It seems to be mainly a retelling of a scene in the movie Billy Liar, a Morrissey favourite, in which Billy intends to tell him manager, Mr. Shadrack, that he's quitting, but it also seems to relate to the boss of their record label, Geoff Travis, who apparently did show him some of his poetry.

Great song, love your take on the lyrics! Glad you get Morrissey's humour too. 😂

Their best song for me is "The Headmaster Ritual" about Morrissey's experiences at school in Manchester, my home town. it definitely rings a chord!

The Smiths were one of the most amazing 80s indie bands, Morrissey wrote some fantastic lyrics and Johnny Marr was a musical genius, check out “The Headmaster Ritual” or “Meat Is Murder”

Surely the most important album of the 1980's , with the most poignant , funny and amazing word-play lyrics of any album ever !!!! And that's before you start with the music. Bigmouth strikes again , says it all. So , so good. A full album review Justin ? Excellent work. 😁

The Smiths are one of my guilty pleasures, I just can't help liking that particular 80s vibe they had--not many bands could manage to be by turns happy, sad and sort of both and still pull it off. Oh and I always cracked a smile when I heard Vicar in a Tutu. Lol

A lot of people think it's an attack on Geoff Travis, the founder of Rough Trade Records.

Banging away, and cutting up wood, I realize, that life does not go the way it should. If my poetry and songwriting always seem to fail, you now know why I picked up my hammer and pouch of nails! When family, friends, and animals, cease to soothe, I just listen to the music and make a silly comment, that is my truth. Peace and thanks for the diversion!

This album is a masterpeice its The Smiths best album to many and NME called it the Greatest album ever. Some really great stuff on here, guitar work is on point, bass work is fire drums are amazing and Morrisseys Lyrics tell stories and meanings of all sorts its a great album. I Know Its Over, Bigmouth Strikes Again, The Boy with the Thorn in his side, There is a light that never goes out. Great album

Johnny Marr is an absolute genius...his guitar work is next level.

I didn't know this song was so divisive even among Smiths fans. I always liked this one. Morrisey's singing & lyrics, fun bass & guitar and I love that break at 1:33. Really hoping you can finish this album. To me at least, all killer no filler.

Solid album. My favorite from The Smiths. Good interpretation/reaction!

This album is one for a FULL ALBUM REACTION. It’s amazing from front to back. Be sure to check out “there is a light that never goes out” which is a classic covered many times over. 🔥

Thank you, sir!

Man, I needed this today

First time hearing this. I'm reminded by the subject matter of "Mr. Sellack", by The Roches, where the singer had left a restaurant job she hated...only in this song, she's begging for her job back, after failing to find fame and success and running out of money. I don't know if you have listened to them before but I think you'd enjoy their music and lyrics.

SHANKLY is obviously a reference to the head of ROUGH TRADE Records. As mentioned so many times before. Whom The Smiths originally signed too prior to leaving for EMI. UK

I appreciate that you dive headfirst into the most difficult and problematic sounds from my youth.

One of the best bands of the 80s. Great guitars always combined with the unique & wonderful lyrics of Morrissey!

How can you not love this?

You've Googled this, first hit tells you it was a resignation letter.

This album front to back is one of the most perfect albums of the 80s right up there with Disintegration, Closer, The Colour of Spring, Rio, and Black Celebration. A landmark release from The Smiths as well as one of the greatest bands of all time

Nice humorous song. Morissey has a very nice voice too

Great reaction I really enjoyed it. Mr Shankly was a music critic

For me, this song is an 80s alt-rock version of the 70s country song "Take This Job and Shove It". Young tough says "I quit" to go find fame and fortune. And before he makes his.exit, he gonna need Mr S to empty out that cash register because Manchester! Lol

No one else sounds like the Smiths. Crazy fun stuff. Morrissey and Johnny are brilliant.

The Smiths playing the whimsy card here. They've a wealth of good material, and covered a number of styles, and emotions. A good tune, and of course, great lyrics, Moz really could paint a picture. And that Oompah mid break... Always reminds me of 'The Old Bamboo' from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang :) All their albums were great, but their 1st has always had a special place in my heart. *Around this time JP, Manchester, the bands home town produced a whole wave of crackin', and equally diverse bands: Happy Mondays, Stone Roses, Black Grape, A Certain Ratio, New Fast Automatic Daffodils. Any, and all worth adding to your 'to do' list.

This song makes me laugh and feel a little sad - Morrissey is clearly taking an empathetic yet hilarious stab at people who are stuck in unfulfilling careers, who also know that there are better options for them (like helping the handicapped). I don't know the significance of him being named in this song, but I've read that Mr. Shankly is Bill Shankly, the manager of Liverpool Football Club in the 60s and 70s... maybe it's just because his name rhymed with frankly?

Awesome album. An Alt rock gem. Listen beginning to end.

