The band’s second studio album, 1985’s Meat is Murder, was their most commercially successful and received widespread critical acclaim. It’s also my least favorite of their albums.
That’s not to say it isn’t a strong collection — it is — but it’s one for which you have to be in the mood. Marr really went to town on this album, stylistically jumping all over the map. The Elvis Presley rockabilly of ‘Rusholme Ruffians’ runs into the jangly alternative sound of ‘I Want the One I Can’t Have’ then crashes headlong into the rock shredding of ‘What She Said.’ The album’s title (and weakest) track is a dissonant, sound effect-fueled screed about vegetarianism.
But the album’s best-known, and best, song is the dance floor epic ‘How Soon is Now.’ This is the song that people who don’t know or care for The Smiths tend to like anyway. And that’s mostly due to the music, the reverb-soaked overlapping guitars and hypnotic drum line. It’s music you sway to trance-like in the corner of a club, music you truly get lost in.
Lyrically, this is Morrissey at his mopey best. How many high school losers identified with lines like this one?
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
Or the hopeless impatience of this one? “When you say it’s gonna happen now, well, when exactly do you mean?”
And finally, this sad plea: “I am Human and I need to be loved, just like everybody else does.”
Isn’t it great to have survived adolescence?
I, however, have a very positive association with this song because it played at a nightclub during one of the first nights out I spent with my future wife. She and a couple of her friends asked me to accompany them to a club, something I normally would not have done, especially with relative strangers. But I did for some reason (well, mostly because of her).
Alex tells me she was shocked that, after years of going out with her friends and having guys flock to them and not her, this guy wanted to spend the whole night by her side. (This is starting to sound like a When Harry Met Sally… interlude). But I just felt comfortable there, as I have ever since.
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 the 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
I am Human And I need to be loved
Just like everybody else does
Meet Me In Montauk 
I love this time difference! Let’s me get the first word in!:)
Anyway, this song sounds vaguely familiar, so I suppose it must have been playing somewhere at some point within my earshot. But, honestly, the song does nothing for me (surprise, surprise), and if it is what you consider the best on the album, well…enough said.
By the way, wasn’t “screed” already put on the pretentious word watch list? Don’t think I can’t call the pretentiousness authorities from Hawai’i!
Very sweet story about you and Alex, however. That might get you some leniency with the authorities.:)
I think your authentic spelling of Hawaii is also on the pretentious word watch list, buddy! 🙂
Okay, I just literally started tearing up here. Wow. Very sweet.
As for the music, I can’t stand it 🙂 Before I read your commentary, I was thinking that this music was like that awful trans they play in some trendy restaurants (as I haven’t set foot in a club in well over two decades). I always hate it whenever I hear it and am grateful that I am not forced to bear it in such clubbing situations. So… this non-Smiths fan will pass on this particular song, thank you.
But again… wow, what a story. So glad that those two crazy kids found each other 😉
and how is it I’ve never heard that story before, btw?
I was saving it for the blog. 🙂
I, too, love this story Clay.
(and I, too, hate this song) she implies by her absence of specific comment otherwise 😉
Oh, come on… you know Mom is big on the club scene!
Of course I love this song because of it’s association with Clay. But listening to it again, I still love it.
Actually I didn’t listen to the song for fear it would ruin the story, but I’m listening to it now and I’m liking it 🙂
Not sure what one would hate about this song. I can’t say I know it very well, but I do like it. 🙂
Hate is a strong word 🙂 I’m just not a big fan of that whole trans sound.