Pretty Girls Make Graves

Cover art

THE SMITHS song
Name	Pretty Girls Make Graves
Album/single	The Smiths
Length	3:24
Writer/composer	Morrissey / Johnny Marr
Producer	John Porter
Release	February 1984
Recorded	Autumn 1983

Information

The cellist on the demo version of the song is Audrey Riley (as per discog credits on Sweet And Tender Hooligan single).

Lyrics

Upon the sand, upon the bay
"There is a quick and easy way" you say
Before you illustrate
I'd rather state:

I'm not the man you think I am
I'm not the man you think I am

And sorrow's native son
He will not smile for anyone
And pretty girls make graves

End of the pier, end of the bay
You tug my arm, and say: "give in to lust
Give up to lust, oh heaven knows we'll
Soon be dust"

Oh, I'm not the man you think I am
I'm not the man you think I am

And sorrow's native son
He will not rise for anyone
And pretty girls make graves

(Oh, really?)
I could have been wild and I could have been free
But Nature played this trick on me

She wants it now
And she will not wait
But she's too rough
And I'm too delicate

Then, on the sand
Another man, he takes her hand
A smile lights up her stupid face
(And well, it would)

I lost my faith in womanhood
I lost my faith in womanhood
I lost my faith

Hand in glove
The sun shines out of our behinds

Live History

Play count (The Smiths concert): 58

The Smiths live history:

• London, England 1983-08-30 (The Smiths concert)
• London, England 1983-09-25 (The Smiths concert)
• Birmingham, England 1983-09-30 (The Smiths concert)
• London, England 1983-10-05 (The Smiths concert)
• Sheffield, England 1983-10-17 (The Smiths concert)
• London, England 1983-10-21 (The Smiths concert)
• Liverpool, England 1983-10-22 (The Smiths concert)
• London, England 1983-10-28 (The Smiths concert)
• Leicester, England 1983-11-16 (The Smiths concert)
• London, England 1983-11-17 (The Smiths concert)

... further results

Play count (Morrissey concert): 0

Appears On

• The Smiths (album)
• Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before (single)
• I Started Something I Couldn't Finish (single)
• The Sound Of The Smiths
• Complete

Appears On Covers Compilation

• Godfathers Of Change Vol. 1: A Tribute To The Smiths

Cover Versions

• Alan Mesia

Mentioned In

• Morrissey: "Your Real Home Is Your Body – Not Your House Or Your Apartment!" - Vegan Logic (November 28, 2014)

Related Forum Threads

• The Smiths A-Z: "Pretty Girls Make Graves" - Morrissey-solo (May 28, 2022)