What Difference Does It Make? (single)
THE SMITHS Single | |
---|---|
Name | What Difference Does It Make? |
Release | 16 January 1984 |
Total Length | 3:25 (7" edit) 3:50 (album, 12", CD version) 3:10 (Peel Session) 4:04 (Troy Tate studio) 3:19 (Troy Tate outtake) 3:56 (Troy Tate earliest outtake) 4:06 (Crazy Face rehearsal) |
Recorded | October, 1983 (single version) |
Writer/composer | Morrissey / Johnny Marr |
Producer | John Porter |
Art work | Cover star: Terence Stamp in "The Collector" (1965) Layout: Caryn Gough |
Vinyl Etching | No matrix message |
Publisher | Rough Trade Records (UK) Sire Records (US) |
Format(s) | 7" Vinyl, 12" Vinyl, CD |
Chart position | UK #12 |
Single chronology | |
This Charming Man ← What Difference Does It Make? → Hand In Glove (Sandie Shaw release)
|
Information
- An "original demo" version of this song is available on the Shoplifters From Manchester bootleg CD.
Track list
7" Vinyl
UK - [Rough Trade RT 146]
- What Difference Does It Make? – 3:20 (Morrissey/Marr)
- Back To The Old House – 3:00 (Morrissey/Marr)
12" Vinyl / CD
UK - [Rough Trade RTT 146 / RTT 146CD]
- What Difference Does It Make? – 3:20 (Morrissey/Marr)
- Back To The Old House – 3:00 (Morrissey/Marr)
- These Things Take Time – 2:20 (Morrissey/Marr)
Lyrics
All men have secrets and here is mine
So let it be known
For we have been through hell and high tide
I think I can rely on you
And yet you start to recoil
Heavy words are so lightly thrown
But still I'd leap in front of a flying bullet for you
So, what difference does it make?
So, what difference does it make?
It makes none
But now you have gone
And you must be looking very old tonight
The devil will find work for idle hands to do
I stole and I lied, and why?
Because you asked me to!
But now you make me feel so ashamed
Because I've only got two hands
Well, I'm still fond of you, oh-ho-oh
So, what difference does it make?
Oh, what difference does it make?
Oh, it makes none
But now you have gone
And your prejudice won't keep you warm tonight
Oh, the devil will find work for idle hands to do
I stole, and then I lied
Just because you asked me to
But now you know the truth about me
You won't see me anymore
Well, I'm still fond of you, oh-ho-oh
But no more apologies
No more, no more apologies
Oh, I'm too tired
I'm so sick and tired
And I'm feeling very sick and ill today
But I'm still fond of you, oh-ho-oh
Oh, my sacred one
Oh
Music Video
- Performed On Top Of The Pops, BBC, 9 Feb 1984
Live History
Play count (The Smiths concert): 81
The Smiths live history:
- Manchester, England 1983-01-25 (The Smiths concert)
- Manchester, England 1983-02-04 (The Smiths concert)
- London, England 1983-05-06 (The Smiths concert)
- London, England 1983-05-21 (The Smiths concert)
- Birmingham, England 1983-06-03 (The Smiths concert)
- London, England 1983-06-29 (The Smiths concert)
- Bournemouth, England 1983-07-01 (The Smiths concert)
- Manchester, England 1983-07-06 (The Smiths concert)
- London, England 1983-07-07 (The Smiths concert)
- London, England 1983-08-07 (The Smiths concert)
The Smiths live history - played in concert twice:
Play count (Morrissey concert): 0
Appears On
- What Difference Does It Make? (single)
- The Smiths (album)
- Hatful Of Hollow
- Best...I
- The Complete Picture
- Singles
- The Very Best Of The Smiths
- 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)
- Godfathers Of Change Vol. 1: A Tribute To The Smiths
- Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before: A Tribute To The Smiths
- Please, Please, Please: A Tribute To The Smiths
- Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star: Lullaby Versions of The Smiths & Morrissey
Cover Versions
- Blossoms
- Joy Zipper
- Rick Astley
- Spiritual Front
- SubZero
- Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star
- Vampire Slayers
- Versailles
Discogs Information
Credits
- Bass Guitar - Andy Rourke
- Drums - Mike Joyce
- Guitar, Music By - Johnny Marr
- Lacquer Cut By - John Dent
- Model [Cover Star] - Terence Stamp
- Producer - John Porter
- Voice, Sleeve - Morrissey
- Words By - Morrissey
- Written-By - Johnny Marr
- Written-By - Morrissey
Notes
Labels: © 1984 Copyright Control
Back cover: Cover Star: Terence Stamp (courtesy Columbia Pictures)
ROUGH TRADE Records Ltd. 137 Blenheim Cresent, London W11
UK DISTRIBUTION by The CARTEL
There are two cover variants of this single: Variant 1: "Terence Stamp" as cover star (this one here) What Difference Does It Make?: "Morrissey" as cover star because Terence Stamp denied his permission for variant 1 (later he changed his mind again and granted the permission)
Runouts are stamped except for the etched 'JONZ' and 'SOUND CLINIC'.
Images
- What Difference Does It Make? - Discogs master release: https://www.discogs.com/master/20086
- What Difference Does It Make? (7" 45 RPM Single Push-out Centre) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/495324-The-Smiths-What-Difference-Does-It-Make
Discogs information (additional release)
Notes
First UK edition without the band name on the front cover.
Lyrics to track A printed on the back cover.
[On back cover]: Cover Star: Terence Stamp (courtesy Columbia Pictures) UK distribution by The Cartel
[On labels]: © 1984 Copyright Control
Catalog numbers: RTT 146 (on labels) RTT146 (on sleeve)
Runouts: - Runouts are etched except for the Aston Clinton stamper numbers and letters, which are stamped - The letter "A" appears as a "broken" A (Λ)
Images
- What Difference Does It Make? (12" 45 RPM Single 1st Edition) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/1456383-The-Smiths-What-Difference-Does-It-Make
Discogs information (additional release)
Notes
This is the second edition with Morrissey on the cover (after a still from the film "The Collector").
© 1984 Copyright Control UK distribution by The Cartel
Catalogue number "RTT 146" on labels, "RTT146" on sleeve.
Runouts are etched except for the stamped Aston Clinton stamper numbers and letters. The letter A appears as Λ.
Images
- What Difference Does It Make? (12" 45 RPM Single 2nd Edition) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/1464161-The-Smiths-What-Difference-Does-It-Make
Wikipedia Information
"What Difference Does It Make?" is a song by the English rock band the Smiths, written by singer Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr. It was the band's third single and is featured on their debut album, The Smiths. A different version, recorded for the John Peel Show on BBC Radio 1, is included in the compilation album Hatful of Hollow. The song was one of the band's first significant chart hits, peaking at No. 12 in the UK Singles Chart.
Related Forum Threads
- The Smiths A-Z: "What Difference Does It Make?" - Morrissey-solo (Nov 18, 2022)