Rusholme Ruffians [Live/Rank]
The Smiths · The Smiths Complete [2011]
By the big wheel generator
A boy is stabbed
And his money is grabbed
And the air hangs heavy like a dulling wine
She is Famous
She is Funny
An engagement ring
Doesn't mean a thing
To a mind consumed by brass (money)
And though I walk home alone
I might walk home alone ...
...But my faith in love is still devout
The last night of the fair
From a seat on a whirling waltzer
Her skirt ascends for a watching eye
It's a hideous trait (on her mother's side)
From a seat on a whirling waltzer
Her skirt ascends for a watching eye
It's a hideous trait (on her mother's side)
And though I walk home alone
I might walk home alone ...
...But my faith in love is still devout
Then someone falls in love
And someone's beaten up
Someone's beaten up
And the senses being dulled are mine
And someone falls in love
And someone's beaten up
And the senses being dulled are mine
And though I walk home alone
I might walk home alone ...
...But my faith in love is still devout
This is the last night of the fair
And the grease in the hair
Of a speedway operator
Is all a tremulous heart requires
A schoolgirl is denied
She said: "How quickly would I die
If I jumped from the top of the parachutes ?"
La ...
This is the last night of the fair
And the grease in the hair
Of a speedway operator
Is all a tremulous heart requires
A schoolgirl is denied
She said: "How quickly would I die
If I jumped from the top of the parachutes ?"
La ...
So ... scratch my name on your arm with a fountain pen
(This means you really love me)
Scratch my name on your arm with a fountain pen
(This means you really love me)
Oh ...
And though I walk home alone
I just might walk home alone
But my faith in love is still devout
I might walk home alone
But my faith in love is still devout
I might walk home alone
But my faith in love is still devout
La ...
Rusholme Ruffians [Live/Rank]
This live recording captures The Smiths' energetic performance of 'Rusholme Ruffians,' a track that showcases the band's signature blend of jangly guitars and Morrissey's distinctive vocal delivery. Originally written by Johnny Marr, the song reflects the working-class themes often explored in their discography, particularly those rooted in the industrial North of England. The inclusion of this track on The Smiths Complete highlights the group's commitment to preserving their early live material alongside their studio recordings. It remains a staple of their catalog, demonstrating the band's ability to blend punk energy with melodic sophistication. The performance exemplifies the collaborative dynamic between Marr's guitar work and the lyrical depth characteristic of their most influential period.