This famous song by the British rock band The Smiths captured the hearts of fans with Johnny Marr’s expressive guitar riff and Morrissey’s piercing falsetto in the final part. And the cryptic text What Difference Does It Make? (“What does it change?”) gave rise to numerous versions of the interpretation of the meaning.
Song History What Difference Does It Make?
The lyrics were written by Morrissey and the music was composed by Johnny Marr. The track was recorded in October 1983 at Pluto Studios in Manchester. Produced by John Porter.
They say that during the work on the single, Morrissey went out for a bite to eat and disappeared. It turned out that he took a train and went to the office of the record company Rough Trade. There, the musician forced the label’s management to agree to his financial terms, saying that otherwise he would not return to the studio. The bosses had to make a verbal agreement with him.
On January 16, 1984, the song was released as the third single from The Smiths, the band’s debut LP. In the British charts, she rose to twelfth line.
The compilation album Hatful of Hollow includes an alternative song, What Difference Does It Make? It was recorded for The John Peel Show on BBC Radio 1.
During 1984, The Smiths performed What Difference Does It Make? at several memorable performances, including the following:
- Top of the Pops,
- The Oxford Road Show,
- Pop Electron,
- Hammersmith and others.
Although fans liked the composition, Morrissey repeatedly called What Difference Does It Make? one of his least favorite The Smiths songs. He especially disliked the numerous clichés in the text. He once even stated that he “had regretted recording the track since the day the record was printed.”
Here is how the musician described it:
What Difference Does It Make? interesting musically, but lyrically, it’s very much in the vein of Simon Le Bon [Duran Duran]. The lyrics of the song seem very superficial to me. I even feel a little embarrassed for them. Other than that, it’s a huge pop tune by Johnny. Ironically, if Simon Le Bon actually wrote the lyrics, I would probably cover the song!
Following The Mozziah
Johnny Marr was also skeptical about What Difference Does It Make?:
It didn’t seem very strong to me… On one stage, I played it for seven or eight performances in a row, and I didn’t like the feeling.
The meaning of What Difference Does It Make?
Morrissey has never admitted that the composition is in any way related to his personal life. He also didn’t explain what the song What Difference Does It Make? is about.
In circles of fans of the rock band The Smiths, it is generally accepted that in the text of the work the author refers to a close friend who turned away from him after learning that the musician is gay. The words of the work fit perfectly into this version, but, again, the author did not confirm it.
Perhaps Morrissey disliked the track precisely because of the fact that in it he “blabbed” about his unconventional orientation.
Clip What Difference Does It Make? – The Smiths
The band did not film a music video for the track. It seemed to Morrissey that the entire music video industry was about to wither, and he was not going to delay its end.
Let’s watch the online clip What Difference Does It Make? from Top of the Pops. On The Smiths YouTube channel, it is named official.
Interesting Facts
- In Jack Kerouac’s novel The Dharma Bums, the character Ray Smith occasionally repeats the line, “What difference does it make?” His expression “Pretty girls make graves” (“Pretty girls dig graves”) was made by The Smiths as the title of another song.
- Early editions of the single featured actor Terence Stamp as Freddie Clegg from The Collector on the cover. He is depicted with a bag of chloroform in his hand. Then Terence forbade the use of his photo, and in the following releases, Morrissey appeared on the sleeve with a glass of milk. Then Stamp changed his mind, and the record was again released in its original form.
What Difference Does It Make? – The Smiths
All men have secrets and here is mine
So let it be known
We’ve been through hell and high tide
I think I can rely on you
And yet you start to recoil
Heavy words are so lightly thrown
But still, I’d leap in front of a flying bullet for you
chorus:
So what difference does it make?
So what difference does it make?
It makes none, but
Now you have gone
And you must be looking very old tonight
The devil will find work for idle hands to do
I stole and I lied, and why?
Because you asked me to
But now you make me feel so ashamed
Because I’ve only got two hands
Well, I’m still fond of you, oh-ho-oh
Chorus
Oh, the devil will find work for idle hands to do
I stole, and then I lied
Just because you asked me to
But now you know the truth about me
You won’t see me anymore
Well, I’m still fond of you, oh-ho-oh
But no more apologies
No more, no more apologies
Oh, I’m too tired
I’m so very tired
And I’m feeling very sick and ill today
But I’m still fond of you, oh-ho-oh
Oh my sacred one
Lyrics: Steven Morrissey
Publisher: Warner Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC INC.
What Difference Does It Make Lyrics – The Smiths
All people have secrets, but mine –
Let them know about it.
We have gone through fire and water.
I thought that I could rely on you
However, you started to avoid me.
Harsh words so easily fly off the tongue
But I would still shield you from a bullet.
Chorus:
So what does it change?
So what does it change?
Nothing changes but
you left
And you must look very old tonight.
The devil will find something to occupy idle hands.
I stole and lied, but why?
Because you asked me to.
And now you make me feel so guilty
Because I only have two hands.
Well, I still really like you.
Chorus
Oh, the devil will find something to occupy idle hands.
I stole and then I lied
Just because you asked me to.
But now you know the truth about me.
You won’t see me again.
Well, I still really like you.
No more apologies.
No, there will be no more apologies.
Oh, I’m too tired.
I’m so tired.
And today I feel so bad, I’m sick,
But I still really like you.
Oh my sacred…
Download What Difference Does It Make?
On Blimey you can not download the song in mp3 for free, but you can listen to The Smiths tracks online and watch clips. Versions for karaoke, sheet music and backing tracks are presented on many other sites for musicians. Tabs and chords of What Difference Does It Make? are also available on specialized resources.
