How to write a Smiths song in 1 minute

How to write a Smiths song in 1 minute by Desmond Doom.
Made out of love for Moz and Marr's songwriting in The Smiths! Go buy all their music
FULL version here • A Charming Place - Des...
tags:
the smiths, desmond doom, post-punk, new wave, surf-goth, postpunk, post punk, surf goth, morrissey, johnny marr, this charming man, the queen is dead, how soon is now, the cure, 80s, jangle, guitar

[@DesmondDoom]

Favourite Smiths song, go! And check my Surf-Goth EP out, it's kinda Smiths meets Joy Division in Eastern Europe. On Spotify, Bandcamp, Apple etc. Cheers!

[@tasteinmusic3510]

Unhappy Birthday

[@TheVioletBunny]

Cemetery gates, or the queen is dead

[@kvltchocolate690]

The Headmaster ritual

[@darknesscharlie1624]

There is a light that never goes out

[@wagnerribeiro4061]

There Is A Light That Never Goes Out; Well I Wonder.

[@GermanDreadnought]

"I hate this job but at least I get to see your face" i mean you did actually nailed the morrisey style

[@lauravillanueva8686]

It's still missing poetry, but yeah, he did.

[@StratsRUs]

Not Fascistic enough but there's always the solo 'career' to mine.

[@KarolusMaximus]

This part describes my current situation pretty good! Job is shit, but a girl and i like each other.

[@diorsse]

@@KarolusMaximus that's kinda how it is throughout someone's entire life tbh. school's shit but i like this guy which makes it a little less shit. and i bet the same will continue on in work

[@maggiefranks6849]

Except, he's more like 'I hate this job but, at least you get to see _my_ face'

[@bigreznor3390]

"I hate this job but at least I get to see your face" I felt that 😔

[@TheVioletBunny]

If it was real Morrissey it would be “oh England such a wretched place, I hate this job and I hate your face” he’s never happy

[@bigreznor3390]

@@TheVioletBunny Lol 😂

[@dorkbrandon4422]

@The Violet Bunny Yep you got it

[@user-ux1vj9vx7s]

@@TheVioletBunny Did I ever tell you, by the way, I never did like your face.

[@EclecticoIconoclasta]

@@TheVioletBunny No because Morrissey remains a romantic at heart although always has sad stories about breakup to tell. That is why I would agree with "I get to see your face" instead of what you propose

[@KrummyBrinkleJr.]

Dude was already done at 0:05 but kept adding more and more smiths

[@RegisteredLate123]

😂😂

[@sniffableandirresistble]

"I hate this job, but at least I get to see your face" if you've ever loved a coworker, that's the feeling

[@threone1]

lol i love you, please make full album

[@sacramentalist]

RIP Andy Rourke. His cool basslines were essential.

[@CruceEntertainment]

This isn’t Andy Rourke playing bass here

[@sacramentalist]

@@CruceEntertainment right. it's Desmond. I was just acknowledging/mourning Rourke

[@Rapscalionshandeekin]

@@CruceEntertainmentof course he knows it isn’t andy rourke if he said “rip any rourke”

[@tomben6180]

@@CruceEntertainmentFFS man

[@leomonteiro4612]

I read somewhere that Marr made the basslines

[@deanaf]

That might be Morrissey's longest performance. He actually showed up!

[@DefendYoungstown]

"He hurt me with that remark. Have I mentioned that I cried?"

[@cartooningwithchris5329]

@@DefendYoungstown Locks in Pop star freshness!

[@Protolamna]

Hey the one time I paid to see Morrissey in concert he showed up and he sang for at least 30 minutes. He seemed really pissed off for having to be there though :-)

[@daisychainmilk]

I would sniff Johnny Marrs socks if I could

[@foxmulder8139]

Only after all meat products were banned from the editing software

[@arcader3756]

Dude that tune slaps, we need a full version

[@MIKERUPTION]

He went with the Ramones philosophy. That was the full version. :P

[@aligindahouse7777]

It actually sounds like a Johnny Marr riff

[@dumafuji]

Srsly. Finish that banger.

[@ericksantosabreu9781]

Yeah that's true!

[@basketballadigonzalez5561]

Sounds like girl afraid

[@moosesnWoop]

0:29 let's be real, this already sounds like a great track - Morrissey's voice is unique and lovely.

[@adnap]

Remember the band, Smoking Popes ? The singer of that band sounded a lot like Morrissey.

