...the song.

I have heard and known this song since its original release, but lately I have been actually listening to it, and I think some of Morrissey's best singing is done on this tune.

He does it with energy; and the way he holds the notes (there is probably a musical term for it, but I don't know it) at the end of almost each line, especially:

So why do you smile
when you think about Earls Court?
but you cry when you think of all
the battles you've fought (and lost)?
it may all end tomorrow
or, it could go on forever
(in which case: I'm doomed)
it could go on forever...
(in which case: I'm doomed)


I can listen to this tune repeatedly and not tire of it.


edit: Who is Armstrong, the co-writer of this song, and what has happened to him?

...the song.

I have heard and known this song since its original release, but lately I have been actually listening to it, and I think some of Morrissey's best singing is done on this tune.

He does it with energy; and the way he holds the notes (there is probably a musical term for it, but I don't know it) at the end of almost each line, especially:

So why do you smile
when you think about Earls Court?
but you cry when you think of all
the battles you've fought (and lost)?
it may all end tomorrow
or, it could go on forever
(in which case: I'm doomed)
it could go on forever...
(in which case: I'm doomed)


I can listen to this tune repeatedly and not tire of it.


edit: Who is Armstrong, the co-writer of this song, and what has happened to him?

no dad, no dad, no dad
I won't be home tomorrow

i think the extended version with the extra verse is pretty special

i only heard it about 2 years ago and it bread new life into the song

" a cold water room , its not much i know but for now its where i belong
am i really doing wrong , around the center of town is where i belong am i really doing wrong

so why do you smile when you think of earls court "

...the song.

I have heard and known this song since its original release, but lately I have been actually listening to it, and I think some of Morrissey's best singing is done on this tune.

He does it with energy; and the way he holds the notes (there is probably a musical term for it, but I don't know it) at the end of almost each line, especially:

So why do you smile
when you think about Earls Court?
but you cry when you think of all
the battles you've fought (and lost)?
it may all end tomorrow
or, it could go on forever
(in which case: I'm doomed)
it could go on forever...
(in which case: I'm doomed)


I can listen to this tune repeatedly and not tire of it.


edit: Who is Armstrong, the co-writer of this song, and what has happened to him?

Kevin Armstrong was involved in several recording sessions between the Stephen Street and Mark Nevin Era (along with Andy Rourke...Gannon and Joyce had been given the boot sometime earlier)....

Armstrong also is the co-writer of "He Knows I'd Love To See Him"....

He is credited on the following Singles as Guitarist:
Ouija Board, Ouija Board
November Spawned A Monster

Although not credited, he is most likely the guitarist on Picadilly Palare and Get Off The Stage... At Amber was written and recorded during The Street Era and most likely features Craig Gannon and/or Neil Taylor on Guitar....

He was also the "fifth" unoffical member of Tin Machine

i think the extended version with the extra verse is pretty special

i only heard it about 2 years ago and it bread new life into the song

" a cold water room , its not much i know but for now its where i belong
am i really doing wrong , around the center of town is where i belong am i really doing wrong

so why do you smile when you think of earls court "

i´m actually really glad they left that verse out, if would have changed the whole mood of the song and not in a positive way.. it takes away from the defiance in his tone throughout the rest of the lyrics if that makes sense.. it´s interesting that we have the extra verse, but i really prefer the shorter version..

edit: i just listened to the longer version again just now, and yes, i think for some reason the extra verse seems unnecessarily introspective for the song while at the same time the lyrics sound as if he was running out of words.

i agree, i´ll never tire of the song, it was one of the first song i fell in love with when i got into morrissey..

i´m actually really glad they left that verse out, if would have changed the whole mood of the song and not in a positive way.. it takes away from the defiance in his tone throughout the rest of the lyrics if that makes sense.. it´s interesting that we have the extra verse, but i really prefer the shorter version..


