The Smiths

151 songs53 albums
Songs151
Albums53
Views2.9M

About the artist

The Smiths were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1982, built around the songwriting partnership of vocalist and lyricist Morrissey and guitarist and composer Johnny Marr. Rounded out by bassist Andy Rourke and drummer Mike Joyce, the band became one of the most influential acts of 1980s British indie and alternative rock, standing apart from the synth-heavy pop of the era with a sound rooted in jangly, melodic guitar work paired with witty, literate, and often melancholic lyrics.

Morrissey's distinctive vocal delivery and provocative, deadpan wit combined with Marr's inventive, richly textured guitar arrangements to create a sound that was simultaneously guitar-driven and pop-accessible. Songs such as «This Charming Man», «How Soon Is Now?», and «There Is a Light That Never Goes Out» became touchstones of the genre, addressing themes of alienation, longing, class, and dark humor with an emotional directness rarely heard in mainstream pop at the time.

Despite recording only a handful of studio albums before disbanding in 1987, The Smiths left an outsized legacy, shaping the sound and sensibility of countless indie and alternative bands that followed. Their catalogue remains a cornerstone reference point for British guitar music, and both Morrissey and Marr went on to notable solo careers after the band's split.

OriginManchester, England, UK
Active since1982
LabelsRough Trade Records
MembersMorrissey, Johnny Marr, Andy Rourke, Mike Joyce

Popular tracks

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Track

Frequently asked questions

Where is The Smiths from?+
The Smiths is from Manchester, England, UK.
What genre is The Smiths?+
The Smiths is associated with Rock, Pop.
What are the most popular songs by The Smiths?+
Among the most popular are «There Is a Light That Never Goes Out», «This Charming Man», «Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now».
How many The Smiths songs are on Lyricser?+
Lyricser features 71 popular The Smiths songs with lyrics and line-by-line translations into five languages.
When did The Smiths start?+
The Smiths has been active since 1982.

Similar artists

Discography

 The Queen is Dead (Deluxe)

The Queen is Dead (Deluxe)

2017

The Queen is Dead - Single

The Queen is Dead - Single

2017

The Boy With The Thorn In His Side [2017 Reissue]

The Boy With The Thorn In His Side [2017 Reissue]

2017

Complete

Complete

2011

Singles Box (CD Edition)

Singles Box (CD Edition)

2009

Singles Box (7" Edition)

Singles Box (7" Edition)

2008

The Sound of The Smiths

The Sound of The Smiths

2008

The Sound of The Smiths (Deluxe)

The Sound of The Smiths (Deluxe)

2008

The Very Best Of The Smiths

The Very Best Of The Smiths

2001

Sweet and Tender Hooligan

Sweet and Tender Hooligan

1995

Singles

Singles

1995

…Best II

…Best II

1992

How Soon Is Now? [1992 Reissue]

How Soon Is Now? [1992 Reissue]

1992

Best… I

Best… I

1992

Handsome Devils

Handsome Devils

1992

There Is a Light That Never Goes Out [1991 Reissue]

There Is a Light That Never Goes Out [1991 Reissue]

1991

The Peel Sessions

The Peel Sessions

1988

Rank

Rank

1988

Stop Me

Stop Me

1988

The 12" Mixes

The 12" Mixes

1988

Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Before

Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Before

1988

Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me

Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me

1987

I Started Something I Couldn’t Finish

I Started Something I Couldn’t Finish

1987

Strangeways, Here We Come

Strangeways, Here We Come

1987

Girlfriend in a Coma

Girlfriend in a Coma

1987

Sheila Take a Bow

Sheila Take a Bow

1987

Louder Than Bombs

Louder Than Bombs

1987

The World Won’t Listen

The World Won’t Listen

1987

Shoplifters Of The World Unite

Shoplifters Of The World Unite

1987

Ask

Ask

1986

Panic

Panic

1986

The Queen is Dead

The Queen is Dead

1986

Bigmouth Strikes Again

Bigmouth Strikes Again

1986

There Is A Light That Never Goes Out

There Is A Light That Never Goes Out

1986

Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others

Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others

1986

The Boy With The Thorn In His Side

The Boy With The Thorn In His Side

1985

That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore

That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore

1985

Barbarism Begins at Home

Barbarism Begins at Home

1985

Shakespeare’s Sister

Shakespeare’s Sister

1985

Meat Is Murder

Meat Is Murder

1985

The Headmaster Ritual

The Headmaster Ritual

1985

How Soon Is Now?

How Soon Is Now?

1985

The Warner Bros. Music Show

The Warner Bros. Music Show

1985

How Soon Is Now? / Shakespeare’s Sister

How Soon Is Now? / Shakespeare’s Sister

1985

Hatful of Hollow

Hatful of Hollow

1984

The Smiths (Japan)

The Smiths (Japan)

1984

William, It Was Really Nothing

William, It Was Really Nothing

1984

Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now

Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now

1984

The Smiths

The Smiths

1984

What Difference Does It Make?

What Difference Does It Make?

1984

Still Ill

Still Ill

1984

This Charming Man - Single

This Charming Man - Single

1983

Hand in Glove - Single

Hand in Glove - Single

1983