Shoplifters of the World Unite

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"Shoplifters of the World Unite"
"Shoplifters of the World Unite" cover
Single by The Smiths
Released 1987
Format 7", 12"
Recorded 1986
Genre Rock
Length 2:58
Label Rough Trade
Writer(s) Johnny Marr
Morrissey
Producer(s) Johnny Marr
Chart positions
The Smiths singles chronology
"Ask"
(1986)		 "Shoplifters of the World Unite"
(1987)		 "Sheila Take a Bow"
(1987)

"Shoplifters of the World Unite" is a song by The Smiths. It was released as a single in 1987, reaching #12 in the UK Singles Chart. As was often the case with Smiths singles, it did not appear on an original studio album. It can be found on the Louder Than Bombs, Singles and The World Won't Listen compilations.

The title bears reference to the communist slogan "workers of the world, unite!". It has been suggested that the song is about homosexuality, and further that it is a critique of Section 28[1]. This is perhaps owing to the similarity between the word "shoplifter" and the word "shirtlifter", a slang term for a homosexual man in the United Kingdom.

Musically the song bears a strong resemblance to the T. Rex song "Children of the Revolution". Both Morrissey and Johnny Marr are Marc Bolan fans, and Marr has admitted in an interview that the melody for a previous Smiths single, "Panic", was copied from "Metal Guru" [2].

Morrissey has said that this is his favourite Smiths song.[1] He sang it in his 2004 concerts.

Contents

[edit] Track listing

[edit] 7": Rough Trade / RT195 (UK)

  1. "Shoplifters of the World Unite"
  2. "Half a Person"

[edit] 12": Rough Trade / RTT195 (UK)

  1. "Shoplifters of the World Unite"
  2. "London"
  3. "Half a Person"

[edit] Artwork

Photograph of Elvis Presley by James R. Reid.

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://foreverill.com/disc/shoplift.htm
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


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