William, It Was Really Nothing
This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2011) |
"William, It Was Really Nothing" | ||||
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Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want" | ||||
Released | 20 August 1984 | |||
Recorded | July 1984 | |||
Studio | Jam Studios, London | |||
Genre | Alternative rock | |||
Length | 2:09 | |||
Label | Rough Trade | |||
Songwriter(s) | Johnny Marr, Morrissey | |||
Producer(s) | John Porter | |||
The Smiths singles chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [1] |
"William, It Was Really Nothing" is a song by the English
When the band performed the song on Top of the Pops, Morrissey ripped open his shirt to reveal the words "MARRY ME" written on his chest ("Would you like to marry me?" is one line of the song).[2]
Lyrics and background
Morrissey has said of the song: "It occurred to me that within popular music if ever there were any records that discussed marriage they were always from the female's standpoint, female singers singing to women. There were never any songs saying 'do not marry, stay single, self-preservation,' etc. I thought it was about time there was a male voice speaking directly to another male saying that marriage was a waste of time ... that, in fact, it was absolutely nothing."[3]
The song is popularly believed to have been about Morrissey's short-lived friendship with Billy Mackenzie, lead singer of the Associates. The Associates' compilation album Double Hipness, released in August 2000, included the song "Stephen, You're Really Something", recorded by Billy MacKenzie and Alan Rankine during the band's reunion in 1993 as a response to "William, It Was Really Nothing".
Track listing
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "William, It Was Really Nothing" | 2:10 |
2. | " Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want " | 1:50 |
- in original green sleeve
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "William, It Was Really Nothing" | 2:10 |
2. | "How Soon Is Now?" | 6:43 |
- in lilac reprint sleeve
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "William, It Was Really Nothing" | 2:10 |
2. | "How Soon Is Now?" | 6:43 |
3. | "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want" | 1:50 |
Artwork and matrix message
British 7" and 12" with green tinted cover versions feature the matrix message: THE IMPOTENCE OF ERNEST/ROMANTIC AND SQUARE IS HIP AND AWARE
British 7' with lilac tinted cover: THE IMPOTENCE OF ERNEST/WE HATES BAD GRAMMER
British 12" with lilac tinted cover: THE IMPOTENCE OF ERNEST/ROMANTIC AND [ ] IS HIP N'AWARE
As well as being a reference to
Charts
Chart | Peak position |
---|---|
Ireland (IRMA) | 8 |
UK Singles ( The Official Charts Company )
|
17 |
References
- Allmusic. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
- ^ Simpson, Mark (31 May 2003). "Return of the lone stranger". The Guardian. London.
- ^ "The Smiths - William, It Was Really Nothing". smithsonguitar.com.
External links
- "Top of the Pops" Performance on YouTube