I agree with you on the tone of the song and how the extra verse version kind of takes away that feel. I definitely like the released version better.
This was, and still is, one of my favorite solo songs. I remember buying Bona Drag and playing this song over and over. His singing and the music are amazing in the song and just the whole vibe I get from listening to it puts me in a good mood. IMHO, one of Moz's best...though I don't think I've ever seen him play it live...which sucks. :( I can't even tell you how upset I was when he asked everyone if we remembered a song called Piccadilly Palare at one of the Hammerstein shows, then made a joke about us needing a lot of patience or something. (can't quite remember...I was too psyched when he mentioned the song and didn't really hear anything else) LOL

Morrissey seems to want to forget he had a career between 1988 and 1992...which is Ironic, since it was his most commercially successful until recently

With a few notable exceptions:
Everyday Is Like Sunday. Sister I'm A Poet, Disappointed, November Spawned A Monster, I've Changed My Plea To Guilty..and The Loop...

It seemed like he only pulled Last Of The Famous International Playboys and Interesting Drug out of his hat reluctantly....

yes a great song, i love the ending, i never heard the long version though, where can I hear it?

Morrissey seems to want to forget he had a career between 1988 and 1992...which is Ironic, since it was his most commercially successful until recently

It seemed like he only pulled Last Of The Famous International Playboys and Interesting Drug out of his hat reluctantly....

How can you make that statement SNS? Sorry but what the hell are you talking about? He pulls out what he wants when he wants and if he didn't want to sing it I really doubt that he would.... He has enough material for goodness sake - to avoid those tunes. Maybe he is just not in the mood to do it until he does it... how many times do you come back to a tune and you are like "oh yeah!!! this one...!!!) Esp after you played it all the time... gosh, entire tours.

Anyways I find it rather amusing that you seem to think you know what he is up to and this reminds me of the last thing you said about Moz regarding this time (kill uncle comment the other day :mad::mad:)

pisses me off...

Oh and Piccadilly is tooo good!!! The ending... no dad... I won't be home tomorrow...

ah - I am sure some of you know what I mean when I say it makes me thrilled and very sad at the same time... that song... somehow, kind of like the wolfs howl... :rolleyes: oh god, what the hell am i saying...???

but anyways you know what i mean...
maybe.

It may all end tomorrow
Or it could go on forever
In which case I'm doomed
It could go on forever
In which case I'm doomed

I think of these particular lyrics on a daily basis, esp. at work!

I agree with you on the tone of the song and how the extra verse version kind of takes away that feel. I definitely like the released version better.
This was, and still is, one of my favorite solo songs. I remember buying Bona Drag and playing this song over and over. His singing and the music are amazing in the song and just the whole vibe I get from listening to it puts me in a good mood. IMHO, one of Moz's best...though I don't think I've ever seen him play it live...which sucks. :( I can't even tell you how upset I was when he asked everyone if we remembered a song called Piccadilly Palare at one of the Hammerstein shows, then made a joke about us needing a lot of patience or something. (can't quite remember...I was too psyched when he mentioned the song and didn't really hear anything else) LOL

yes, i remember that! i thought he was gonna play it and i got all excited! but alas....:(

It may all end tomorrow
Or it could go on forever
In which case I'm doomed
It could go on forever
In which case I'm doomed



no dad
no dad no dad no dad . . .
no dad
no dad...

Anyways I find it rather amusing that you seem to think you know what he is up to and this reminds me of the last thing you said about Moz regarding this time (kill uncle comment the other day :mad::mad:)

pisses me off...:hug:

How can you make that statement SNS? Sorry but what the hell are you talking about? He pulls out what he wants when he wants and if he didn't want to sing it I really doubt that he would.... He has enough material for goodness sake - to avoid those tunes. Maybe he is just not in the mood to do it until he does it... how many times do you come back to a tune and you are like "oh yeah!!! this one...!!!) Esp after you played it all the time... gosh, entire tours.

Anyways I find it rather amusing that you seem to think you know what he is up to and this reminds me of the last thing you said about Moz regarding this time (kill uncle comment the other day :mad::mad:)

pisses me off...

