London

"London" is one of my all-time favorite Smiths songs. Simple premise, bone-crushing delivery. It's lyrical simplicity seems to draw some mild criticism from some of the posts here, but this is what makes it such a great song. It's about getting out of small town and moving to the city in pursuit of something. I love the repetition (chorus?) of the question, "And do you think you made the right decision this time?" which - in setting up the ominous fade-out in minor chords - shows that the person leaving for London is now making a decision of serious import that may or may not be for the best. I disagree with earlier poster that it's a decision necessarily doomed to "failure"... what's important is that the decision to leave has the potential to lead to failure. A great topic for Morrissey or any songwriter to address.

I feel this song is basically pretty straight-forward. The second person point of view is pretty cool. I think it is talking about making a rash decision you are so sure is right at the time, and then all the doubts and confusion which come later. The people around you are jealous you can give everything up (including them) and not look back, while they do not have the self-confidence nor independence to do the same.

"..because you notice the jealousy of those that stay at home..."

-By Grand Central Station I Sat Down And Wept, by Elizabeth Smart

Hm. I am rather surprised to see no comments...I'd think most younger Smiths fans would have heard this song, seeing as it's on LTB. Anyways, I know it's not Morrissey's best lyrically, but whenever I think about the friends I left when I moved back here from college (wrong school for me, blah blah blah), this strikes a cord with me..."Do you think you've made the right decision this time?" And as always, stellar guitar work, Johnny.

I think it might be about leaving everything in London because you hate the city but your waiting there guilty because your leaving family, friends etc. alone in the town.

It's about someone from the North of England (an area which is generally quite poor and working class) to go to live in the South, which is often seen as being far richer and more middle-upper class. Euston is a train station in London where the trains from Manchester pull into. His family and girlfriend can't afford to come with him, and he's striving for independence anyway. But as it happens, he already knows he's destined for failure. Anyway, great song.

I love the line about leaving your girlfriend on the platform "with this really ragged notion that you'll return."

I'm doing exactly that at the moment in London :[

The Smiths were from Manchester. When the got signed to Rough Trade they moved to London. I think this is a story about that move and, in many ways, leaving their lives in Manchester behind. The line, ""with this really ragged notion that you'll return," is more likely directed to his Manchester self, lamenting that you can "never go home again," which is a lyric from another song, but I can't recall which.

probably the most ferocious Smiths song all over in 2 minutes, agree not one of morrisseys most thought provoking lyrics but musically is the Smiths at their best

I agree with Mr. Shankley, London's strength is it's simplicity. Also, I feel that song itself makes no value judgement about the main subject's choices. If anything it makes a statement about the subject's character, rather than his upcoming trip to London. It seems that his choices, whether it is going to London or something else, have repercussions that he is oblivious to or apathetic towards. What is more interesting is that the people in his life are not as dependent on him as he may think. The mind's of his family and girlfriends seem to be more self-centered and less concerned with what he is doing. His reality check will go much deeper than a train ride.