The Smiths — Ask
Album: Louder Than BombsAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 518
Length: 3:07
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Shyness is nice, and shyness can stop you
From doing all the things in life you'd like to
Shyness is nice, and shyness can stop you
From doing all the things in life you'd like to
So if there's something you'd like to try
If there's something you'd like to try
Ask me, I won't say no, how could I?
Coyness is nice, and coyness can stop you
From saying all the things in life you'd like to
So if there's something you'd like to try
If there's something you'd like to try
Ask me, I won't say no, how could I?
Spending warm summer days indoors
Writing frightening verse
To a buck-toothed girl in Luxembourg
Ask me, ask me, ask me
Ask me, ask me, ask me
Because if it's not love
Then it's the bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb
That will bring us together
Nature is a language, can't you read?
Nature is a language, can't you read?
So ask me, ask me, ask me
Ask me, ask me, ask me
Because if it's not love
Then it's the bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb
That will bring us together
If it's not love
Then it's the bomb
Then it's the bomb that will bring us together
So ask me, ask me, ask me
Ask me, ask me, ask me, oh
From doing all the things in life you'd like to
Shyness is nice, and shyness can stop you
From doing all the things in life you'd like to
So if there's something you'd like to try
If there's something you'd like to try
Ask me, I won't say no, how could I?
Coyness is nice, and coyness can stop you
From saying all the things in life you'd like to
So if there's something you'd like to try
If there's something you'd like to try
Ask me, I won't say no, how could I?
Spending warm summer days indoors
Writing frightening verse
To a buck-toothed girl in Luxembourg
Ask me, ask me, ask me
Ask me, ask me, ask me
Because if it's not love
Then it's the bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb
That will bring us together
Nature is a language, can't you read?
Nature is a language, can't you read?
So ask me, ask me, ask me
Ask me, ask me, ask me
Because if it's not love
Then it's the bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb
That will bring us together
If it's not love
Then it's the bomb
Then it's the bomb that will bring us together
So ask me, ask me, ask me
Ask me, ask me, ask me, oh
Comments (121)add comment
Good Tune, but not their best one.
This must be the out of tune singers set:
The Smiths - Ask
Pearl Jam - Alive
The Smiths - Ask
Pearl Jam - Alive
tiggers wrote:
Let me see now.... Hendrix, My Morning Jacket, Santana, Uncle Tupelo.... you were never really going to get The Smiths were you? LOL!
No, I wasn't Tiggerths, you thilly gooth.
Let me see now.... Hendrix, My Morning Jacket, Santana, Uncle Tupelo.... you were never really going to get The Smiths were you? LOL!
No, I wasn't Tiggerths, you thilly gooth.
Tagish_girl wrote:
Why do you think he sat inside on a nice day, writing?? ;)
Morrissey will be the big 50 next month.
'the bong that will keep us together??'
Why do you think he sat inside on a nice day, writing?? ;)
Morrissey will be the big 50 next month.
stewliscious wrote:
Let me see now.... Hendrix, My Morning Jacket, Santana, Uncle Tupelo.... you were never really going to get The Smiths were you? LOL!
Wow, this is a really really bad song. Really. Bad.
Let me see now.... Hendrix, My Morning Jacket, Santana, Uncle Tupelo.... you were never really going to get The Smiths were you? LOL!
Wow, this is a really really bad song. Really. Bad.
'the bong that will keep us together??'
Smiths at their peak.
I bought the album because of this song. 
Smoove_D wrote:
I was always a casual hater of the Smiths, but ever since I began listening to RP, and in turn began hearing more of the Smiths, I've strongly considered becoming a registered detester.
If you'd don't love them, then we'll have to wait for the bomb to bring us together on this issue.
I love The Smiths.
This isn't their best but it still gets a 7
Smoove_D wrote:
I was always a casual hater of the Smiths, but ever since I began listening to RP, and in turn began hearing more of the Smiths, I've strongly considered becoming a registered detester.
I agree with the gentleman from the land of many brews.
A definite mute next time it comes up.
Oscillating Wildly...!
