Pretty Girls Make Graves
The Smiths · The Smiths Complete [2011]
"There is a quick and easy way" you say
Before you illustrate
I'd rather state :
"I'm not the man you think I am
I'm not the man you think I am"
And Sorrow's native son
He will not smile for anyone
And Pretty Girls Make Graves
Oh ...
End of the pier, end of the bay
You tug my arm, and say: "Give in to lust,
Give up to lust, oh heaven knows we'll
Soon be dust ... "
Oh, I'm not the man you think I am
I'm not the man you think I am
And Sorrow's native son
He will not rise for anyone
And Pretty Girls Make Graves
Oh really ?
Oh ...
I could have been wild and I could have
Been free
But Nature played this trick on me
She wants it Now
And she will not wait
But she's too rough
And I'm too delicate
Then, on the sand
Another man, he takes her hand
A smile lights up her stupid face
(and well, it would)
I lost my faith in Womanhood
I lost my faith in Womanhood
I lost my faith ...
Oh ...
Pretty Girls Make Graves
Released on The Smiths' 1986 album The Queen Is Dead, 'Pretty Girls Make Graves' stands as a defining track of the band's final era. Written by Morrissey and performed by Johnny Marr, the song explores themes of infidelity and the destructive nature of relationships through a distinctive blend of jangly guitar and melancholic vocals. Its rhythmic drive and lyrical content cemented it as a staple of post-punk and indie rock, influencing countless subsequent artists who adopted the genre's introspective and socially conscious approach. The recording remains a critical component of The Smiths' legacy, capturing the group's unique ability to merge poetic storytelling with a sharp, memorable musical identity.