The Queen Is Dead
The Queen Is Dead

The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead Lyrics

Exploring themes of disillusionment with societal institutions and British royalty, the lyrics convey a critique of authority and a longing for change. The song juxtaposes a nostalgic yearning for a simpler past with stark observations of present societal… Read more

Alternative
Sep 5, 1988
325
The Queen Is Dead Music Video

The Queen Is Dead Lyrics

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
But I don't care
I should like to see my-

(I don't bless them)
Farewell to this land's cheerless marshes
Hemmed in like a boar between arches
Her very lowness with her head in a sling
I'm truly 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 eighteenth 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?
Some nine 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, "'Ey, I know you 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 are 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, oh, oh
(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, oh
(These are the things that kill me)
All their lies about makeup and long hair are still there

Past 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

Writer(s): Steven Morrissey, Johnny Marr
Copyright(s): Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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What is the Meaning of The Queen Is Dead?

Exploring themes of disillusionment with societal institutions and British royalty, the lyrics convey a critique of authority and a longing for change. The song juxtaposes a nostalgic yearning for a simpler past with stark observations of present societal issues. The narrator's irreverent tone critiques the monarchy, evidenced by jesting references to royalty and historical lineage. The mention of breaking into the palace symbolizes a defiant stance against established power. Furthermore, the lyrics lament cultural and social stagnation, emphasizing the consequences of blindly adhering to tradition. The song also explores themes of alienation and identity, questioning whether change lies within oneself or the world. Vivid imagery of public institutions, like pubs and churches, underscores a pervasive cynicism towards authority figures that disappoint or exploit the vulnerable. Ultimately, the work serves as a contemplative reflection on personal and societal transformation amidst enduring societal constructs.

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