Smoove_D wrote:
I was always a casual hater of the Smiths, but ever since I began listening to RP, and in turn began hearing more of the Smiths, I've strongly considered becoming a registered detester.
I'm kinda with you. I like "How Soon is Now", but I've heard nothing else I really like by them.
apd wrote:
My favourite Morrisey lyric:
"Spending warm summer day's indoors;
writing frightening verse;
to a buck-toothed girl;
in Luxembourg."
Mine too. Tongue firmly in cheek there.
still sounds great today! 
I was always a casual hater of the Smiths, but ever since I began listening to RP, and in turn began hearing more of the Smiths, I've strongly considered becoming a registered detester.
Rating ^ 9
Volume ^10
Frater_Kork wrote:
Bring me the Bong the Bong the Bong, I need to pull me together.
sounds like there's something you'd like to try...
One of the things I liked about the Smiths back in the 80's was that they were clearly a comedy band and no one got the joke except me. The more other people hated them the more I loved them. It's nice to see things don't change and even today as many people loath them as love them.
The other thing I liked was Johnny Marr.
The other thing I liked was Johnny Marr.
Bring me the Bong the Bong the Bong, I need to pull me together.
horstman wrote:
Morissey is a quirky chap but what the hell. Rather be entertained by him than Justin Timberlake!!!
A point well-taken. Although I do prefer earlier Smiths to this stuff. It's too happy.
Heh. It's the Smiths! I like it. Morrissey ain't that bad!
milehighYinzer wrote:
Who cares? I listen to music for the music. I don't get into it for what the creaters of it stand for. I don't go out and shoot up heroin because I care what Jim Morrison or Janis Joplin did.
This is a really good, valid, point that is lost on so many people. If we all were judged professionally in a day to day world by EVERYONE based on our personal views, our lives would be a lot harder to deal with on a day to day basis. The only reason Morissey (or Joplin or Jim Morrison) face these dilemmas is that the media eats, devours any and all that these artists say.
Professionally, as a Landscape Architect, I am judged on the quality of my designs, not my political affiliations, my sexual tastes, my view of the universe as a whole. Try to look past the fluff of everyday existence. It opens up a lot of doors.
I have always liked the Smiths. Morissey is a quirky chap but what the hell. Rather be entertained by him than Justin Timberlake!!!
How to bring a beautiful morning down to earth with a crash 
If it's not love, then it's the bombs that will bring us together? Ask me.
Arthur_Two_Sheds wrote:
Oh dear the flower throwing tone deaf talentless bum is back
That sums it up nicely.
fredriley wrote:
I can't bear Bob Dylan but that's a personal preference - I wouldn't dream of describing him as a "talentless bum" just because his voice gets on my tits.
True. There are good musicians that I personally can't listen to, but I wouldn't call them talentless. The Smiths influenced so many bands that it isn't even funny(the Shins, Modest Mouse, etc.) Calling them talentless is just retarded.
Arthur_Two_Sheds wrote:
Oh dear the flower throwing tone deaf talentless bum is back
I can't bear Bob Dylan but that's a personal preference - I wouldn't dream of describing him as a "talentless bum" just because his voice gets on my tits.
tony620d wrote:
HAHAHAHA! same here.
This isnt my fave Smiths song, a little perky cheesy for my taste.
If its "ass cream" then its "your bum" that will bring us together...
yay! The Smiths make me happy! 
northstar wrote:
"MORRISSEY, the pop singer and outspoken vegan, has been branded irresponsible for publicly backing violent attacks by extremists against scientists and companies involved in medical research using animals."
(click here)
He was quoted as threatening "We know where you are". I stopped playing my Smiths CD since I read about this.
Who cares? I listen to music for the music. I don't get into it for what the creaters of it stand for. I don't go out and shoot up heroin because I care what Jim Morrison or Janis Joplin did.
1 star. Sorry, man --- I just can't stand Morrissey.
Loved this album when it came out.
Oh dear the flower throwing tone deaf talentless bum is back
wally42 wrote:
"It's the Bomb that will bring us together"
I'm hearing It's the bong the Bong the BONG that will bring us together~~~.
northstar wrote:
"MORRISSEY, the pop singer and outspoken vegan, has been branded irresponsible for publicly backing violent attacks by extremists against scientists and companies involved in medical research using animals."
