The Smiths song that Johnny Marr hated: “That was the last straw”
Morrissey’s knack for blurring the line between satire and seriousness was one of the highlights of his contributions to The Smiths. While their discography might sound lively and catchy, a deeper dive into the lyrics and subject matter reveals a delicious mix of wit and darkness that keeps you guessing. However, while many songs are undeniable masterpieces, there remained one that band member Johnny Marr absolutely despised.
Although Morrissey and Marr struggled to agree on a lot of things, one thing they both share is their appreciation for their album Strangeways, Here We Come. In fact, they both even deem it their favourite album, which makes complete sense considering the number of hits it churned out, from ‘Girlfriend in a Coma’ and ‘Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me’ to ‘Unhappy Birthday’.
It also has a considerably interesting backstory: after being inspired by Manchester’s most notorious prison, which was called “Strangeways” back then, the band considered it the perfect moniker for the chapter they were embarking on, musically and personally. In their minds, Strangeways represented unpredictability, going against the grain, and something sinister lurking afoot.
As Morrisey described to Q Magazine: “I feel at the moment that almost anything absurd can happen. And if I ended up in Strangeways, I wouldn’t be at all surprised.”
That said, a specific part of Strangeways, Here We Come ultimately led to Marr’s departure from the band. Namely, ‘Work Is A Four Letter Word’, the B-side to ‘Girlfriend in a Coma’ and a cover of Cilla Black’s original song. The decision to cover this piece irked Marr, who felt it didn’t fit with their style, nor did it make them seem as reputable as he had wanted.
He shared his opinion on the track in an interview with Record Collector: “‘Work Is A Four Letter Word’ I hated. That was the last straw, really. I didn’t form a group to perform Cilla Black songs. That was it, really. I made a decision that I was going to get away on holiday. The only place I could think of was L.A. L.A. was the only place I knew where there’d be sunshine, so off I went. I never saw Morrissey again.”
Despite the disagreements, Marr and Morrissey embarked on successful solo careers, especially Marr, who swiftly earned a reputation as a rock and roll icon, often lending his talents to esteemed albums and joining forces with rock heavyweights like The Killers. On the flip side, Morrissey continued on his path toward becoming one of the most polarising figures in the industry.
The singer acknowledged this on many occasions, most recently when he claimed he was being erased from The Smiths’ history. This came after various accusations about the industry attempting to ruin his career, which he described as driven by people who have “no honest interest in music” and figures that you follow “into the shadows at your peril”.