My sarcasm means he doesn't WANT To play anything from that era...or very little...which is his choice...

Part of my sarcasm stems from the fact that everybody (including myself of course), always want him to play what we want...because we all have personal connections with each songs...and I think that personal identification/association is unmatched by any other artist...

I tend to think I have a personal insight to his greatness, but then again, don't we all think that? :D

I tend to think I have a personal insight to his greatness, but then again, don't we all think that?

Actually no SNS. One of the signs of madness is that you think everybody else is thinking just like you are. Hello?

so now you know what Morrissey WANTS.... Bawhahaha!

I just got his shirt man :p:p

never said I know the man or understand him and not too many people run around here saying they do - actually.

gosh i don't think I would listen for well over 15 years now if he was simple enough for either one of us to know or figure out and read into without ever even having spoken to him in person - sns.

I think you need a vacation SNS.

(i know i do):p:p

sorry dude...

Actually no SNS. One of the signs of madness is that you think everybody else is thinking just like you are. Hello?

so now you know what Morrissey WANTS.... Bawhahaha!

I just got his shirt man :p:p

never said I know the man or understand him and not too many people run around here saying they do - actually.

gosh i don't think I would listen for well over 15 years now if he was simple enough for either one of us to know or figure out and read into without ever even having spoken to him in person - sns.

I think you need a vacation SNS.

(i know i do):p:p

sorry dude...

Of course I'm kidding when I say I think I know what the Man's thinking...he's a 50-year old Mancurian who's lived a completely different life...

But I think we all do tend to identify with the words he writes....Otherwise we wouldn't waste our time

Yes, I do need a vacation

who else wants a hug? :)

^^ good hugger, I would take it.

who else wants a hug? :)

nugz wants hugz. :D

^^ good hugger, I would take it.

btw thanks for the vids you have on youtube

btw thanks for the vids you have on youtube

:o I suppose the prolonged "ebb" in the ebb and flow of my social life has served a purpose. You are very welcome... glad somebody enjoys. VIVA MOZ!

Oh and Piccadilly is tooo good!!! The ending... no dad... I won't be home tomorrow...

ah - I am sure some of you know what I mean when I say it makes me thrilled and very sad at the same time... that song... somehow, kind of like the wolfs howl... :rolleyes: oh god, what the hell am i saying...???

but anyways you know what i mean...
maybe.

I know what you mean, the song is playful, yet tragic, which works well becuase I feel like the songs about living in a suburban town with your hooligan friends, comming from the burbs myself I see a beauty in it's tired, run down feel I guess.....

and I know plenty of people who left their suburban wasteland and must have said 'no dad, I wont be home tomorrow'

oh long island...

Love this song,u can never really pick up what the song means is he talking about piccadilly, in manchester or london?

Love this song,u can never really pick up what the song means is he talking about piccadilly, in manchester or london?

Considering the lines, "So why do you smile
when you think about Earls Court? "

I'd say London

I like the wolf howls in the outro.

Also, is the voice at the end singing "No Dad, no Dad..." or "Bona Drag, Bona Drag..."?

I like the wolf howls in the outro.

Also, is the voice at the end singing "No Dad, no Dad..." or "Bona Drag, Bona Drag..."?

The former. It's quite clear on the Live in Dallas vid, for one.

I know what you mean, the song is playful, yet tragic, which works well becuase I feel like the songs about living in a suburban town with your hooligan friends, comming from the burbs myself I see a beauty in it's tired, run down feel I guess.....

and I know plenty of people who left their suburban wasteland and must have said 'no dad, I wont be home tomorrow'

oh long island...

