Track #18: “Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now” by The Smiths (1984)

Welcome to Track Chatter, where with each post we choose a different song to discuss in depth. This entry is part of an ongoing series in which we approach the 1980s through examinations of Heavy Metal and Indie music. 

Aaron: With this entry, we hop back across the pond to England as we take up the massively influential band The Smiths. The Smiths are a quintessential indie band. Formed in Manchester in 1982, they released four studio albums and three singles compilations - all on indie label Rough Trade Records - before breaking up in 1987 (in the US they were on Sire records, at the time a quasi-indie label with a Warners distribution deal).

Such a huge amount of material in a five-year window is only one indication of the passion, dedication, and artistic exploration that drove the band to become one of the most influential in rock history, indie or otherwise (for a hint of their influence, just check the wide array of artists who have covered their songs, from the expected, like Radiohead or Jeff Buckley, through the more eclectic, like Bobby Bare, Jr., Mojo Nixon, and Skream).

Having said all that, I must admit to a healthy dose of trepidation on preparing this entry. As I’ve detailed elsewhere, I was a late comer to ‘80s indie music for many reasons, the main one being that a lot of it seemed to lack the . . . oomph . . . of the hard rock and classic rock I was listening to. I found my way in via older bands (The Velvet Underground) or the more rock-oriented indie bands of the ‘80s (The Replacements, REM) who could supply that oomph. The Smiths have always been another matter, and I’ve just got to go ahead and admit right up front that for a very long time I pretty much hated them. Definitely throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s. By the ‘00s, as my tastes were broadening and the rigidity with which I’d approached music for so long was mellowing, I began to allow myself to appreciate The Smiths - in theory - while still not being able to say I actually liked them. I’ve had long conversations with fervent (and occasionally surprising) Smiths fans, sometimes aggressive, sometimes pretty even-keeled. I’ve read up on the band, come to love the sounds of guitarist Johnny Marr, and listened to fabulous Smiths covers by performers I really love.

But if I’m honest, it can still be hard for me to sit down, listen to more than 2 or 3 Smiths’ songs, and think, yeah, I get it. I love these guys!

With that in mind, I decided to push myself a bit in choosing the track for this entry. My first instinct was to go for “How Soon Is Now,” a song that even non-fans know. It’s a killer track, with one of rock’s great guitar riffs and some of Morrisey’s sharpest, most effective lyrics. But that seemed too easy a choice (I mean, everybody loves “How Soon Is Now,” right?). My second choice was “There is a Light That Never Goes Out.” This was the first Smiths song I really got to know. I received a fantastic mix tape back in 1990 with tons of indie stuff on it - Echo and the Bunnymen, Bad Brains, old U2, Social Distortion. I played the hell out of that tape in the summer of ‘90. Fast forwarding being a pain in the ass, I ended up hearing “There Is a Light” hundreds of times or more, and it really grew on me. It’s a perfect example of a Smiths track - archly romantic, with lyrics boarding on the maudlin that become transcendent, and great shimmery guitar. But that seemed like an easy choice, too, one driven more by nostalgia than a desire to really get to know and appreciate the band better.

So I landed on “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now,” not only a fabulous title, but a track whose many elements speak to a lot of the problems I’ve personally had with The Smiths over the years, but also highlights, I think, what makes so many people love them.

Before getting into the nitty gritty of the track itself, Lew, any general thoughts you have about The Smiths, your history with the band, how much you dig or don’t dig them?