Johnny Marr has described the fade in & out at the beginning as trying to get the effect of walking past an open door where you hear some great music, then go back to check it out some more... he was also disappointed at the time by Morrissey's "throwaway" lyrics for what he considered a great backing track. And I think I said it when you reacted to "There Is A Light...", but I think this is a weird song to end a great album, like an unfinished thought...

Admittedly, there is not much to this song. That said, it’s a great closer - and it’s just a pure jam. The groove bounces along and could go on forever in my opinion and it just sounds so good. , dreamy is a good word Jp. Great closer. Next stop on smiths train should be Meat is Murder. You want a baseline? Wait till you hear Barbarism begins at home.

“Send me the pillow/The one that you dream on.” Classic, gorgeous, longing Morrissey sentiment. A perfect closer to a great album.

JP I'm not 100% sure, but the line "as Antony said to Cleopatra, as he opened crate of ale, Oh I say", sounds like it references Charles Hawtrey or Kenneth Williams, both are regulars of the 'Carry On' films. Charles Hawtrey also appears in the video clip to Morrissey's song 'Everyday is like Sunday'. Beatles fans will also recognise the name, as John Lennon announces "I Dig a Pygmy, by Charles Hawtrey and The Deaf-Aids. Phase one, in which Doris gets her oats.” before the song 'Two of Us' on Let it be. Charles also adorns the cover to 'The Very Best of The Smiths' album. The 'Carry On' movies ran from the 50s-70S, with a reboot in 1992. They were part of life growing up in the UK during those years. They are very British which is why Morrissey likes them so much. They are not as clever as the Mel Brooks or Woody Allen films, maybe The National Lampoon series is the level they are on. Benny Hill's humour is similar, but the 'Carry On' team was huge (there's a joke in their missus) and set in historical periods (Henry VIII, French Revolution) or holidays (vacations) somewhere, Spain, camping in UK etc. They also liked dressing up as doctors and nurses, and having romps in hospitals. There was always lots on inuendo and double entendres, but nothing explicit. It was the kind of movie that parents could take the kids to see, the kids enjoyed the silliness, parents laughed at the jokes that went over the kid's heads. No real swearing except words such as 'berk' which is very rude, if you know your rhyming slang, but for the majority that don't, it's just a silly word.

This song makes me want to dance on a stage and swing a bouquett of flowers around

I heard the piano on the intro and immediately thought of Oscar Peterson. The man was amazing. The Smiths was a band I first heard mentioned in the Rebus novels of Ian Rankin (whom I will be hearing speak tonight). Rankin is one of my favourite living novelists (3 of them, oddly enough, live in Scotland). The sound of this song is familiar enough. I don't know if it was an 80s thing or if other bands were imitating The Smiths.

Almost 40 years old and still a classic.

I’ve had fun listening to this album with you, Justin ❤ And yes, it’s a wonderful album. As others have mentioned, this groove could play in my ears 24/7 and I wouldn’t complain. Johnny Marr is a dreamy-sounding yet very precise guitarist…and then those vocals 🙌 I’ve loved Morrissey, hated Morrissey, and lately have fallen back in love. It’s a rollercoaster! 😂

More Smiths please. They have so many good tunes. Love for you to cover Louder than Bombs or Meat is Murder.

Girls,mothers - differences only in the shapes from inside are the same. Text and guitar masterpiece. One of the best Smiths song

Coda might be a fitting term for this last song. The Carry On film is a bawdy comedy, indeed like Mel Brooks History.....etc.

If I may, staying with the early '80s band's, I would highly recommend going through REM's first album 'Murmur'. I know you will like it from start to finish. To me, that REM album is a better overall album (by a tad) than this Smiths album. That being said, I'm still glad you did this album.

when the ride cymbal kicks in on the outro it just perfectly completes a genius song

This song is more about showcasing the "jangly guitar" than anything else. Catchy tune, absurd lyrics. The intro fade is purposeful.

One of my favourite Smiths tracks.

Love this track possibly my favourite smiths song

Always liked this song. Fun lyrics, backing track & closer to the album. Never got the criticisms about it.

Timeless.

First heard this song in 87 I believe, still don’t know the meaning. And now, the song is stuck in my head again. Thanks. Love the the music. Smiths are legend.

Yes, "extremely dreamy" is the perfect description (including the fade-in-fade-outs). You're right that it isn't a stand-out track, but it so reminds me of the pleasant effect of listening to this album with someone over a light dinner and this coming up at the end just as the effect of the wine and/or other intoxicants starts to kick in. I think something heavier after what preceded it would have been too much. I hope you get to fit _Meat_ _Is_ _Murder_ in somewhere in you schedule, though I am delighted that you gave this album a thorough review!

