William, It Was Really Nothing (single)

Cover art

12" vinyl repress cover art

CD single cover art

A.D.S. advert used in creating the cover (1981-2)

THE SMITHS Single
Name	William, It Was Really Nothing
Release	24 August 1984, repress: 16 November, 1987
Total Length	2:09
Writer/composer	Morrissey / Johnny Marr
Producer	John Porter
Art work	Cover star: A.D.S. speakers advert / Billie Whitelaw in "Charlie Bubbles" (1968) / Colin Campbell in "The Leather Boys" (1964)
Vinyl Etching	THE IMPOTENCE OF ERNEST ROMANTIC AND SQUARE IS HIP AND AWARE THE IMPOTENCE OF ERNEST (Alt 7" A-side) WE HATES BAD GRAMMER (Alt 7" B-side) THE IMPOTENCE OF ERNEST (Alt 12" A-side) ROMANTIC AND [ ] IS HIP N'AWARE (Alt 12" B-side)
Publisher	Rough Trade Records (UK) Sire Records (US)
Format(s)	7" Vinyl, 12" Vinyl, CD
Chart position	UK #17
Single chronology
Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now ← William, It Was Really Nothing → How Soon Is Now?

Information

The initial sleeve was created using an advert for Analog & Digital Systems Inc. speakers ("A.D.S."), circa 1981-82.
Threatened legal action resulted in the Billie Whitelaw image being used as a replacement when the record was repressed in 1987.
A.D.S. had alleged (as cited in Peepholism, p19):
"Violation of privacy" & "deceptive trade practices". (subsequently dropped)

The Italian 12" release includes a different version of "How Soon Is Now? Info from Discogs:

Mispressed edition featuring a different version of "How Soon Is Now", with additional vocal harmonies from Morrissey. The song is very different at the end when it comes to an abrupt close with Morrissey saying "OK?". The music then fades back in again.

Track list

7" Vinyl

UK - [Rough Trade RT 166]

1. William, It Was Really Nothing – 2:09 (Morrissey/Marr)
2. Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want – 1:50 (Morrissey/Marr)

7" Vinyl repress

UK - [Rough Trade RT 166]

1. William, It Was Really Nothing – 2:09 (Morrissey/Marr)
2. How Soon Is Now? – 6:43 (Morrissey/Marr)

12" Vinyl / CD

UK - [Rough Trade RTT 166 / RTT 166CD]

1. William, It Was Really Nothing – 2:09 (Morrissey/Marr)
2. How Soon Is Now? – 6:43 (Morrissey/Marr)
3. Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want – 1:50 (Morrissey/Marr)

Lyrics

The rain falls hard on a humdrum town
This town has dragged you down
Oh, the rain falls hard on a humdrum town
This town has dragged you down
Oh, no, and everybody's got to live their life
And God knows I've got to live mine
God knows I've got to live mine

William, William it was really nothing
William, William it was really nothing
It was your life...

How can you stay with a fat girl who'll say:
"Oh! Would you like to marry me?
"And if you like you can buy the ring"
She doesn't care about anything
Would you like to marry me?
And if you like you can buy the ring
I don't dream about anyone - except myself!

Oh, William, William it was really nothing
William, William

Music Video

Credits

• Performed On Top Of The Pops, BBC, 30 Aug 1984

Live History

Play count (The Smiths concert): 76

The Smiths live history:

• Seinäjoki, Finland 1984-06-03 (The Smiths concert)
• London, England 1984-06-10 (The Smiths concert)
• Carlisle, England 1984-06-12 (The Smiths concert)
• Glasgow, Scotland 1984-06-13 (The Smiths concert)
• Edinburgh, Scotland 1984-06-14 (The Smiths concert)
• Dundee, Scotland 1984-06-15 (The Smiths concert)
• Aberdeen, Scotland 1984-06-16 (The Smiths concert)
• Inverness, Scotland 1984-06-17 (The Smiths concert)
• Blackpool, England 1984-06-20 (The Smiths concert)
• St Austell, England 1984-06-22 (The Smiths concert)

... further results

Play count (Morrissey concert): 34

Morrissey live history:

