Bigmouth Strikes Again
Encyclopedia
"Bigmouth Strikes Again" is a song by The Smiths
. It appears on their third album The Queen Is Dead
and was the lead single from the album, reaching #26 in the UK Singles Chart
in 1986. It was also the closing song on The Smiths' only live album
, Rank
.
Since the breakup of The Smiths, Morrissey
has performed this song live, including it on his Live at Earls Court
(2005).
track "My Big Mouth", which is about the same subject.
During the song, the protagonist compares himself to Joan of Arc
as the flames rose to her Roman nose.
The high-pitched voice in the background is actually Morrissey's voice altered to a higher pitch. The backing vocal is credited to "Ann Coates", a reference to the Manchester
district of Ancoats
.
The A-side etching was seen on a banner in Hobson's Choice
, one of Morrissey's most loved films. The B-side etching is a line from Oscar Wilde.
by Nelva Jean Thomas. James Dean is an idol to Morrissey, who even wrote a book about him entitled James Dean is not Dead.
, who substitute the words "Discman
" and "Mega Drive
" for the original "Walkman
" and "hearing aid
". It appears as a B-side
to "Nancy Boy", as well as on Disc 2 of the Sleeping with Ghosts
special edition and on the various artists compilation The Smiths Is Dead. "Bigmouth Strikes Again" has also been covered by Treepeople
, The Entertainment System, Balance and Composure, Slapshot
, and The Ukrainians
(under the title "Batyar"). Chumbawamba
also recorded a song by this title, which is mistakenly described in The Great Rock Discography as being a Smiths cover. The British electronic musician LorD and Master recorded a cover of "Bigmouth Strikes Again" as part of his 2011 covers album, Discover. In this version, LorD and Master uses the words "iPhone
" and "iPad
" in place of "Walkman" and "hearing aid", following the trend that Placebo had set in the 1990s.
The Smiths
The Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
. It appears on their third album The Queen Is Dead
The Queen Is Dead
The Queen Is Dead is the third studio album by the English alternative rock band The Smiths. It was released on 16 June 1986 in the United Kingdom by Rough Trade Records and released in the United States on 23 June 1986 through Sire Records. The album reached #2 on the UK Albums Chart, maintaining...
and was the lead single from the album, reaching #26 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in 1986. It was also the closing song on The Smiths' only live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
, Rank
Rank (album)
Rank is a live album by the English rock band The Smiths. It was released in September 1988 by their British record company, Rough Trade, and reached No. 2 in the British charts. In the United States, the album was released on Sire Records and made No. 77.-About the album:Rank was released as a...
.
Since the breakup of The Smiths, Morrissey
Morrissey
Steven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
has performed this song live, including it on his Live at Earls Court
Live at Earls Court
Live at Earls Court is a live album by Morrissey. Its sleeve notes state that it was "recorded live at Earls Court in London on the 18 December 2004 in front of 17,183 people."-Track listing:...
(2005).
Music and lyrics
The lyrics describe the protagonist's frustration of being hounded by others for his comments, to which he replies "I was only joking", and this led Noel Gallagher to draw inspiration from this song for the OasisOasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
track "My Big Mouth", which is about the same subject.
During the song, the protagonist compares himself to Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc
Saint Joan of Arc, nicknamed "The Maid of Orléans" , is a national heroine of France and a Roman Catholic saint. A peasant girl born in eastern France who claimed divine guidance, she led the French army to several important victories during the Hundred Years' War, which paved the way for the...
as the flames rose to her Roman nose.
The high-pitched voice in the background is actually Morrissey's voice altered to a higher pitch. The backing vocal is credited to "Ann Coates", a reference to the Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
district of Ancoats
Ancoats
Ancoats is an inner city area of Manchester, in North West England, next to the Northern Quarter and the northern part of Manchester's commercial centre....
.
Track listing
Etchings on vinyl
- UK 7" and 12": BEWARE THE WRATH TO COME / TALENT BORROWS, GENIUS STEALS
The A-side etching was seen on a banner in Hobson's Choice
Hobson's Choice
Hobson's Choice is a play by Harold Brighouse, the title coming from the popular expression, Hobson's choice — meaning no choice at all.The first production was at the Princess Theatre in New York. It then transferred to London on June 24, 1916 at the Apollo Theatre, before moving to the Prince of...
