"Bigmouth Strikes Again"
(Morrissey/Marr)

 

These words are transcribed without permission the way they appear in the "The Queen Is Dead" album. There are no variations between the printed lyrics and what Morrissey actually sings in the studio version.

Sweetness, sweetness I was only joking
when I said I'd like to smash every tooth
in your head
Sweetness, sweetness I was only joking 1
when I said by rights you should be
bludgeoned in your bed
and now I know how Joan of Arc felt
now I know how Joan of Arc felt
as the flames rose to her roman nose
and her Walkman started to melt 2
Bigmouth, bigmouth
bigmouth strikes again
and I've got no right to take my place
with the Human race
bigmouth, bigmouth
bigmouth strikes again
and I've got no right to take my place
with the Human race
and now I know how Joan of Arc felt
now I know how Joan of Arc felt
as the flames rose to her roman nose
and her hearing aid started to melt 2
Bigmouth, bigmouth
bigmouth strikes again
and I've got no right to take my place
with the Human race
(repeat last 4 lines to fade)

 

1 When he resurrected this song on his 2004 tour, Morrissey changed this line to "Sweetness, sweetness I wasn't joking". This can be heard on live album "Live At Earls Court".

2 When he resurrected this song on his 2004 tour, Morrissey updated this line to "and her iPod started to melt". This can be heard on live album "Live At Earls Court". Near the end of that tour, in the second occurrence of the latter line, he would not sing "...started to melt" but instead scream or shriek.

Note: In live performances on the "The Queen Is Dead" tour of 1986 the song was extended by repeating the last 8 lines. This can be heard on the Smiths' live album "Rank".

 

Quotes

"I would call it a parody if that sounded less like self-celebration, which it definitely wasn't. It was just a really funny song."
- Morrissey in Melody Maker 26 September 1987