The Smiths A-Z: "Ask"

[The.Truth.]

The version on Rank is excellent. Plus the lyrics about writing frightening verse are classic. I'm surprised this isn't more well loved.
"If it's not love then it's the bomb that will bring us together.' He could have written that and quit and still been remembered forever.

 

[Anonymous]

Difficult to judge Gannon's claims of co-writing this. It's a basic 4 chord sequence (ironically the same as 'I Won't Share You'), but I can sort of understand why he was a bit miffed if this was the starting point from which all the interesting bits on top were developed. Presumably the fact that the band were in the process of letting him go anyway won't have done him any favours at the time.