I must admit I was (pleasantly) surprised to see you come back to this album because I thought the first track didn't make much impression on you. There's some good stuff on the album, and it's certainly different to any other music you're reacting to at the moment.

One of my favourite sayings although the first time hearing this. (I wrote a song called "Brangwyn Frankly". It didn't flicker any data whatsoever). Morrissey's only output in my collection is the awesome 90s opus Vauxhall & I but their singles always hit me between the spheres of my brain... Especially Girlfriend in a Coma which inspired Douglas Coupland at the threshold of a new millennium. Now there's a Rabbit hole.

Interesting choice. Grew up with the Smiths and Morrissey. A personal fave of mine hope you like love you

That was great.

ugh all I hear "oh mother, I can feel," straight after and I'm 15 again

lOVING YOUR REACTIONS TO THE QUEEN IS DEAD'S TRACKS

The music and cadence makes me think of the McCartney songs that Lennon hated. Very retro. The lyrics, not so much. I can see how people would love or hate this. Stirring strong emotions can be an indication of great art but not always. I suspect the age of the listener when they first heard this might be key. I think I need to hear more Smiths before I could come down on either side.

So...this is a fun musically sounding Smiths song, sort of on the same vein as Girlfriend in a Coma. However if you get a.chance, do ''Bigmouth Strikes Again'' on the same album. Lyrically great - Musically kicks. It made me a Smiths fan.

A favourite of mine .. 😂

The lyrics to this song are really amusing. It annoys me when people come out with the lazy old cliches about The Smiths being "miserable" or "depressing".

My new rating system is how much my budgie, who's s(h)itting on my shoulder, sings along - this gets 4.5 / 5 8-P

The Smiths is an interesting group. The music is created first without any idea what lyrics will be added by the singer.

This one is a little too music hall for me but they have better songs: Girlfriend in a Coma, Ask, There Is a Light That Never Goes Out, Asleep.

Ahahaha!! Brilliant song 😂 You should do "Vicar In A Tutu" from the same album 🤣 Morrissey at his hilarious best! Love him.

Good enough song, but not my favorite by them though. A bit too goofy for my liking, but man, I love The Smiths!! More, please 🙂

Masterpiece

Great reaction, thank you! It's the worst track on the (classic!) album, BUT it fulfils a useful purpose in defusing the tension built up by the title track preceding it... actually, I think TQID is one of the most weirdly sequenced albums ever - the two big ballads are back-to-back, as are the two singles, and 2 of the last 3 tracks have joke lyrics... surely "There Is A Light..." should have ended the album... "Mr Shankly" was actually Geoff Travis, their label boss at Rough Trade, who did indeed used to ask Morrissey's opinion of his poetry (though the name is almost certainly derived from Mr Shadrack, the boss of the funeral parlour in "Billy Liar", one of Morrissey's favourite books & films.)

You could spend forever doing reactions to the Smiths, each song vibrant microcosm of life and death and everything in between. What a shame Morrissey ended up a such a "flatulent pain in the ass".

The Cardiacs…..you won’t be sorry…..Tarred and Feathered.

I don't have a lot of time for the Smiths, but I've always liked this song. My favorite thing by the band is their breakthrough single "This Charming Man"/"Jeane" - both the A- and B-side are brilliant. But none of their albums grabbed me.

You can't go wrong with The Smiths. The music and lyrics were always top rate. Marr is a guitar genius and no one writes with such insight and humor as Morrissey. Too bad they broke up too soon and Morrissey has made a lot of sketchy remarks in recent years to tarnish his talents.

Congrats on picking one of the divisive tracks from the Smiths. I think the general consensus from Smiths fans is this is one of their worst songs. Personally I've always liked the jaunty feel, even if it's not their best musically. I do have to shout out Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce as one of the best rhythm sections in the 80s. If you check out some of the live versions recorded for the BBC, you'll see what I mean.

Not really heard the Smiths before. It's a pretty jaunty song. Just saw an interview of Steven Wilson where he said Morrissey had music you couldn't pin down to any particular influence. For me I like anything with a melody. So for urban storytelling, Jethro Tull or Paul Kelly do quite nicely.

Funny thing is my second name is Smith , but i never associate this group with my surname, this is not one of their best tbh . The Song that Joke isnt funny anymore may be the cleverest song ever written about talk show hosts making fun of Suicide when ever he was giving an interview , He turned to the audience and asked them how many people of you have lost a loved one to suicide , most of them put their hand up , So how close to the bone is that joke ?

Still good but one of the least important songs from the Smiths. "There is a Light That Never Goes Out" from the same album is possibly the greatest song of the 80's.

My suggestion Mr. Justin, is quick, give us something better, don’t make us sick. Wasn’t bad, just goofy filler. Transformation (Speed of Love) pls. Peace and dankly Music

The more overrated band of ever