Continuing a countdown of my favorite albums of 1985…
#5 – Meat is Murder – The Smiths
The Smiths released just four studio albums in their five-year existence, a remarkably small footprint for a band with such a huge and passionate fan base.
Meat is Murder was the band’s sophomore release and the one I rank lowest of the four. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t great enough to be #5 on my list of 1985 albums.
This album jumps around between styles, from the rockabilly charm of ‘Rusholme Ruffians’ to the funk punk of ‘Barbarism Begins at Home,’ with detours for the acoustic balladry of ‘Well I Wonder’ and the jaunty pop of ‘Nowhere Fast.’ It all offers up the brilliant alchemy of Johnny Marr’s creative music and Morrissey’s witty but world-weary lyrics and vocals.
Some releases of Meat is Murder (including the one I listened to in my college years) include the club classic ‘How Soon is Now?,’ probably The Smiths’ best-known song.
But the album’s most beloved track has to be ‘That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore,’ an impassioned ode to the depressed and downtrodden that closes with a soaring outro featuring one of Morrissey’s finest vocal performances.
[Note: Happy Birthday to commenter, contributor, and featured artist Daniel!]
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
[Chorus]
But that joke isn’t funny anymore
It’s too close to home
And it’s too near the bone
It’s too close to home
And it’s too near the bone
More than you’ll ever know
[Bridge]
Kick them when they fall down
Kick them when they fall down, you
Kick them when they fall down
Kick them when they fall down, you
Kick them when they fall down
Kick them when they fall down, you
Kick them when they fall down
Kick them when they fall down
[Verse 2]
It was dark as I drove the point home
And on cold leather seats
Well, it suddenly struck me
I just might die with a smile on my face after all
[Outro]
I’ve seen this happen in other people’s lives
And now it’s happening in mine
I’ve seen this happen in other people’s lives
And now it’s happening in mine
I’ve seen this happen in other people’s lives
And now it’s happening in mine
I’ve seen this happen in other people’s lives
And now it’s happening in mine
I’ve seen this happen in other people’s lives
And now it’s happening in mine
Happening in mine, happening in mine
Happening in mine, happening in mine
I’ve seen this happen in other people’s lives
And now, now, now it’s happening in mine, happening in mine
I’ve seen this happen in other people’s lives
And now it’s happening in mine, happening in mine
Happening in mine, happening in mine
I’ve seen this happen in other people’s lives
And now, now, now it’s happening in mine
In mine, mine, mine, mine
Meet Me In Montauk 
Still don’t get the appeal of the Smiths or Morrissey.
In the new movie The Killer he listens to the Smiths on his ear phones throughout. I only know this because I read it in the NYT’s.
Sophia and I were very excited by that choice!
Can’t wait to see Morrissey live on February next year.