What Difference Does It Make? (single)

Cover art

Alternate cover art

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:

... further results

The Smiths live history - played in concert twice:

Cork, Ireland 1984-05-20 (The Smiths concert)

Play count (Morrissey concert): 0

Appears On

Appears On Covers Compilation

Cover Versions

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

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 T. Stamp Cover, 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. The cover photograph is of Terence Stamp, taken on the set of the film The Collector. Subsequently, Stamp denied permission for the photo to be used, and the second edition featured Morrissey in a re-enacted scene instead.

Lyrics to track A printed on the back cover.

[On back cover]: Cover Star: Terence Stamp (courtesy Columbia Pictures) UK distribution by The Cartel

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 T. Stamp Cover) - 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. The first edition had a photograph of Terence Stamp, taken on the set of the film The Collector. After Stamp denied permission for the photograph to be used, this release featured Morrissey in a re-enacted scene instead.

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 Morrissey Cover) - 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.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_Difference_Does_It_Make%3F

Related Forum Threads

The Smiths A-Z: "What Difference Does It Make?" - Morrissey-solo (Nov 18, 2022)