Oh, this brings back so many memories of being a teenager in the 80s. Great song and great album.

I never interpreted the song to be about girl's breasts or weight but more about their standing in society and how some people can be "out of your league". The pillow part is let's see if we share the same dreams anyway and those different societal standings means nothing

Actually a perfect ending to an album, as a little palette cleanse. Morrissey's dark humour is perfect.

Indeed: some girls ARE bigger than others, and so are the girls mothers. Really like the music especially near the end: some nice things happening there. Great beautiful vocal too

Don’t forget this album is full of whimsy love you

The producers of a comedy based on the basic training period of Britain's National Service were persuaded to abandon its original title, for the common military phrase uttered by officers to their NCOs; and Carry On Sergeant was the result. When able to reunite most of the principal supporting cast of that film, it occurred to them that, with similar levels of hierarchy within hospitals, they could title this one Carry On Nurse and hopefully benefit from returning audiences. Aided by some unexpected US success (this one-time only, it has to be said) it persuaded them to use the Carry On... prefix towards various other professions in some of their next films. With its other meaning (a carry-on is one way of defining unnecessary chaos) well suited to these comedic scenarios, the films somehow earned their own identity, so when a golden opportunity for a film set in Ancient Egypt presented itself, Carry on Cleo was born. If any of the other comments are persuading you to have a look at Cleo, I hope this will be one more case of transatlantic appreciation on your part. I'd never make unequivocal guarantees that younger generations will appreciate the levels of humour and representation on show, but I'd always hope for the best. As an outsider, I find amusement in some Smiths fans feeling the need to say the same thing these days: seems to me that a lot of Peters are pretending they didn't deify Morrissey and Marr equally, but I doubt a rooster crowing will make any difference! I tended to be irritated by either of them, depending on the track. When they both pull it together on the likes of How Soon Is Now or this one, as it happens, I can see where the devotion came from. [I must apologize for multiple part-postings of this comment, JP. My mother hates her laptop with a passion, and with good reason for all the times the touchpad deletes, overwrites and, in this case, publishes text. I thought it might be quicker than using my tablet...!]

Intentional intro fade, almost as if the rest of the song is an afterthought/jam.

While I´m not particulary fond of the sound of the 80´s, I always liked the production of this album. Loved Stephen Street´s production of BLUR´s self titled (1997) album, though. And John Marr´s subtle change in the guitar melody towards the end adds more than he actually plays, I always thought. The lyrics? Can we just let them stand for what they are please? 🤣

My second favorite Smiths song. Love it!

The Carry-On movies were a series of comedies which generally parodied some more "serious" films. I'm guessing Carry on Cleo would've been short for Carry on Cleopatra (and the producers would've chosen the theme largely because it gave an excuse to have scantily clad ladies - by the standards of the world before wall to wall porn right through to the adverts on TV, anyway - and an opening for a lot of innuendo. Carry On used a lot of innuendo, and that way the kids could enjoy the films, too (maybe wondering sometimes what the grown-ups thought was so funny). I used to think they were great when I was little, but might not, today. (Although the Goon Show is still better than any of the so-called comedy made today, so maybe they still are.) Their production wouldn't be much appreciated now, I'd think, but too much production means too little own imagination employed, so in spite of the fact that the producers would be socially compelled to go and Cringe somewhere (hide away, curl up, die of shame - 'tis the way of the times), the way those whose holiday movies are not of a sufficiently (I don't want to say high - it's presumptuous - assumes all sorts of values that can't just be taken as give ... ) ... polished(?) (that'll do) ... whose holiday movies are not of a suitably polished, and otherwise surface-aestheticized right until very ugliness, I tell ye, ... What the hell was I trying to say? Oh, the producers couldn't even make a "proper" amateur holiday movie by today's standards, probably. (But what on Earth was all that other nonsense? Can't remember. But we're not supposed to discuss these things in public, where people can call the cops again. Why not? Just don't, OK? But why? Shut up! Shut up Eccles! but I can't see what the problem Shut UP!! fine but Is he going on about the risk of someone calling the cops again? Yes. Is this a comedy or something. No of course not! Shut UP!! Remember last time. But this time there's eleven of us, and just one of Them. fades away like a good idea seldom does Just trying very had, but not very well to simulate what The Goon Show sounds like.

amazing comments

This song makes me think about life

Suggestion: China Crisis - Flaunt the Imperfection, a Gary Katz (Steely Dan) produced record of tasty pop.