• Guadalajara, Mexico 2006-11-14 (Morrissey concert)
• Mexico City, Mexico 2006-11-16 (Morrissey concert)
• Monterrey, Mexico 2006-11-18 (Morrissey concert)
• Chicago, Illinois 2006-11-21 (Morrissey concert)
• Athens, Greece 2006-11-25 (Morrissey concert)
• Thessaloniki, Greece 2006-11-27 (Morrissey concert)
• Glasgow, Scotland 2006-12-02 (Morrissey concert)
• Newcastle, England 2006-12-04 (Morrissey concert)
• Nottingham, England 2006-12-05 (Morrissey concert)
• Birmingham, England 2006-12-07 (Morrissey concert)

... further results

Appears On

• William, It Was Really Nothing (single)
• Hatful Of Hollow
• Louder Than Bombs
• Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me (single)
• Best...I
• Singles
• The Very Best Of The Smiths
• The Sound Of The Smiths
• The Smiths Singles Box
• Complete

Appears On Covers Compilation

• The String Quartet: Tribute To The Smiths
• Rockabye Baby! (Lullaby Renditions Of The Smiths)

Cover Versions

• Blossoms
• Duncan Sheik
• Rick Astley
• Steven Charles Boone
• The Vitamin String Quartet

Mentioned In

• Kenneth Farrington

Discogs Information

Credits

• Artwork [Sleeve By] - Morrissey
• Bass - Andy Rourke
• Drums - Mike Joyce
• Engineer - Mark Wallis
• Guitar, Mandolin - Johnny Marr
• Layout - Caryn Gough
• Other [Special Thanks To] - Stephen Street
• Producer - John Porter
• Voice - Morrissey
• Written-By [Music] - Johnny Marr
• Written-By [Words] - Morrissey

Notes

Recorded at Jam Studios, July 1984

© 1984 Warner Bros. Music ℗ © 1984 Rough Trade Records Ltd.

Made in the UK

Images

• William, It Was Really Nothing - Discogs master release: https://www.discogs.com/master/
• William, It Was Really Nothing (7" Single 45 RPM Solid Centre) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/5460333-The-Smiths-William-It-Was-Really-Nothing

Discogs information (additional release)

Notes

Similar version (EMI pressing): [r=12784283].

Runouts are hand-etched except for the ”broken” A (appearing as Λ) and stamper numbers by CBS Pressing Plant, Aston Clinton, which are stamped.

[Sleeve:] Layout [...] at Ai Recorded at Jam Studios, July 1984 [...] Special thanks to Stephen Street ℗ © 1984 Rough Trade Records Ltd

[Labels:] © 1984 Warner Bros. Music Made in the UK

Images

• William, It Was Really Nothing (12" 45 RPM Single CBS Pressing) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/374697-The-Smiths-William-It-Was-Really-Nothing

Discogs information (additional release)

Notes

Dark blue print, on light blue paper label. Side-opening gloss sleeve with a thumb-cut and flipbacks at the back.

Runouts are stamped except for the etched 'THE IMPOTENCE OF ERNEST' and 'WE HATES BAD GRAMMER'.

[Sleeve:] Recorded at Jam Studios, London, July 1984 Artwork from Charlie Bubbles TM © 1968 Universal Pictures Ltd. [...]. Licensed by Merchandising Corporation Of America Inc.

[Labels:] © 1984 Warner Bros. Music Ltd. Made in England

Images

• William, It Was Really Nothing (7" Single Reissue Push-Out Centre) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/495315-The-Smiths-William-It-Was-Really-Nothing

Discogs information (additional release)

Notes

Cover Star from "The Leather Boys" (A Raymond Stross Production)

℗ 1988 Rough Trade Records Ltd. © 1984 Warner Bros. Music Ltd.

Made in England

Images

• William, It Was Really Nothing (Single) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/395714-The-Smiths-William-It-Was-Really-Nothing

Wikipedia Information

"William, It Was Really Nothing" is a song by the English rock band the Smiths. It was released as a single in August 1984, featuring the B-sides "Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want" and "How Soon Is Now?", and reached No. 17 in the UK Singles Chart. The song is featured on the compilation albums Hatful of Hollow and Louder Than Bombs, as well as other best of and singles collections. In 2004, the song was ranked No. 425 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest songs of all time. When the band performed the song on Top of the Pops, Morrissey ripped open his shirt to reveal the words "MARRY ME" written on his chest ("Would you like to marry me?" is one line of the song).

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William,_It_Was_Really_Nothing

Related Forum Threads

• The Smiths A-Z: "William, It Was Really Nothing" - Morrissey-solo (Nov 27, 2022)