The Queen is Dead

The Smiths

It’s true. Sad day, regardless of what you might think of the British Monarchy. Queen Elizabeth II’s reign began in 1952. RIP Queen.

So this album has been on my mind today after hearing the news. I’m playing the record now and it sure takes me back to ‘86 when I abruptly acquired a ravenous taste for British alternative rock, punk and post-punk. I was always into the The Clash, The Beatles and Pink Floyd, but aside from the Big 3, I mostly listened to American Music.

Back in ‘86 I was working at Baskin & Robbins (first job) and would play casette tapes on my boom box while we closed the shop. Yes, I brought them to work. An older co-worker scoffed at some of my choices — likely Springsteen or Pink Floyd. Or Dramarama and U2. She offered to play me some REAL music and I agreed to switch off. God bless her because for the very first time I heard full albums by The Smiths, Depeche Mode and The Cure. Long story short, I fell hard for this stuff —- I remember going out that month to pick up Standing on the Beach, Black Celebration and The Queen Is Dead from Tower Records.

The Smith’s third studio album begins with a little music hall tune and then those big drums kicking in for the electric, opening title track. What a record that still sounds amazing today. Ten songs, five each side. With a running time of 36 minutes. I love those records with brevity and this is one of the best.

Farewell to this land's cheerless marshes
Hemmed in like a boar between archers
Her very Lowness with her head in a sling
I'm truly sorry, but it sounds like a wonderful thing

"I say, Charles, don't you ever crave
To appear on the front of the Daily Mail
Dressed in your Mother's bridal veil?" Ooh, ooh, ooh
And so I checked all the registered historical facts
And I was shocked into shame to discover
How I'm the 18th pale descendant of some old queen or other

Oh, has the world changed, or have I changed?
Oh, has the world changed, or have I changed?
As some 9-year-old tough, who peddles drugs
I swear to God, I swear, I never even knew what drugs were
Ooh, oh-oh, ooh

So I broke into the Palace with a sponge and a rusty spanner
She said, "Eh, I know, and you cannot sing"
I said, "That's nothing, you should hear me play the piano"
We can go for a walk where it's quiet and dry
And talk about precious things

But when you're tied to your Mother's apron
No one talks about castration, ooh, oh-oh, ooh
We can go for a walk where it's quiet and dry
And talk about precious things
Like love and law and poverty, ooh-ooh
(These are the things that kill me)

We can go for a walk where it's quiet and dry
And talk about precious things
But the rain that flattens my hair, ooh
(These are the things that kill me)
All their life, they make love and then pierce through me

Pass the Pub that saps your body
And the church who'll snatch your money
The Queen is dead, boys
And it's so lonely on a limb

Pass the Pub that wrecks your body
And the church all they want is your money
The Queen is dead, boys
And it's so lonely on a limb

Life is very long when you're lonely

Life is very long when you're lonely

Life is very long when you're lonely

Life is very long when you're lonely