Some songs are better than others - obviously this song has to be taken in context with the preceding songs. But if we look at this song as an individual unit - it's a nice dreamy melody only brought down by lyrics of little or no consequence. They wanted this song to be this way - I feel that better lyrics would make it a better song. If it's humor they were seeking - it isn't funny enough. Musically it's a nice album wrap-up but I still come back to the lyrics - could've/should've been better.

The entire canon of Carry On... films all feature a series of dated pussy jokes, double entendres, mildly misogynistic objectification and crude innuendo, placed in some or other setting, historical or otherwise, and they are essential viewing for anyone who wants to properly understand British culture. I grew up with them rerunning on TV, and I absolutely love them. Far from politically correct, they are nevertheless endearingly playful and tame by today's standards of bawdy comedy.

The guitar parts are incredibily beautiful

ahahhahahaha everybody's get tricked at the fade

Would You PLEASE Consider Coming Back Around To Them 1 Last Time For These MUST HEAR Tracks,, The Stranglers "Walk On By",, "Strange Little Girl" & "...And If You Should See Dave" (In Honor & Memory Of Keyboardist Dave Greenfield..R.I.P.)

Obviously as camp & higher pitched Morrissey sang. Opposed to other Tracks on the Album . It's Morrissey as his most playful, inspiring & refferancing Classic 'CARRY ON' British Seaside Post card humour. as understated as it is. He's highlighting the possible fall and decline of the once great powerful Female Matriarchal system of the West.. as simply replace Some Girls 'Were' Bigger than Others..

The fading in and out is not on your end - always found that very strange. I like the guitar work on this track, other than that it almost is a bit throw away-ish.

The fade out at the beginning is on the recording, it catches everyone out. No idea why its there.

In a way, The Queen is Dead kind of reminds me of The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway... they are both very dreamlike, and character-driven, whether it's Caryl Chessman, Lenny Bruce, and Marshall McLuhan in the Lamb, or Keats & Yeats, Anthony & Cleopatra, Joan of Arc in the Queen. Stephen Street is a brilliant producer, and those false openings and endings are kind of a running joke. Not sure if it's funny anymore, though.

I find this track one of the slighter ones on the album. Great album, though. Personally, I don't rate Meat is Murder that highly and would recommend Hatful of Hollow for the next Smiths album.

Carry on Cleo would make a great reaction 🤔

I love pie. ❤️

I’ve always liked this song, great tune and easy going lyrics what’s not to love.

Even if you think twice… There is only one thing to say: Some girls are bigger than others!

You never know about Morrissey's lyrics. I, personally, don't believe he ever"got confused and killed a nun," but then again... If we are referencing the album's title and the queen, then its the ultimate in power, and she dies. Like her, all girls end up the same, like all of us, but for a brief moment when they were young, and vital, and had seemingly everything. The historical references frame this, as does the dreamy pop lyrics that capture that infatuation of some girl (someone) no doubt at the height of their beauty/charm. Bigger is ambiguous, but whether you're the queen of Great Britain or struggling to get by, the scene plays out the same, on different scales." They were born, and then they lived, and then they died."

For me it's the perfect ending to the album...a bit of lyrical whimsy and really just a vehicle for JM's sublime guitar pattern.

Sorry about that. This should fix it. You have not so many days till Christmas, now, so it's time for *I'm Walking Backwards for Christmas* (sung by the man who insisted on the epitaph, "I told you I was ill" on his grave stone). Nice thing is that it has a Heavenly Choir in it. It's not many Christmas songs that have heavenly choirs in them. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/m5xhqKZemtmdhok.html (And it's also ridiculous, silly, and absurd, so it has that in its favour as well.)

Do Americans understand what the dole age is ?

Look, not every Smiths fan loves this song possibly for the lyrics and I get that, but my lord, if you don’t enjoy that instrumentation, that makes me very miserable… no pun intended.

I love this song. I don't care about the lyrics one bit. The music and the vocals go so well to me and that's all that matters 🤷🏽‍♀️

Not really my cup of tea, this band, but if you decide to react to their 1992 album, "Your Arsenal", I will be interested to hear it, since the producer is...Mick Ronson. So, yeah, up for that one. 😊

Is this really the first time you’ve listened to this? If so, I envy your naivety but not your ignorance x

To me it's an inconsequential piece. Musically, it reminds me of the sound of some Stranglers tracks from the mid-80s. In other words, not much !

IMHO, this is the weakest song on the album and considerably more lightweight than the others. It's a shame that such a classic album ends with a whimper rather than a bang.

Should I, some guys are bigger than others, some guys fathers are bigger than other guys fathers… It’s like that. Smiths didn’t win me over with this album.

One word….horrible. Stick with Rush and M.O.