Bigmouth Strikes Again (single)

Cover art

THE SMITHS Single
Name	Bigmouth Strikes Again
Release	22 May 1986
Total Length	3:12 (Single version) 3:24 (Outtake)
Recorded	Circa late 1985
Writer/composer	Morrissey / Johnny Marr
Producer	Morrissey / Johnny Marr Stephen Street (Recording Engineer)
Art work	Cover star: James Dean, photo by Nelva Jean Thomas (1948) Layout: Caryn Gough
Vinyl Etching	BEWARE THE WRATH TO COME (12" A-side) TALENT BORROWS, GENIUS STEALS (12" B-side)
Publisher	Rough Trade Records (UK)
Format(s)	7" Vinyl, 12" Vinyl
Chart position	UK #26
Single chronology
The Boy With The Thorn In His Side ← Bigmouth Strikes Again → Panic

Information

The "BEWARE THE WRATH TO COME" matrix message is taken from Hobson's Choice (1954).
Ann Coates is credited with the high-pitched backing vocals - which is a known Morrissey nom de plume.

Track list

7" Vinyl

UK - [Rough Trade RT 192]

1. Bigmouth Strikes Again – 3:12 (Morrissey/Marr)
2. Money Changes Everything – 4:40 (Marr)

12" Vinyl

UK - [Rough Trade RTT 192]

1. Bigmouth Strikes Again – 3:12 (Morrissey/Marr)
2. Money Changes Everything – 4:40 (Marr)
3. Unloveable – 3:54 (Morrissey/Marr)

Lyrics

Sweetness,
Sweetness, I was only joking when I said:
 "I'd like to smash every tooth in your head"

Sweetness,
Sweetness, I was only joking when I said:
 "By rights you should be bludgeoned in your bed"

And now I know how Joan of Arc felt
Now I know how Joan of Arc felt
As the flames rose to her Roman nose
And her Walkman started to melt

Bigmouth, bigmouth
Bigmouth strikes again
And I've got no right to take my place with the Human race

Bigmouth, bigmouth
Bigmouth strikes again
And I've got no right to take my place with the Human race

And now I know how Joan of Arc felt
Now I know how Joan of Arc felt
As the flames rose to her Roman nose
And her hearing aid started to melt

Bigmouth, bigmouth
Bigmouth strikes again
And I've got no right to take my place with the Human race

Bigmouth, bigmouth
Bigmouth strikes again
And I've got no right to take my place with the Human race

Live History

Play count (The Smiths concert): 46

The Smiths live history:

• Irvine, Scotland 1985-09-22 (The Smiths concert)
• Edinburgh, Scotland 1985-09-24 (The Smiths concert)
• Glasgow, Scotland 1985-09-25 (The Smiths concert)
• Dundee, Scotland 1985-09-26 (The Smiths concert)
• Lerwick, Scotland 1985-09-28 (The Smiths concert)
• Aberdeen, Scotland 1985-09-30 (The Smiths concert)
• Inverness, Scotland 1985-10-01 (The Smiths concert)
• Liverpool, England 1986-02-08 (The Smiths concert)
• Dublin, Ireland 1986-02-10 (The Smiths concert)
• Dundalk, Ireland 1986-02-11 (The Smiths concert)

... further results

Play count (Morrissey concert): 35

Morrissey live history:

• Washington, DC 2004-09-29 (Morrissey concert)
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 2004-10-01 (Morrissey concert)
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 2004-10-02 (Morrissey concert)
• Boston, Massachusetts 2004-10-04 (Morrissey concert)
• Boston, Massachusetts 2004-10-05 (Morrissey concert)
• Asbury Park, New Jersey 2004-10-07 (Morrissey concert)
• New York, New York 2004-10-09 (Morrissey concert)
• New York, New York 2004-10-10 (Morrissey concert)
• Toronto, Ontario, Canada 2004-10-12 (Morrissey concert)
• South Bend, Indiana 2004-10-13 (Morrissey concert)

... further results

Appears On

• Bigmouth Strikes Again (single)
• The Queen Is Dead
• The World Won't Listen
• Rank
• ...Best II
• Singles
• The Very Best Of The Smiths
• Live At Earls Court
• The Sound Of The Smiths
• The Smiths Singles Box
• Complete

Appears On Covers Compilation

• The World Still Won't Listen (A Tribute To The Smiths)
• The Smiths Is Dead
• Romantic And Square Is Hip And Aware (A Matinée Tribute To The Smiths)
• How Soon Is Now? The Songs Of The Smiths By...
• Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before: A Tribute To The Smiths
• The Queen Is 25
• Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star: Lullaby Versions of The Smiths & Morrissey
• Rockabye Baby! (Lullaby Renditions Of The Smiths)

Cover Versions

• Blossoms
• DJ Eric ILL
• Dial Up
• English Teacher
• Eva O
• Michael Shannon
• Placebo
• Read Yellow
• Rick Astley
• Slapshot
• Spiritual Front
• Steven Charles Boone
• The Snowdrops
• Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star

Mentioned In

• Joan of Arc

Discogs Information

Credits

• Bass - Andy Rourke
• Drums - Mike Joyce
• Engineer - Stephen Street
• Guitar - Johnny Marr
• Layout - Caryn Gough
• Model - James Dean
• Photography By [Cover Photograph Of James (Uncredited)] - Nelva Jean Thomas
• Sleeve, Voice - Morrissey

Notes

Issued with purple or white inner-sleeve.

Recorded in London © 1986 Warner Bros. Music Ltd. Made in England Distributed by The Cartel Back of sleeve credits read: Cover photograph of James from the collection of David Loehr [Actually this is James Dean photographed in 1948 by Nelva Jean Thomas. Loehr supplied the photo.]

First copies come with a purple sticker on the front cover quoting 'plus Money changes everything and Unloveable RTT192'

Images

• Bigmouth Strikes Again - Discogs master release: https://www.discogs.com/master/4032
• Bigmouth Strikes Again (12" 45 RPM Single EMI Pressing) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/490734-Smiths-Bigmouth-Strikes-Again

Discogs information (additional release)

Notes

Back cover: Recorded in London Cover photograph of James [Dean] from the collection of David Loehr

Labels: © 1986 Made in England

Runouts: Runouts are stamped except for 'BEWARE THE WRATH TO COME' and 'TALENT BORROWS , GENIUS STEALS', which are etched.

Images

• Bigmouth Strikes Again (7" 45 RPM Single EMI Pressing) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/495336-Smiths-Bigmouth-Strikes-Again

Wikipedia Information

"Bigmouth Strikes Again" is a 1986 song by the English rock band the Smiths from their third album The Queen Is Dead. Written by Johnny Marr and Morrissey, the song features self-deprecating lyrics that reflected Morrissey's frustrations with the music industry at the time. Musically, the song was inspired by the Rolling Stones' "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and centres around a guitar riff that Marr wrote during a 1985 soundcheck. "Bigmouth Strikes Again" was released as the lead single from the album, bypassing Rough Trade's preferred choice, "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out". The single reached number 26 in the UK Singles Chart and has since seen critical acclaim along with several versions recorded by other artists.

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bigmouth_Strikes_Again

Related Forum Threads

• The Smiths A-Z: "Bigmouth Strikes Again" - Morrissey-solo (Jan 14, 2022)