that (1 hit wonders Soho, Hippychick, 1990) amazing riff.
Marr and Mozza. Sound and Lyrics. Never to be repeated.
That was groovin' I might just get this house cleaned
Liked this when it came out. Heard it on the radio a fair amount of time here in Seattle. KJET - 1600 - End of the am dial !
(The truck I drove had an am radio only.)
It was cool though - Lot of good new wave/alt stuff out in 1984.
(The truck I drove had an am radio only.)
It was cool though - Lot of good new wave/alt stuff out in 1984.