, one of Morrissey's most loved films. The B-side etching is a line from Oscar Wilde.
Artwork
The single contained a photograph of James DeanJames Dean
James Byron Dean was an American film actor. He is a cultural icon, best embodied in the title of his most celebrated film, Rebel Without a Cause , in which he starred as troubled Los Angeles teenager Jim Stark...
by Nelva Jean Thomas. James Dean is an idol to Morrissey, who even wrote a book about him entitled James Dean is not Dead.
Covers
The song is covered by PlaceboPlacebo (band)
Placebo are a British rock band from London, England, formed in 1994 by singer and guitarist Brian Molko and bass guitarist Stefan Olsdal. The band was joined by drummer Robert Schultzberg, who was later replaced by Steve Hewitt after conflicts with Molko. Hewitt left the band in October 2007 and...
, who substitute the words "Discman
Discman
Discman was the product name given to Sony's first portable CD player, the D-50, which was the first on the market in 1984, and adopted for Sony's entire portable CD player line...
" and "Mega Drive
Sega Mega Drive
The Sega Genesis is a fourth-generation video game console developed and produced by Sega. It was originally released in Japan in 1988 as , then in North America in 1989 as Sega Genesis, and in Europe, Australia and other PAL regions in 1990 as Mega Drive. The reason for the two names is that...
" for the original "Walkman
Walkman
Walkman is a Sony brand tradename originally used for portable audio cassette, and now used to market Sony's portable audio and video players as well as a line of Sony Ericsson mobile phones...
" and "hearing aid
Hearing aid
A hearing aid is an electroacoustic device which typically fits in or behind the wearer's ear, and is designed to amplify and modulate sound for the wearer. Earlier devices, known as "ear trumpets" or "ear horns", were passive funnel-like amplification cones designed to gather sound energy and...
". It appears as a B-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
to "Nancy Boy", as well as on Disc 2 of the Sleeping with Ghosts
Sleeping with Ghosts
Sleeping with Ghosts is the fourth studio album by English alternative rock band Placebo, released in 2003 through Astralwerks and Hut Records...
special edition and on the various artists compilation The Smiths Is Dead. "Bigmouth Strikes Again" has also been covered by Treepeople
Treepeople
Treepeople was an alternative rock band from Boise, Idaho, although it spent most of its time and was officially based in Seattle, Washington. The band was composed of Pat Brown , Wayne Rhino Flower, Doug Martsch, and Scott Schmaljohn. It also included drummer Eric Akre on the critically acclaimed...
, The Entertainment System, Balance and Composure, Slapshot
Slapshot (band)
-History:Slapshot was formed in 1985 by Steve Risteen and Mark McKay, formerly of Terminally Ill; Jack "Choke" Kelly, formerly of Negative FX and Last Rights; and Jonathan Anastas, formerly of Decadence and DYS...
, and The Ukrainians
The Ukrainians
The Ukrainians are a British band, which plays traditional Ukrainian music, heavily influenced by western post-punk.-Career:The Ukrainians were formed in 1990 by Wedding Present guitarist Peter Solowka, with singer/violinist Len Liggins and mandolin player Roman Remeynes, after all three had played...
(under the title "Batyar"). Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba is a British musical group who have, over a career spanning nearly three decades, played punk rock, pop-influenced music, world music, and folk music...
also recorded a song by this title, which is mistakenly described in The Great Rock Discography as being a Smiths cover. The British electronic musician LorD and Master recorded a cover of "Bigmouth Strikes Again" as part of his 2011 covers album, Discover. In this version, LorD and Master uses the words "iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
" and "iPad
IPad
The iPad is a line of tablet computers designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc., primarily as a platform for audio-visual media including books, periodicals, movies, music, games, and web content. The iPad was introduced on January 27, 2010 by Apple's then-CEO Steve Jobs. Its size and...
" in place of "Walkman" and "hearing aid", following the trend that Placebo had set in the 1990s.