I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Such a little thing
Such a little thing
But the difference it made was grave
There you go
Wielding a bicycle chain
Oh, why won't you change?
Change and be nicer?
Such a little thing
A gentle tone of kindness
Or written words on paper
Can you write?
How I love all of
The very simple things of life
(God's good air)
How I love all of
The very simple things of life
Such a little thing
A fumbling politeness
The difference saved me
Wielding a bicycle chain
Why won't you change?
"I will not change
And I will not be nice"
Most people keep their brains
Between their legs
(don't you find?)
Leave me alone - I was only singing
Leave me alone because
I was only singing
Leave me alone - I was only singing
Leave me alone
You have just proved (again)
Most people keep their brains
Between their legs
Such a little thing
But the difference it made was grave
There you go
Wielding a bicycle chain
Oh, why won't you change?
Change and be nicer?
Such a little thing
A gentle tone of kindness
Or written words on paper
Can you write?
How I love all of
The very simple things of life
(God's good air)
How I love all of
The very simple things of life
Such a little thing
A fumbling politeness
The difference saved me
Wielding a bicycle chain
Why won't you change?
"I will not change
And I will not be nice"
Most people keep their brains
Between their legs
(don't you find?)
Leave me alone - I was only singing
Leave me alone because
I was only singing
Leave me alone - I was only singing
Leave me alone
You have just proved (again)
Most people keep their brains
Between their legs
Lyrics submitted by weezerific:cutlery
Such a Little Thing Makes Such a Big Difference Lyrics as written by Steven Morrissey Stephen Brian Street
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Great version of a great song,
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Morrissey wrote this song in response to the criticism he received over the song, "Margaret On The Guillotine", obviously an attack on the awful regime of Margaret Thatcher who he understandibly despised. In response, the police were ordered to raid his house. Hence the lines, "leave me alone, I was only singing". By saying that he will not change and become nice he is assuring us he will not avoid controversy and will continue to say what he likes, which he has continued to this day. Great song. A slap in the face for those who try to destroy him
oh thanks for clearing that one out of the way, i had been breaking my head over the lines for years hehe, never knew they actually raided his house tbh...
compsoc.man.ac.uk/~moz/lyrics/bonadrag/suchalit.htm
Explains this quite nicely.
brilliant song.
I love this song...the "bicycle chains" bit is so damn powerful...especially in "Who Put the M in Manchester"...I love it...I love the violence juxtaposed with the beautiful, gentle "leave me alone I was only singing". The only bit I don't really 'get' is the line "some people keep their brains between their legs"...I mean...I get it obviously...but have no idea what it has got to do with the song.
Good song, the last part is the best.
i think the "most people keep their brains between their legs" is ironic; since people always keep up their manners. We all know what people really think about as they are keeping up formalities.
I always thought this song referred to the same "little thing" as Madness's "party poppers that pop in the night" - as they do make a big difference! And "fumbling politeness" is a good way of describing putting one on...
Absolute favorite song of all time. The sincerity in his voice and genuine lyrics. He breaks down the kind of thought we should have when we are tripping over miniscule problems in our lives. Morrissey is a saint!
Mr_Soul is correct.I also think this song has to do with how everything he says is over analyzed and taken out of context. (like when people called him a racist) People close to him probably told him to easy up and not be so honest. Morrissey is Morrissey... if he has something to say he's going to say it. I love the line "most people keep their brains between their legs" obviously calling people stupid
I think, as some others have mentioned, that this song was written by Morrissey as a response to people's constant repetitive interpritations and reactions to his songs. The image of violence, juxtaposed with the same violent people asking him to be kind and nice, is linked with the trouble he got into over the song Margaret on The Guilotine.
I think the lines about 'most people keep their brains between their legs' is about many people interpritating his songs in a sexual way, when they are not meant to be. Some of Morrissey's songs are about either explicit hetero-sexuaxual or homo-sexual or ambiguous relationships, but not all of them. But people constantly interpret that they are.
So to surmise, this is Morrissey's comments to everyone who takes offence at his political views, or who interprates his songs with their genitles.