HAHAHAHA long island teee hehehe. All the poor rich kids! I must say I love the song, but being one of the most expensive county's in the country I don't quite see it as rundown - and the only thing tired about it is the snobbery and falseness you have to encounter at many a supermarket - you have to watch some lady pile her 2 kids and groceries into GIGANTIC HUMMER vehicle - since when do you need a cockpit or a turret to go buy your chicken and steak and milk and -- :mad::mad:

But I suppose what you must mean is the stupid old tired tradition...
although I must say it's always interesting when they take on that drive through "the old neighborhoods" - From Greenwich Villiage where my great great grandfather landed in 1890 from Ireland and then to Brooklyn where the next generation many a building - and we drive by each one ooohing and ahhhing at old brick buildings and then its on to Queens to drive by all of the houses our family built - and we drive by every single one... silly but somehow interesting anyway. New York is a great city my friend, and long island is a pretty much gorgeous. I am not going to pretend to have grown up in a situation like Moz seems to talk about having grown up in... No I think I was very lucky and the despite whatever problems we all have growing up - even the schools were great and encouraged my photo and creativity... etc.

But well - I suppose there was always a way to overlook the good points and talk about how terribly boring and tired and old it is where you grow up.... esp being so close to NYC. I must say that it can get a bit snobby and very "cliquey" here... thats the only thing that has always kind of bothered me... that "cliquey" snobby show off mentality that seems to prevail in many areas around long island - and such is the case where I grew up.

And I don't really know where the prostitutes are on LI... but when I got to art school in NYC - well - I met one or two boys who could relate to the tune on a different level.

I had this same thought very recently, Piccadilly Palare is such an underrated track, I didnt appreciate as much as I do now.

I remember a few people thinking it wasnt a patch on the previous single at the time - November Spawned A Monster! Its not as good but certainly quite close.

HAHAHAHA long island teee hehehe. All the poor rich kids! I must say I love the song, but being one of the most expensive county's in the country I don't quite see it as rundown - and the only thing tired about it is the snobbery and falseness you have to encounter at many a supermarket - you have to watch some lady pile her 2 kids and groceries into GIGANTIC HUMMER vehicle - since when do you need a cockpit or a turret to go buy your chicken and steak and milk and -- :mad::mad:

But I suppose what you must mean is the stupid old tired tradition...
although I must say it's always interesting when they take on that drive through "the old neighborhoods" - From Greenwich Villiage where my great great grandfather landed in 1890 from Ireland and then to Brooklyn where the next generation many a building - and we drive by each one ooohing and ahhhing at old brick buildings and then its on to Queens to drive by all of the houses our family built - and we drive by every single one... silly but somehow interesting anyway. New York is a great city my friend, and long island is a pretty much gorgeous. I am not going to pretend to have grown up in a situation like Moz seems to talk about having grown up in... No I think I was very lucky and the despite whatever problems we all have growing up - even the schools were great and encouraged my photo and creativity... etc.

But well - I suppose there was always a way to overlook the good points and talk about how terribly boring and tired and old it is where you grow up.... esp being so close to NYC. I must say that it can get a bit snobby and very "cliquey" here... thats the only thing that has always kind of bothered me... that "cliquey" snobby show off mentality that seems to prevail in many areas around long island - and such is the case where I grew up.

well long island is the most segregated county in the country, I believe so as much as I agree that there are tons of rich, snobby, brats, on the other sides of those towns, there are poorer, dirtier towns. I live right on the border of queens, and in my town, all my friends dropped out of school and became construction workers, and plumbers, and alchoholics! It's sad to see them on the train, in their misery, but it's all kind of humbling for me, that's at least what I enjoy about LI, as opposed to the Hamptons, glorified celebrity shit, ha, but you'r right Long Island can be beautiful..... where you live?

i´m actually really glad they left that verse out, if would have changed the whole mood of the song and not in a positive way.. it takes away from the defiance in his tone throughout the rest of the lyrics if that makes sense.. it´s interesting that we have the extra verse, but i really prefer the shorter version..

edit: i just listened to the longer version again just now, and yes, i think for some reason the extra verse seems unnecessarily introspective for the song while at the same time the lyrics sound as if he was running out of words.

i agree, i´ll never tire of the song, it was one of the first song i fell in love with when i got into morrissey..

i like the fact that you went and checked

Love this song. Great intro tune to a fab CD. I went to Picadilly Circus when I was in London recently and this song played in my head the entire walk there, while I was there and the entire walk away... :)