(click here)
He was quoted as threatening "We know where you are". I stopped playing my Smiths CD since I read about this.
Ahhhh...Vegans, the other red meat!
northstar wrote:
"MORRISSEY, the pop singer and outspoken vegan, has been branded irresponsible for publicly backing violent attacks by extremists against scientists and companies involved in medical research using animals."
(click here)
He was quoted as threatening "We know where you are". I stopped playing my Smiths CD since I read about this.
don't like him at all.
"It's the Bomb that will bring us together"
Ask me, ask me, ask me... and I'll tell you The Smiths are outstanding!
dmax wrote:
. . . instead of being so...Republican?
Ouch!
"MORRISSEY, the pop singer and outspoken vegan, has been branded irresponsible for publicly backing violent attacks by extremists against scientists and companies involved in medical research using animals."
(click here)
He was quoted as threatening "We know where you are". I stopped playing my Smiths CD since I read about this.
GordonIs21 wrote:
The name is boring, their songs are so boring and depressing, the town they are from is depressing and that stupid spotted handkerchief
..NO MORE SMITHS!
not nearly as boring as your pathetic post. . .
Smiths Rule says the Moose
We still miss Kirsty MacColl, doing her inimitable backing vocals on this one.
yAAAA! Off to see Mozza in two days at Chelmsford 'V' Festival!! Nice1 Bill, you're getting me in the mood! 
I am so going to play this on my birthday party this night :)
highwindows wrote:
Still have the feeling that Morrissey's singing ever so slightly flat much of the time BUT I really like 'em! Soothing somehow.
i love the smiths, but if you think this is flat.. try some stuff on their first album.
his singing came along in leaps and bounds during The Smiths and kept getting better solo.
still, flat moz kicks the crap out of a lot of other singers anyday
GordonIs21 wrote:
The name is boring, their songs are so boring and depressing, the town they are from is depressing and that stupid spotted handkerchief
..NO MORE SMITHS!
If it truly depresses you so, then just end it, why suffer?
MORE SMITHS !
(you know, for the obvious reasons:great melodies, vocals lyrics images melancholy exuberance romance, did i mention the great songs?)
i like the smiths - except this one.
The name is boring, their songs are so boring and depressing, the town they are from is depressing and that stupid spotted handkerchief
..NO MORE SMITHS!
chucklesalmon wrote: 
ew. ew, ew, ew, ew, ew, EEEEWWWW!
Sucko-el-barfico!
I agree with KSB.
I HATE that mincy ornamentation he always does with his voice- sort of like a little yodel- but still in his tiny register.
I HATE that mincy ornamentation he always does with his voice- sort of like a little yodel/quote>
Good description.
I don't know why, but I love the Smiths. I think it's a combination of the hilarious voice, the funny lyrics and the peppy melody. "Buck-toothed girl in Luxembourg".
LaundryDetergent wrote:
I always thought it sounded like he's saying "ass cream". 
HAHAHAHA! same here.
i'm sure these dudez were totally popular in europe.
mfassett wrote:
Not for me. I just don't care either way. They're not moving enough to love, not interesting enough to hate. :)
i agree. i wonder what it is about the smiths that make people so upset that they just have to change streams though.. i mean, it can't be anything musically, since it's not so different from other things. some people just are too cool for the smiths i guess.
Gryn wrote:
Ugh. Guess it's time to change streaming radio stations, for now.
Ditto. Way to much Smiths here IMO.
BRILLIANT!
yay for the Smiths! More Smiths on RP!
Ugh. Guess it's time to change streaming radio stations, for now.
Excelent, I like
Still have the feeling that Morrissey's singing ever so slightly flat much of the time BUT I really like 'em! Soothing somehow.
Rockabobbie wrote:
Never a more "polarizing band"--love 'em or hate 'em.
Not for me. I just don't care either way. They're not moving enough to love, not interesting enough to hate. :)
I don't have the morissey gene.
justlistening wrote:
The Smiths always make me yawn. The vocal style reminds me of someone who just keeps blabbing - it fades into background noise.
