The words were originally written by Morrissey in the spring of 1988 for music written by Stephen Street. It is not known whether or not this pairing of music and lyrics was recorded during the March 1988 session at Wool Hall Studios (Bath) alongside the b-sides to the "Everyday Is Like Sunday" single, or at any other recording session around that time. If it was, then this recording was shelved.

The lyrics were recycled for a new tune, this one written by Andy Rourke in the spring of 1989 and recorded during the "Bona Drag" sessions at Hook End Manor in the winter of 1989 into 1990, with producers Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley. Musicians on this recording were Kevin Armstrong (guitar), Andy Rourke (bass) and Andrew Paresi (drums), with a special appearance from Suggs who sings backing vocals.

single version {3:06}

• "Piccadilly Palare" single, all formats

• "The HMV/Parlophone Singles '88-'95" album

This song has never been performed specifically for radio, television or the web.

This song has never been done live.

alternate version {3:33}

Taken from a record company cd-r of a scrapped reissue of "Bona Drag", this has not yet leaked on bootlegs.

Quotes

In an interview published in The Face in 1990, Morrissey said "There's a song on this album that has the Rolling Stones in mind because I've been so disgusted by their most recent comeback that I no longer find it sad or pitiful, I just feel immense anger that they don't just get out of the way. You open papers in this country, and every day there's the obligatory picture of, y'know, Mick-with-bags-at-the-airport, or Keith saying he's completely normal now. They just won't move away! The song is called 'Get Off The Stage'."

When questioned about which of his song he is most proud lyrically in a Q&A published on the True-To-You website in November 2005, Morrissey answered "It's impossible to answer this because I'm proud of most of them. There are only a few that make me shudder – such as "Get Off The Stage," "Journalists Who Lie," "I Don't Owe You Anything"... But most of them, I think, somehow stand the test of time. Of course, some songs are better than others..."