I'd say this is my answer to the thread 'lyrics I don't (didn't) understand"
So Bona to vada. OH YOU, your lovely eek and your lovely riah

Silly slang

I'd say this is my answer to the thread 'lyrics I don't (didn't) understand"
So Bona to vada. OH YOU, your lovely eek and your lovely riah

Silly slang

Here you go... a link about Polari - riah is hair backwards for example - "lovely hair" - eek= face... lovely face... etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polari

Here you go... a link about Polari - riah is hair backwards for example - "lovely hair" - eek= face... lovely face... etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polari

Thanks, I do know what it means--but at the time I first heard it, I was like :confused: huh?!

This is a small tidbit, but while we're talking about the lyrical outro to the song... I distinctly remember him playing this on the last night of the 1991 Kill Uncle tour in the US, and changing the final line to "I WILL be home tomorrow...."

He sang it with such relish, with such a longing to be home (not because he wasn't enjoying the tour, mind you, but he'd been on the road for a long time) that I still remember that moment every time I hear the song.

Thanks, I do know what it means--but at the time I first heard it, I was like :confused: huh?!

ohhh right... sorry.

You know I think it may have been my own judgement - my own misconception and projection - that just because you are always in the frink thread (like 24/7) - you just simply would never take the time out to read up on the lyrics...

i apologize. I was wrong.

This is a small tidbit, but while we're talking about the lyrical outro to the song... I distinctly remember him playing this on the last night of the 1991 Kill Uncle tour in the US, and changing the final line to "I WILL be home tomorrow...."

He sang it with such relish, with such a longing to be home (not because he wasn't enjoying the tour, mind you, but he'd been on the road for a long time) that I still remember that moment every time I hear the song.

I recall it being on the set list also in Tinley Park (IL) GREAT SHOW but don't remember any lyric change -not that it didn't happen- it's just that my memory sucks :p I'm lucky to remember what year he was even there.

ohhh right... sorry.

You know I think it may have been my own judgement - my own misconception and projection - that just because you are always in the frink thread (like 24/7) - you just simply would never take the time out to read up on the lyrics...

i apologize. I was wrong.

Nothing to apologize for! Or are you being sarcastic? Seriously, I didn't mean to come off ungrateful or like I know everything -cuz I surely do not- and I thank you for the lyrical link -along with everything else you post. Am I really on the frink 24/7? Nah, just thinking frink 24/7 ;)

Nothing to apologize for! Or are you being sarcastic? Seriously, I didn't mean to come off ungrateful or like I know everything -cuz I surely do not- and I thank you for the lyrical link -along with everything else you post. Am I really on the frink 24/7? Nah, just thinking frink 24/7 ;)

Oh Corrissey!!! I was just being sarcastic... :p I mean how would I know you were in the frink thread at all... unless I myself were lurking there now and again :rolleyes:;)

Oh Corrissey!!! I was just being sarcastic... :p I mean how would I know you were in the frink thread at all... unless I myself were lurking there now and again :rolleyes:;)

~whew~ okay. I know I pissed you off once in the past and don't care to again. Will see ya lurking over at the Frink ;)

~whew~ okay. I know I pissed you off once in the past and don't care to again. Will see ya lurking over at the Frink ;)

:o i don't recall ever being pissed with you... :rolleyes: oooops...
sorry I get excited in the moment sometimes... but I don't tend to remember much come morning. :)

I recall it being on the set list also in Tinley Park (IL) GREAT SHOW but don't remember any lyric change -not that it didn't happen- it's just that my memory sucks :p I'm lucky to remember what year he was even there.

Yeah, to my knowledge he only changed the lyric on the last night of the tour (I saw four shows that year), the night before he would be home, which is why it stuck out for me.:)

...the song.

I have heard and known this song since its original release, but lately I have been actually listening to it, and I think some of Morrissey's best singing is done on this tune.