At least in this particular song, he is "not quite" such a monotone
I always thought it sounded like he's saying "ass cream".
warderblu wrote:
What I find very amusing is that almost all of the songs you rated as "1" I consider to be amazing tracks:
(list of the dregs of RP clipped)
To each is own I suppose...
Oh my sick little monkey, what a miserable musical existence you must lead. You have all my sympathy.
AliGator wrote:
It happened again. I saw my comment to your comment just as those words were being sung.
apd wrote:
My favourite Morrisey lyric:
"Spending warm summer day's indoors;
writing frightening verse;
to a buck-toothed girl;
in Luxembourg."
I happened upon this comment just as those lyrics were sung.
Cool.
And I love the Smiths. Love the Johnny Marr (j'en ai marre?) guitar.
It happened again. I saw my comment to your comment just as those words were being sung.
justlistening wrote:
The Smiths always make me yawn. The vocal style reminds me of someone who just keeps blabbing - it fades into background noise.
Ohh If only it WOULD fade.....Pleeeaase make that happen. NOW!!
This is the first time I've heard the Smith's. I'm afraid much more might give me a rash or something.
not my fave smiths tune by far.
If it's not love, then it's the bomb the bomb the bomb the bomb the bomb the bomb the bomb that will bring us together!
The Smiths always make me yawn. The vocal style reminds me of someone who just keeps blabbing - it fades into background noise.
warderblu wrote:
What I find very amusing is that almost all of the songs you rated as "1" I consider to be amazing tracks:
1 - Depeche Mode - Behind the Wheel
1 - Morrissey - That's Entertainment
1 - The Smiths - Girlfriend in a Coma
1 - Depeche Mode - world in my eyes
1 - Depeche Mode - enjoy the silence
(snip)
1 - Bruce Springsteen - For You
1 - Smiths - How Soon Is Now
1 - Depeche Mode - Personal Jesus
1 - Pretenders - Back on the Chain Gang
To each is own I suppose...
Yeah! This guy KSB has style! Can I copy & paste this to my list? ;-)
apd wrote:
My favourite Morrisey lyric:
"Spending warm summer day's indoors;
writing frightening verse;
to a buck-toothed girl;
in Luxembourg."
My favorite Morrisey lyric:
"She told me she loved me, Which means, She must be insane"
From 'How Could Anybody Possibly Know How I Feel' on 'You Are The Quarry'
AliGator wrote:
And I love the Smiths. Love the Johnny Marr (j'en ai marre?) guitar.
Je m'excuse - mais moi j'en ai marre of Morrissey - he is so Not A Singer! He drones with all the verve and excitement of a tone deaf mortuary attendant. :tapedshut:
Jonny Marr however is a rare talent
I do get the limited vocal range. I do get the simple melodies. It all makes sense as a whole. I do like it as a whole, but a little of this goes a long way for me. I still find his stuff works better in a compilation, as it is hard to sit through an entire album at one time. IMHO
I had no idea the Smiths were one of those absolutely love 'em / hate 'em type bands until I read some of the comments. I think they're incredibly underrated, as is Johnny Marr.
warderblu wrote:
Considering The Smiths are one of the greatest bands of all time...
I've been trying to wrap my mind around this comment for nearly an hour, and it just does not compute. Perhaps the Smiths are one of your favorite bands of all time, but calling them the "greatest" is a stretch of even my overly vivid imagination. Based on the comments so far, it looks like I'm not alone in this opinion. (Doesn't mean you're wrong for liking them, much like we're not wrong for disliking them.)
I guess it just shows that one person's poop is another's porridge.
ew. ew, ew, ew, ew, ew, EEEEWWWW!
Sucko-el-barfico!
I agree with KSB.
I HATE that mincy ornamentation he always does with his voice- sort of like a little yodel- but still in his tiny register.Ugh. What a truly dreadful addition to an otherwise cool, jazzy set. Quick, someone invent a time machine, then go back and erase all this horrid '80s music! Make it go away!
one of the very, very, very, very, very, very, very few upbeat Smiths songs. Cool.
apd wrote:
My favourite Morrisey lyric:
"Spending warm summer day's indoors;
writing frightening verse;
to a buck-toothed girl;
in Luxembourg."
