Music Review: The Smiths "How Soon Is Now"
The Smiths
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How Soon Is Now
Album: Meat Is Murder
Year: 1985
Morrissey loathes his social anxiety issues in the compelling "How Soon Is Now."
Gritty guitars open the single, setting a disaffected tone. In the first verse, he says that both of his parents are introverted. They are extremely private people. He notes they are homebodies. They taught him to be quiet. It's how he was brought up. Also, it's just the way he is.
In the chorus, his friends and other family members tell him that he should be outgoing. His passive personality will not get him any girlfriends. However, Morrissey defends himself and says that he has feelings, too. He shouldn't have to change himself for other people.
The first verse is sung again.
The chorus is sung again.
The gritty guitar returns for an extended welcome solo.
In the second verse, he explains the usual situation for him.He would love to go to a club and introduce himself to the hottest woman in the room. However, he ends up being afraid to talk the women there. They give him a once-over and they dance with the next guy. He leaves, dejected and weeps in his room. He's lonely. He's frustrated that he can't make himself be an extrovert. He's humilated by his lack of social skills.
Another gritty guitar solo happens.
In the third verse, he says that his friends and other family members tell him that he's going to meet someone in due time. However, he thinks they are saying it to make him feel better. He thinks that ship has sailed and he's missed the opportunity to have a girlfriend. If it's not going to happen now, it's not ever going to happen.
Next, is another guitar solo. It lasts well over a minute.
The chorus is sung again.
In the single, the pressure Morrissey feels to be the life of the party is realistic. Everyone is chatty and divulging details of their private lives in pop music. However, Morrissey's reserved attitude is far from the norm. He wants to meet a nice girl and have some companionship. Most songs today rely on TMI to get their point across. "How Soon Is Now" says only what it needs to.
He brings up a great point about shyness. It's not something that can be turned on and off like a lightbulb. He's trying to get past it. He's going into clubs and putting himself in places where it's uncomfortable for him. However, no one around him understands that it's difficult to fake being uninhibited.
He wants to be himself but no one will let him. But at the same time, he hates that he can't be the person everyone wants him to be. It hurts him because he really wants to be the outgoing guy that people talk to at parties.
It's a 6 minute, 41 second song. However, it feels like only half the time. The famous guitar hook keeps things moving. Not to mention, it's one of the most memorable and fantastic of all time. Hyperbole, be damned. It's that freaking awesome.
Album: Meat Is Murder
Year: 1985
Morrissey loathes his social anxiety issues in the compelling "How Soon Is Now."
Gritty guitars open the single, setting a disaffected tone. In the first verse, he says that both of his parents are introverted. They are extremely private people. He notes they are homebodies. They taught him to be quiet. It's how he was brought up. Also, it's just the way he is.
"I am the son/And the heir/Of a shyness that is criminally vulgar/I am the son and heir/Of nothing in particular."
In the chorus, his friends and other family members tell him that he should be outgoing. His passive personality will not get him any girlfriends. However, Morrissey defends himself and says that he has feelings, too. He shouldn't have to change himself for other people.
"You shut your mouth/How can you say/I go about things the wrong way ?/I am human and I need to be loved/Just like everybody else does."
The first verse is sung again.
The chorus is sung again.
The gritty guitar returns for an extended welcome solo.
In the second verse, he explains the usual situation for him.He would love to go to a club and introduce himself to the hottest woman in the room. However, he ends up being afraid to talk the women there. They give him a once-over and they dance with the next guy. He leaves, dejected and weeps in his room. He's lonely. He's frustrated that he can't make himself be an extrovert. He's humilated by his lack of social skills.
"There's a club, if you'd like to go/You could meet somebody who really loves you/So you go, and you stand on your own/And you leave on your own/And you go home, and you cry/
And you want to die."
Another gritty guitar solo happens.
In the third verse, he says that his friends and other family members tell him that he's going to meet someone in due time. However, he thinks they are saying it to make him feel better. He thinks that ship has sailed and he's missed the opportunity to have a girlfriend. If it's not going to happen now, it's not ever going to happen.
"When you say it's gonna happen "now"/Well, when exactly do you mean ?/See I've already waited too long/And all my hope is gone."
Next, is another guitar solo. It lasts well over a minute.
The chorus is sung again.
In the single, the pressure Morrissey feels to be the life of the party is realistic. Everyone is chatty and divulging details of their private lives in pop music. However, Morrissey's reserved attitude is far from the norm. He wants to meet a nice girl and have some companionship. Most songs today rely on TMI to get their point across. "How Soon Is Now" says only what it needs to.
He brings up a great point about shyness. It's not something that can be turned on and off like a lightbulb. He's trying to get past it. He's going into clubs and putting himself in places where it's uncomfortable for him. However, no one around him understands that it's difficult to fake being uninhibited.
He wants to be himself but no one will let him. But at the same time, he hates that he can't be the person everyone wants him to be. It hurts him because he really wants to be the outgoing guy that people talk to at parties.
It's a 6 minute, 41 second song. However, it feels like only half the time. The famous guitar hook keeps things moving. Not to mention, it's one of the most memorable and fantastic of all time. Hyperbole, be damned. It's that freaking awesome.