He does it with energy; and the way he holds the notes (there is probably a musical term for it, but I don't know it) at the end of almost each line, especially:

So why do you smile
when you think about Earls Court?
but you cry when you think of all
the battles you've fought (and lost)?
it may all end tomorrow
or, it could go on forever
(in which case: I'm doomed)
it could go on forever...
(in which case: I'm doomed)


I can listen to this tune repeatedly and not tire of it.


edit: Who is Armstrong, the co-writer of this song, and what has happened to him?

I had to laugh out loud at your comment as I love this song so much and feel the exact way!:)
Bona Drag is always kept in my car as the CD player has a fast rewind button on it. My secret passion is during the school run in the morning when Bona is sometimes played during the 12 minutes it takes to get kids to school but the return journey is always spent just replaying 'Piccadilly' from 'and why do you smile' ..it just sets me up for the day, and I agree his voice is just immense.....(I've been doing this for about 4 years now and have never got bored with it. :D

currently obsessed with this song. Love it.

Could this be the next chestnut to be dusted off in concert???

There was a period of time in which I listened to this song constantly. I don't know why I don't actually relate to 'Polari or Palare' in anyway possible, it's just really well sung.

If you have ever seen 'Morrissey- Live in Dallas' you will join me in saying it also works very well live. Though the band to increase the tempo considerably. So I do hope this song is one of the 'chestnuts to be dusted off' when he plays in London. Hopefully on the Monday.

To be quite honest, I don't really like this song very much. It's very ploddy and monotonous and isn't Morrissey at his best. It was also voted one of the worst singles of 1990 in NME along with Status Quo's "Anniversary Waltz". Did he make a video to this song at all? I tried looking for it on youtube and couldn't find it.

I like the B-side "Get Off The Stage" a lot better.

To be quite honest, I don't really like this song very much. It's very ploddy and monotonous and isn't Morrissey at his best. It was also voted one of the worst singles of 1990 in NME along with Status Quo's "Anniversary Waltz". Did he make a video to this song at all? I tried looking for it on youtube and couldn't find it.

I like the B-side "Get Off The Stage" a lot better.

you are joking. you must be.

...the song.

I have heard and known this song since its original release, but lately I have been actually listening to it, and I think some of Morrissey's best singing is done on this tune.
I feel the same way! While I bear no resemblance to any of the characters in the song, I NEVER tire of it. I've listened to it over and over so, SO many times; the only other Moz song I believe I've done that with is "Friday Mourning", which I believe is [yet] another underrated gem.

He does it with energy; and the way he holds the notes (there is probably a musical term for it, but I don't know it) at the end of almost each line [...]


I know, I wondered this too... I believe that this may be one of the reasons the song is so special. It is simply beautiful singing; it's Moz's voice at its best, I think. I wonder what the technique is called? Surely it has a name, as does most every minutiae in music :D

(I also listen to the "Why do you smile when you think about Earls Court?" part over and over and over and over. :p Why is that part SO addictive? Have we stumbled on something here, some secret to the universe? :D)

you are joking. you must be.

He's Australian. Everything's backwards down there. :D

you are joking. you must be.

Nah, I meant what I said. Appreciation of Morrissey's songs (and indeed that of every other musician) is a purely subjective thing.

I'm a bit late here, but this is easily one of my top five Moz-solo songs and the inspiration for my username.

For whatever reason I love these lines: "You wouldn't understand/Good sons like you/NEVER DO," not particularly remarkable, but it's the part of the song which sticks out the most for me.

I'm a bit late here, but this is easily one of my top five Moz-solo songs and the inspiration for my username.

For whatever reason I love these lines: "You wouldn't understand/Good sons like you/NEVER DO," not particularly remarkable, but it's the part of the song which sticks out the most for me.

Better late than never! I love this song.

Clever username, by the way.

This is prolly one of my favorite Moz-solo songs. Actually, it's quite possibly the top one.

It got me interested in polari, which I adore. :p

Either way, I love this song so much! :D

This song was in my head while reading the part about the rentboys in Tipping the Velvet. A great song, a great book.