Way back in July of 2009, before this Song of the Day blog was even a year old, I posted a week’s worth of songs by The Smiths.
The reaction was swift and ugly: “Ugh!” “I can’t stand it!” “Grating!” “I can’t believe you are doing a whole theme week on the Smiths.”
Even my wife, largely a stranger to the blog’s comment section, chimed in to register her disgust.
When I accidentally stumbled upon those posts recently, what struck me was that I was entirely alone in my Smiths fandom at the time. Sure, there are legions of die-hard fans across the world, but within my personal circle I shared that passion with nobody.
What a difference 15 years makes! My daughters Sophia and Fiona were 7 and and 3 (respectively) back then, and more interested in Laurie Berkner than Morrissey. But today they are full-fledged Smiths fans — as passionate, or more so, than me.
I’m particularly proud that I didn’t impose the band on them. They came to the music entirely on their own. One day I heard Morrissey’s voice drifting from Sophia’s bedroom and my heart grew three times its natural size.
I’m excited to finally have allies in this fight for the melancholy indie pop of Manchester’s greatest band. And so, with the help of my daughters, I’m embarking on my first Smiths theme weeks in 15 years. I’ve asked Sophia and Fiona to each choose five songs for me to feature, and I have secured promises from each of them that they will comment down below.
I’ll present the songs chronologically based on recording date and note which of the ladies offered it up.
First up is one of Fiona’s picks, ‘Back to the Old House.’
Like several Smiths songs, this one is available in more than one version. The one Fiona prefers is the full-band recording heard here, but she seems to be in the minority. Most fans, myself included, are partial to an acoustic version featuring just Johnny Marr’s guitar and Morrissey’s vocals.
In either iteration, this is a classic Smiths ‘lonely man’ tune bathed in regret and resignation, featuring one of Morrissey’s most sincere vocal performances. What better way to kick off two weeks of these guys?!
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
[Refrain]
Oh, the house
The house
[Verse 2]
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 even told you
Oh, and I meant to
Are you still there or have you moved away?
Or have you moved away?
[Refrain]
Oh, have you?
Have you?
[Verse 3]
I would love to go
Back to the old house
But I never will
I never will
I never will
Meet Me In Montauk 
WEEKS? Plural? WEEKS of Smiths songs?!?
This is the most hostile assault you have launched against this blog’s most loyal, reader, listener and commenter since Rufus Wainwright weekends!
Meanwhile, I question that your daughters came to the Smiths entirely on their own! Surely, at some point they must have heard you play them or talk about them.
Anyway, after you just republished a laundry list of themes and artists you had set out to feature in 2023 that you failed to get to, and then added to that list in 2024 – questioning whether you will get around to much of them this year either, I am at a complete loss as to why you would dedicate 3 of 52 weeks to a band nobody beyond you and now your daughters like!
I guess fatherly pride in the Smiths indoctrination (whether through genetics or osmosis) has usurped any interest in trying to please or entertain your loyal readers or the public at large.
I say good day sir!
Two of 52 weeks, mister, unless I have another child of which I’m unaware!
Thought I saw 15 songs.
Anyway, i suspect that if you do have another child, you would claim to be similarly unaware of how that child became a fan of a seldom listened to decades old band.🤪
“Seldom listened to” … ha! Apparently you didn’t watch The Killer.
So seldom listened to songs featured on a seldom watched movie.
I appreciate you not liking the music, but I find it odd that you don’t recognize The Smiths’ influence, critical acclaim, and enduring popularity. You comment as if this is some obscure indie band I came across in a bargain bin.
Not sure who they have influenced or when they were popular. They are to be sure a critics’ darling popular among a small number of melancholy loving fans like you and now your daughters.
That’s because you have no interest in learning more about a band you don’t like. Maybe I’ll get you a book on The Smiths for your birthday. 😀
Well you had me at my granddaughters ❤️ I don’t know anything about the Smiths but I did like the movie Killer, and don’t recall hating the soundtrack so there are two reasons to read and listen these next two weeks. Sorry Dana
I am very content to join the comment section this week, especially if it means defending my father’s immaculate taste in music. For those who may not believe it (Dana), Sophie and I did come to love the smiths on our own. Why someone would think the world is vacant of Smiths fans is unbeknownst to me. Not only does 3/4 of my home share a love of the Smiths, but I happen to know many other Smiths fans just in my close circle. Also, unlike others, I was overjoyed to hear that my father would be returning to Smiths after so long. Why someone wouldn’t like the Smiths, I cannot explain. But I am very happy to share my dad’s and my sister’s love of the Smiths. I would definitely deem ‘Back to the Old House’ not only one of my favorite Smiths songs, but one of the greatest songs ever created. I can’t wait to see what amazing songs will follow, but this is most certainly a peak of the Smith’s discography.
I can confirm that there has been no outside influence in my love of The Smiths. I must have inherited the gene, but I’m very glad I did! This is such a beautiful song and has one of my very favorite Smith’s lines, “are you still there or have you moved away?”
Very excited for this week and looking forward to joining my father on The Smith’s defense squad.
Are you really trying to say that you had no idea your father was a fan of the Smiths before you “completely discovered” them on your own? Sorry, not buying it!
She didn’t say that. She knows I love Elvis Costello, The Beatles, and Talking Heads but didn’t find her way to any of those artists. Whether you buy it or not, the truth is I never played The Smiths anywhere the girls would have been regularly exposed to them because my wife isn’t a fan.
Another good example of this phenomenon that baffles you so is Jeff Buckley, whom I like but hadn’t thought about in years. One day I discovered that Sophia had become a massive fan through her own musical exploration. The internet works wonders in that way.
Okay, all I’m saying is that the girls were likely more predisposed to find, listen to and like the Smiths because they knew you were a fan.
I don’t know. I’m eager to listen to music my kids love but will quickly abandon those artists who don’t appeal to me and listen more and more to those I like.
It’s endearing that your daughters found themselves drawn to The Smiths. I like a song here and there but do tend to find his monotonous delivery keeps me from ever wanting to listen very often.
That said, I’m curious to learn which songs capture Fiona and Sophia’s interest, so I’ll be sure to tune in these weeks.
This bassline reminds me of “Sparks” by Coldplay! It draws you in and immerses you into the scene of this “old house”. Morrissey does have a very emotive voice and a somewhat crooner style to his delivery. I’m eager to hear more from this band I admittedly know very little from!