Shoplifters of the World Unite
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| "Shoplifters of the World Unite" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
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| Single by The Smiths | ||
| Released | 1987 | |
| Format | 7", 12" | |
| Recorded | 1986 | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 2:58 | |
| Label | Rough Trade | |
| Writer(s) | Johnny Marr Morrissey |
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| Producer(s) | Johnny Marr | |
| Chart positions | ||
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| The Smiths singles chronology | ||
| "Ask" (1986) |
"Shoplifters of the World Unite" (1987) |
"Sheila Take a Bow" (1987) |
"Shoplifters of the World Unite" is a song by The Smiths. It was released as a single in 1987, reaching #12 in the UK Singles Chart. As was often the case with Smiths singles, it did not appear on an original studio album. It can be found on the Louder Than Bombs, Singles and The World Won't Listen compilations.
The title bears reference to the communist slogan "workers of the world, unite!". It has been suggested that the song is about homosexuality, and further that it is a critique of Section 28. This is perhaps owing to the similarity between the word "shoplifter" and the word "shirtlifter", a slang term for a homosexual man in the United Kingdom.
Musically the song bears a strong resemblance to the T. Rex song "Children of the Revolution". Both Morrissey and Johnny Marr are Marc Bolan fans, and Marr has admitted in an interview that the melody for a previous Smiths single, "Panic", was copied from "Metal Guru" .
Morrissey has said that this is his favourite Smiths song.[1] He sang it in his 2004 concerts.
Contents |
[edit] Track listing
[edit] 7": Rough Trade / RT195 (UK)
- "Shoplifters of the World Unite"
- "Half a Person"
[edit] 12": Rough Trade / RTT195 (UK)
- "Shoplifters of the World Unite"
- "London"
- "Half a Person"
[edit] Artwork
Photograph of Elvis Presley by James R. Reid.
[edit] References
- ↑ See, for example, No Dad, I Won't Be Home Tomorrow: A Smiths and Morrissey Website. Retrieved on October 5, 2005.
- ↑ Forever Ill website. Retrieved on October 18, 2006.
| The Smiths |
| Morrissey - Johnny Marr - Andy Rourke - Mike Joyce |
| Craig Gannon - Dale Hibbert |
| Discography |
|---|
| Albums: The Smiths | Meat Is Murder | The Queen Is Dead | Strangeways, Here We Come | Rank (live) |
| Singles: Hand in Glove | This Charming Man | What Difference Does It Make? | Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now | William, It Was Really Nothing | How Soon Is Now? | Shakespeare's Sister | That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore | The Boy with the Thorn in His Side | Bigmouth Strikes Again | Panic | Ask | Shoplifters of the World Unite | Sheila Take a Bow | Girlfriend in a Coma | I Started Something I Couldn't Finish | Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me | There Is a Light That Never Goes Out |
| Band-assembled compilations: Hatful of Hollow | The World Won't Listen | Louder Than Bombs |
| Other compilations: Stop Me | Best...I | ...Best II | Singles | The Very Best of The Smiths |
| Related |
| Rough Trade Records |
 |
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