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THE SMITHS
The Queen Is Dead
[Rough Trade, 1986]




"Take me back to dear old Blighty
Put me on the train for London town
Take me everywhere
Drop me anywhere
At Liverpool, Leeds, or Birmingham
Well, I don't care
I should like to see "

Farewell to this land's cheerless marshes
Hemmed in like a boar between arches
Her Very Lowness with her head in a sling
I'm truly sorry - but it sounds like a wonderful thing

Dear Charles, don't you ever crave
To appear on the front of the Daily Mail
Dressed in your mother's bridal veil?

So, I checked all the registered historical facts
And I was shocked into shame to discover
How I'm the 18th pale descendent
Of some old Queen or other

Has the world changed or have I changed?
Oh, has the world changed or have I changed
As some nine-year old tough peddles drugs
I never even knew what drugs were

So I broke into the Palace
With a sponge and a rusty spanner
She said, "Eh, I know you and you cannot sing"
I said, "That's nothing - you should hear me play piano"

We can go for a walk where it's quiet and dry
And talk about precious things
But when you're tied to your mother's apron
No-one talks about castration

We can go for a walk where it's quiet and dry
And talk about precious things

Like love and law and poverty
These are the things that kill me

We can go for a walk where it's quiet and dry
And talk about precious things

But the rain that flattens my hair, oh
These are the things that kill me

All the lies about make-up and long hair,
They're still there

Past the pub that saps your body
And the church who'll snatch your money
The Queen is dead, boys
And it's so lonely on a limb

Past the pub that wrecks your body
And the church - all they want is your money
The Queen is dead boys
And it's so lonely on a limb

Life is very long when you're lonely
Life is very long when you're lonely
Life is very long when you're lonely
Life is very long when you're lonely