The Queen Is Dead (single)

From Morrissey-solo Wiki
Cover art
THE SMITHS Single
Name The Queen Is Dead
Release June 1986, 16 June 2017 (single to mark 31st anniversary of The Queen Is Dead album release and 2017 re-issue)
Total Length 6:24 (Album version)
6:06 (No Intro)
7:29 (Demo)
3:36 (Instrumental demo)
Recorded Winter 1985
Writer/composer Morrissey / Johnny Marr
Producer Morrissey / Johnny Marr
Art work Cover star: Margherita Caruso in "Il vangelo secondo Matteo" (1964)
Vinyl Etching None
Publisher Warner Bros. Records
Format(s) 7" Vinyl, 12" Vinyl
Chart position UK #85
UK Vinyl Chart #1
Single chronology
The Boy With The Thorn In His Side (Demo Mix)
The Queen Is Dead

Information

Track list

7" Vinyl Picture Disc

UK & Europe - [Warner Music UK Ltd. – QID2017]

  1. The Queen Is Dead – 6:05 (Morrissey/Marr)
  2. I Keep Mine Hidden – 1:57 (Morrissey/Marr)

12" Vinyl

UK & Europe - [Warner Bros. Records – 12QID2017]

  1. The Queen Is Dead – 6:05 (Morrissey/Marr)
  2. Oscillate Wildly – 3:26 (Morrissey/Marr)
  3. Money Changes Everything – 4:10 (Marr)
  4. The Draize Train – 5:08 (Marr)

Video

Lyrics

Oh! Take me back to dear old Blighty,
Put me on the train for London Town,
Take me anywhere,
Drop me anywhere,
Liverpool, Leeds or Birmingham
'Cause I don't care,
I should like to see my...

By land, by sea.

Farewell... to this land's cheerless marshes
Hemmed in like a boar between archers1
Her very Lowness with her head in a sling
I'm truely 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?"
And so I checked all the registered historical facts
And I was shocked into shame to discover
How I'm the 18th pale descendent
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

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 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

We can go for a walk where it's quiet and dry
And talk about precious things
Like Love and Law and Poverty
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
These are the things that kill me

All their life, they make love and then pierce through me
Pass the Pub who 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

Live History

Play count (The Smiths concert): 39

The Smiths live history:

... further results

Play count (Morrissey concert): 114

Morrissey live history:

... further results

Appears On

Appears On Covers Compilation

Cover Versions

Discogs Information

Credits

  • Bass - Andy Rourke
  • Drums - Mike Joyce
  • Engineer - Stephen Street
  • Engineer [Assistant] - Step Parikan
  • Guitar - Johnny Marr
  • Lacquer Cut By - Ron McMaster
  • Producer - Grant Showbiz
  • Producer - Johnny Marr
  • Producer - Morrissey
  • Remix - Stephen Street
  • Voice - Morrissey
  • Written-By - Johnny Marr
  • Written-By - Morrissey

Notes

Sold exclusively at brick-&-mortar shops. Not an RSD release.

Made in the EU Front image from Vangelo secondo Matteo ©1964 STUDIOCANAL - Arco Films.

Edited version of "The Queen Is Dead" previously released on How Soon Is Now?.

Images

NS0zMjc4LmpwZWc.jpeg OS0zOTg3LmpwZWc.jpeg MC05MjQ1LmpwZWc.jpeg

Discogs information (additional release)

Notes

Sold exclusively at brick-&-mortar shops. Not an RSD release. Issued in a side opening sleeve. Spine with text. Plain inner. Package came shrink-wrapped.

Made in the EU Front image from Vangelo secondo Matteo ©1964 STUDIOCANAL - Arco Films.

Edited version of "The Queen Is Dead" previously released on How Soon Is Now?. The three B-side tracks, which are the only Smiths instrumental tracks, had never previously been compiled for release on one single unit.

Images

My04NTU2LmpwZWc.jpeg Ni02MDQxLmpwZWc.jpeg My0xOTYxLmpwZWc.jpeg NS05NjczLmpwZWc.jpeg

Related Forum Threads