I happened upon this comment just as those lyrics were sung.
Cool.
And I love the Smiths. Love the Johnny Marr (j'en ai marre?) guitar.
ttburger3 wrote:
This song is so simplistic and annoying. There are many other Smiths songs which are so much better. "How Soon is Now" is a great example (pimp) .
Agreed
always gets my foot tappin under my desk at work.
ce wrote:
If you don't like Morrissey's lyrics and/or singing (understandable), then at least listen to Johnny Marr on guitar.
I like his style.
I agree about the Marr comment - but I'd rather listen to his non-Smith's work - Morrissey is a boil on the buttocks of humanity... :P
NiceGuy2005 wrote:
Are you mad man!! 
One of the best bands of the 80's. Simply awesome!!
I could understand not being as in love with it as I, but unlistenable, I think not!
Well, I will have to agree with niceguy..Morrisey is so plain and lame (like in his private life) and basically kills every song.
One of the best bands of the 80's. Simply awesome!!
I could understand not being as in love with it as I, but unlistenable, I think not!This song is so simplistic and annoying. There are many other Smiths songs which are so much better. "How Soon is Now" is a great example (pimp) .
sideslide wrote:
One of the best bands of the 80's. Simply awesome!!
I could understand not being as in love with it as I, but unlistenable, I think not!
Automatic mute. Unlistenable.
Are you mad man!!
One of the best bands of the 80's. Simply awesome!!
I could understand not being as in love with it as I, but unlistenable, I think not!
If you don't like Morrissey's lyrics and/or singing (understandable), then at least listen to Johnny Marr on guitar.
I like his style.
Automatic mute. Unlistenable.
Ahhhh...make it stop!
Love, love, love this song.....
and i would have thought that this would be the Smiths song that most non-Smiths fans would like...
go figure.
the production quality on this track is terrible. sounds like i'm listening to a mono am radio station. send this one back to the mixing board.
Darkmatter wrote:
Brilliant.
Does it mean that if we don't all hang together, we will most assuredly all hang separately? Or is it just nuts?
ksb wrote:
1 - Bruce Springsteen - For You
1 - Smiths - How Soon Is Now
1 - Depeche Mode - Personal Jesus
1 - Pretenders - Back on the Chain Gang
To each is own I suppose...
Oh, for the love of god, get this off of RP.
Pretty much everything Morrissey does is so melodically immature, it reminds me of the kind of compositions an 8 year-old would compose after 2 piano lessons. So what if he's 'dark' or 'ironic' (which is a stretch), his music is torture to listen to. It's too bad he didn't team up with a good singer/writer who could take his lyrical ideas beyond what his 1/2 octave vocal range limits himself to.
(It's also nice to see that this has dropped almost a 1/2 point in the ratings while I wrote this note...)
What I find very amusing is that almost all of the songs you rated as "1" I consider to be amazing tracks:
1 - Depeche Mode - Behind the Wheel
1 - Morrissey - That's Entertainment
1 - The Smiths - Girlfriend in a Coma
1 - Depeche Mode - world in my eyes
1 - Depeche Mode - enjoy the silence
1 - Tim Buckley - Sweet Surrender
1 - London Beat - I've Been Thinking About You
1 - Smiths - What Difference Does It Make?
1 - Smiths - Ask
1 - Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart
1 - Noel Pointer - Living For The City (DJ Smash Remix)
1 - Pink Floyd - The Final Cut
1 - A Flock of Seagulls - I Ran
1 - Smiths - Bigmouth Strikes Again
1 - Violent Femmes - Blister in the Sun
1 - Smiths - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
1 - Morrissey - Everyday Is Like Sunday
1 - Depeche Mode - Behind the Wheel/Route 66
1 - Depeche Mode - Blasphemous Rumours
1 - Depeche Mode - Never Let Me Down Again
1 - Depeche Mode - Master and Servant
1 - Suzanne Vega - Tom's Diner Jeez, what a relief from that Redbone guy...
