Girlfriend in a Coma (song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "Girlfriend in a Coma" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| Single by The Smiths | ||
| from the album Strangeways, Here We Come | ||
| Released | August 1987 | |
| Format | 7", 12", MC | |
| Recorded | 1987 | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 2:02 | |
| Writer(s) | Johnny Marr Morrissey |
|
| Producer(s) | Morrissey/ Marr/ Street | |
| Chart positions | ||
|
||
| The Smiths singles chronology | ||
| "Sheila Take a Bow" (1987) |
"Girlfriend in a Coma" (1987) |
"I Started Something I Couldn't Finish" (1987) |
"Girlfriend in a Coma" is a song by The Smiths. It was released as a single in August 1987, reaching #13 in the UK Singles Chart.
It was the first of three singles from the band's last studio album Strangeways, Here We Come. As such, it was the last single to include newly recorded material on the b-side. It holds the distinction of containing the last ever recorded Smiths song, "I Keep Mine Hidden". Also included - and recorded at the same session - is a cover version of a Cilla Black song, "Work Is A Four-Letter Word". Morrissey's insistence on recording this song incurred the wrath of Johnny Marr who left the band not long afterwards.
The single itself is a tongue-in-cheek, music hall inflected song that clocks in at a mere two minutes and two seconds. Though seemingly "lightweight" and catchy, the song features acidic, ambiguous lyrics. The song also contains peak guitar work by Johnny Marr.
The video, which featured clips from the film "The Leather Boys" (starring Rita Tushingham), was directed by Tim Broad.
The cover features playwright Shelagh Delaney from a 1961 edition of "A Taste Of Honey". The photo was tinted grey for 7"s in all countries except in Australia where it was tinted green as for the 12"s. This was the second time Delaney appeared on a Smiths cover, as she had appeared as the cover star on the recently released "Louder Than Bombs" album.
Contents |
[edit] Tracklisting
All tracks written by Morrissey and Johnny Marr except as noted.
[edit] 7": Rough Trade / RT197 (UK)
- "Girlfriend in a Coma"
- "Work Is a Four-Letter Word (edited)" (Guy Woolfenden, Don Black)
[edit] 12": Rough Trade / RTT197 (UK)
- "Girlfriend in a Coma"
- "Work Is a Four-Letter Word" (Woolfenden, Black)
- "I Keep Mine Hidden"
- also released on cassette Rough Trade RTT197C
[edit] Trivia
- Mojo Nixon recorded a cover of this song for his 1995 album Whereabouts Unknown
| The Smiths |
| Morrissey - Johnny Marr - Andy Rourke - Mike Joyce |
| Craig Gannon - Dale Hibbert |
| Discography |
|---|
| Albums: The Smiths | Meat Is Murder | The Queen Is Dead | Strangeways, Here We Come | Rank (live) |
| Singles: Hand in Glove | This Charming Man | What Difference Does It Make? | Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now | William, It Was Really Nothing | How Soon Is Now? | Shakespeare's Sister | That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore | The Boy with the Thorn in His Side | Bigmouth Strikes Again | Panic | Ask | Shoplifters of the World Unite | Sheila Take a Bow | Girlfriend in a Coma | I Started Something I Couldn't Finish | Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me | There Is a Light That Never Goes Out |
| Band-assembled compilations: Hatful of Hollow | The World Won't Listen | Louder Than Bombs |
| Other compilations: Stop Me |Best...I | ...Best II | Singles | The Very Best of The Smiths |
| Related |
| Rough Trade Records |
 |
This 1980s rock song-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
