Barbarism Begins At Home (single)
| THE SMITHS Single | |
|---|---|
| Name | Barbarism Begins At Home |
| Release | February 1985 (Album) April 1985 (Single) Not released in the UK until 1988 on CD |
| Total Length | 6:55 (Album version) 3:53 (Single version) |
| Recorded | Circa late 1984 |
| Writer/composer | Morrissey / Johnny Marr |
| Producer | Johnny Marr Stephen Street (Recording Engineer) |
| Art work | Cover star: Viv Nicholson image taken from her book: "Spend Spend Spend" (1977) Layout: Caryn Gough |
| Vinyl Etching | THESE ARE THE GOOD TIMES |
| Publisher | Rough Trade Records (UK) Sire Records (US) |
| Format(s) | 7" Vinyl, 12" Vinyl, CD |
| Chart position | Wasn't a UK single release |
| Single chronology | |
| Shakespeare's Sister ← Barbarism Begins At Home → The Headmaster Ritual
| |
Information
12" Vinyl
Germany - [Rough Trade RTD 021 T]
- Barbarism Begins At Home – 7:00 (Morrissey/Marr)
- Shakespeare's Sister – 2:09 (Morrissey/Marr)
- Stretch Out And Wait – 2:37 (Morrissey/Marr)
12" Vinyl UK Promo
UK - [Rough Trade RTT 171]
- Barbarism Begins At Home – 7:00 (Morrissey/Marr)
- Barbarism Begins At Home – 3:48 (Morrissey/Marr)
CD
UK - [Rough Trade RTT 171CD]
- Barbarism Begins At Home – 7:00 (Morrissey/Marr)
- Shakespeare's Sister – 2:09 (Morrissey/Marr)
- Stretch Out And Wait – 2:44 (Morrissey/Marr)
Lyrics
Unruly boys
who will not grow up
must be taken in hand
Unruly girls
who will not settle down
they must be taken in hand
A crack on the head
is what you get for not asking
and a crack on the head
is what you get for asking
Live History
Play count (The Smiths concert): 84
The Smiths live history:
- London, England 1983-12-19 (The Smiths concert)
- Sheffield, England 1984-01-31 (The Smiths concert)
- London, England 1984-02-12 (The Smiths concert)
- Norwich, England 1984-02-14 (The Smiths concert)
- Nottingham, England 1984-02-15 (The Smiths concert)
- Leicester, England 1984-02-16 (The Smiths concert)
- Colchester, England 1984-02-18 (The Smiths concert)
- Bournemouth, England 1984-02-21 (The Smiths concert)
- Reading, England 1984-02-22 (The Smiths concert)
- Swansea, Wales 1984-02-23 (The Smiths concert)
The Smiths live history - played in concert twice:
Play count (Morrissey concert): 0
Appears On
- Meat Is Murder
- Barbarism Begins At Home (single)
- The Sound Of The Smiths
- The Smiths Singles Box
- Complete
Cover Versions
Discogs Information
Credits
- Bass Guitar, Cello - Andy Rourke
- Drums - Mike Joyce
- Engineer - Stephen Street
- Guitar, Piano - Johnny Marr
- Lacquer Cut By - Günter Pauler
- Layout - Caryn Gough
- Music By - Johnny Marr
- Producer - The Smiths
- Sleeve, Voice, Words By - Morrissey
Notes
- Many copies came with a glued white sticker "810 088-100" on the front.
©1985 ℗1985 Recorded in Liverpool, October 1984 and Surrey, January 1985
Engineered by Stephan Street [mistype on both labels]
From the LP »Meat is Murder« (RTD 28) [printed on A-label]
[Additionally printed on the sleeve without the double quotes] "Cover Star: VIV NICHOLSON in ‘Viv At The Pithead’ (Courtesy of Syndication International): Here is Viv with suitcase before going to Malta on a later spending-spree after tragedy had almost robbed her of what remained of her fortune"
"All god's Children Got Wings"
Images
- Barbarism Begins At Home / Shakespeare's Sister - Discogs master release: https://www.discogs.com/master/21019
- Barbarism Begins At Home / Shakespeare's Sister (7" 45 RPM Single) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/2071878-The-Smiths-Barbarism-Begins-At-Home-Shakespeares-Sister
Discogs information (additional release)
Notes
Cover star: VIV NICHOLSON in 'Viv At The Pithead' (courtesy of syndication International). "Here is Viv with suitcase before going to Malta on a later spending-spree after tragedy had almost robbed her of what remained of her fortune.".
Recorded in Liverpool, October 1984 and at Ridge Farm, Surrey, January 1985.
"Barbarism Begins At Home" From the LP >>Meat Is Murder<< (RTD28)
c 1985 Warner Bros. Music Ltd.
Images
- Barbarism Begins At Home / Shakespeare's Sister (12" 45 RPM Single) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/685199-The-Smiths-Barbarism-Begins-At-Home-Shakespeares-Sister
Discogs information (additional release)
Notes
Cover star: VIV NICHOLSON in 'Viv At The Pithead' (courtesy of Syndication International). "Here is Viv with suitcase before going to Malta on a later spending-spree after tragedy had almost robbed her of what remained of her fortune".
Recorded in Liverpool, October 1984 and at Ridge Farm, Surrey, January 1985.
℗ 1988 Rough Trade Records Ltd. © 1985 Warner Bros. Music Ltd.
Made in France
Images
- Barbarism Begins At Home (Single Reissue) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/485787-The-Smiths-Barbarism-Begins-At-Home
Wikipedia Information
 |
"Barbarism Begins at Home" is a song by the English rock band the Smiths. Featured on their second studio album, Meat Is Murder (1985), the song has a lyric condemning child abuse and a funk-inspired track based around Andy Rourke's bass line. "Barbarism Begins at Home" was given an initial limited release in Germany and Italy in April 1985 but was not released as a single in the UK until 1988. It has since seen positive critical reception and became a live favourite during the band's lifetime.
Related Forum Threads
- The Smiths A-Z: "Barbarism Begins at Home" - Morrissey-solo (Jan 12, 2022)