Dais wrote:
Um, nice thoughtful comeback ;-)
Anyway, I can't really say I'd go out of my way to listen the Smiths these days (you've heard one song, you've heard 'em all)... but hearing this suddenly did bring me back to some fun memories of my adolescence.
I wasn't going for thoughtful. But thanks all the same! ;)
My favourite Morrisey lyric:
"Spending warm summer day's indoors;
writing frightening verse;
to a buck-toothed girl;
in Luxembourg."
veegez wrote:
Oh shut up.
Um, nice thoughtful comeback ;-)
Anyway, I can't really say I'd go out of my way to listen the Smiths these days (you've heard one song, you've heard 'em all)... but hearing this suddenly did bring me back to some fun memories of my adolescence.
Considering The Smiths are one of the greatest bands of all time, they get very little play here on Radio Paradise. I find this strange considering RP plays so many of the bands that have been influenced by Morrissey and Marr.
Therefore - please gather in the rest of The Smiths catalog (currently RP has only a handful of tracks) and start putting them in Heavy Rotation.
I like the Smiths a lot. Yes, Morrisey appears to be able to sing only about three notes (although he seems to have expanded on that a bit with his new album). It is different (aka eclectic), which makes it a good fit on RP.
ksb wrote:
Glad to see you agree with me. 
Likewise, I'm sure.
Morissey wrote:
If it is not love, then it is the Bomb that will bring us together
Brilliant.
veegez wrote:
Oh shut up.
Glad to see you agree with me.
ksb wrote:
Oh, for the love of god, get this off of RP.
Pretty much everything Morrissey does is so melodically immature, it reminds me of the kind of compositions an 8 year-old would compose after 2 piano lessons. So what if he's 'dark' or 'ironic' (which is a stretch), his music is torture to listen to. It's too bad he didn't team up with a good singer/writer who could take his lyrical ideas beyond what his 1/2 octave vocal range limits himself to.
(It's also nice to see that this has dropped almost a 1/2 point in the ratings while I wrote this note...)
Oh shut up.
very funnyrascal420 wrote:
I think I need to go outside now. Skipping around the parking lot. Mindless smile on my face. Right now.
I think I need to go outside now. Skipping around the parking lot. Mindless smile on my face. Right now.
everybody needs to take a pill and relax... if you can't go back to 10th grade for a few moments without smiling, what have you got?
Oh, for the love of god, get this off of RP.
Pretty much everything Morrissey does is so melodically immature, it reminds me of the kind of compositions an 8 year-old would compose after 2 piano lessons. So what if he's 'dark' or 'ironic' (which is a stretch), his music is torture to listen to. It's too bad he didn't team up with a good singer/writer who could take his lyrical ideas beyond what his 1/2 octave vocal range limits himself to.
(It's also nice to see that this has dropped almost a 1/2 point in the ratings while I wrote this note...)
Morrisey's vocal phrasing always reminds me of Bill Murray's cheesy lounge singer routine on SNL. If I never hear Morrisey/Smiths again, I won't miss it one bit.
Daveinbawlmer wrote:
Whiney Assed.
You always have something pithy to say don't you. So constructive.
Whiney Assed.
Buzzardcheater wrote:
I really can't put my finger on it, but I something about the Smiths bothers me. I've never enjoyed their stuff. Maybe it's the vocal that sounds...dunno......"fake".....or "kermit-ish".... just not right.
Lyrics are OK, but not particularly inspired.
You certainly aren't alone, Buzzard. Never a more "polarizing band"--love 'em or hate 'em. Me, I love 'em. Found the Smiths in lonely High School and now, heck, it's like seeing an old friend. Morrissey's quirks are as familiar as a buddy's scar. Imperfect and comfortably familiar at the same time.
I really can't put my finger on it, but I something about the Smiths bothers me. I've never enjoyed their stuff. Maybe it's the vocal that sounds...dunno......"fake".....or "kermit-ish".... just not right.
Lyrics are OK, but not particularly inspired.
I'm happy to hear the Smiths on RP. About a decade and a half ago, I was getting so tired of hearing Smiths and Morrisey everywere. But I recently put on an old CD, and was able to appreciate the great lyrics and guitar style of those days.
Nature is a language - can't you read ?