The Smiths Paint a Vulgar Picture

At the record company meeting

On their hands - a dead star

And oh, the plans they weave

And oh, the sickening greed

 

At the record company party

On their hands - a dead star

The sycophantic slags all say :

"I knew him first, and I knew him well"

 

Re-issue! Re-package! Re-package!

Re-evaluate the songs

Double-pack with a photograph

Extra track (and a tacky badge)

 

A-list, playlist

"Please them, please them!"

"Please them!"

(sadly, this was your life)

 

But you could have said no

If you'd wanted to

You could have said no

If you'd wanted to

 

BPI, MTV, BBC

"Please them! Please then!"

(sadly this was your life)

 

But you could have said no

If you'd wanted to

You could have walked away

...Couldn't you?

 

I touched you at the soundcheck

You had no real way of knowing

In my heart I begged "Take me with you...

I don't care where you're going... "

 

But to you I was faceless

I was fawning, I was boring

Just a child from those ugly new houses

Who could never begin to know

 

Who could never really know

Oh...

 

Best of! Most of!

Satiate the need

Slip them into different sleeves!

Buy both, and feel deceived

 

Climber - new entry, re-entry

World tour! ("media whore")

"Please the Press in Belgium!"

(This was your life...)

 

And when it fails to recoup ?

Well, maybe:

You just haven't earned it yet, baby

 

I walked a pace behind you at the soundcheck

You're just the same as I am

What makes most people feel happy

Leads us headlong into harm

 

So, in my bedroom in those 'ugly new houses'

I danced my legs down to the knees

But me and my 'true love'

Will never meet again...

 

At the record company meeting

On their hands - at last! - A dead star !

But they can never taint you in my eyes

No, they can never touch you now

 

No, they cannot hurt you, my darling

They cannot touch you now

But me and my 'true love'

Will never meet again