[@marguskiis7711]

nope

[@adnap]

@@marguskiis7711 check out Need You Around

[@draneym2003]

I've never actually heard him sing because he storms off the stage before actually doing anything. And yet people still pay money knowing this to see some boy bander from the 80s

[@alliedanchor8864]

​@@adnapSMOKING POPES MENTIONED 🗣️❗❗❗

[@examichelle]

As a huge Smiths fan, i have to say you absolutely nailed it! Gotta listen to the full version on repeat if there's one.

[@ianc1001]

This does for The Smiths what the Rutles did for the Beatles.

[@punkisinthedetails1470]

I couldn't write a song but now I wrote a song and heaven knows I'm more musical now thanks Des.

[@seamusmcinnes2678]

brilliant

[@wiggy8912]

I see what you did there ;)

[@razor6552]

You're gonna need someone on your side

[@SerAbiotico]

How soon is gonna happen?

[@maydabucay]

I love this comment

[@mateus.capelo]

I miss something like: “and I want to die”.

[@chrisamies2141]

And "I'm so miserable tonight / in this charming town"

[@Brittjones]

0:10 Fender Bass…I am dying…

[@Simplyradish]

Really just uploaded a smiths song and thought we wouldn’t notice

[@jamelbunny5732]

Please do a full version. That was so cool

[@snsjjshwhwuwus]

REALL

[@redbaron07]

With a bunch of Smiths fans on here and AI, it should be possible to expound on this. Next 2 lines: "When you walk by, it's like sunshine in the rain, But you're miles away, and you'll never see my pain".

[@BananaPhoPhilly]

@@redbaron07fuck AI

[@behindblueEyess]

Fr

[@MultiUnreal]

This sounds like an actual Smiths song. Not even a parody, just a normal song.

[@nvjohansson9741]

Sounds like almost every song off Hatful of Hollow

[@germangonzales2008]

Yes the smiths used the same instruments that any other person could buy at a music store

[@MultiUnreal]

@@germangonzales2008 Being a smartass only works when you’re actually smart, dipshit.

[@FreeAllenWrench]

I mean, as advertised

[@antzooma]

someone has worked out the idea behind the video well done!

[@kennyperry230]

Amazing. I am a HUGE Smiths fan and I can tell this was created with love rather than being nasty. Its amazing how simple some of the best music is. Desmond Doom, I salute you! Long live the Smiths!

[@DesmondDoom]

Of course, Johnny Marr is a big inspiration! Thanks buddy

[@TwentyOne_Five]

I’ve always felt that Marr does not consider himself the genius others think he is. And the group split because of creative differences about exploring new directions. I will say the the lads invented their sound. And executed it creatively and with much gusto. And no one was playing anything like that in 1983 except American college indy band REM.

[@draneym2003]

Really? I honestly don't know how people don't hear the garbage the Smiths have recorded and not want to blow their brains out. And we haven't even gotten into Morrissey and his nonsense.

[@HarryFlashman.]

@@draneym2003 Go back to sleep!

[@Johnboysmudge]

​@@draneym2003 you have my deepest sympathies

[@ManateeMentality]

A key part of Morrissey’s singing is that he often has a single note that he returns to over and over again. He goes above that note and below it, but he always returns to it. That note is kind of a through line for the entire song. He sounds like he’s noodling around and just singing notes above and below the main one. And once you notice it, you can’t un-hear it. Like this. B is the through line: ➡️ CC C CCC ➡️BBB BBB BB B BBBB ➡️ AA

[@nonplayercharacter596]

a similar phenomenon that you can’t unhear once you hear it: all blink 182 songs are structured identically, so formulaic that you can predict when a song will go from verse to chorus to bridge to chorus to outro even if you’ve never heard the song before

[@Rosskles]

He is also one of the worst people to ever exist, cool facts we are all sharing ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ

[@serratusx]

He loves a tonic triad ie. Notes 1,3,5 of a scale. The choruses of most of their hits predominantly use these three notes, there is a light, this charming man, heaven knows I’m miserable now, etc etc

[@jamesjameson4566]

OK spock

[@ManateeMentality]

@@jamesjameson4566 🖖

[@silenceblue82]

Please make a full album of The Smiths songs, in your own interpretation !!

[@TheD2JBug]

He has to fnish his Pleasure Regiment album ' Obscure delights' first

[@RafaelRamone1990]

It would be great idea if he did what would be the 5th Smiths album after Strangeways.

[@jonessss786]

.

[@leonconnelly5303]

How would this give you the impression he could do that

[@hamishanderson6738]

Like the Squender bass

[@joshuacartwright279]

I'm literally begging you, please do a full version, its too bloody good!

[@roberthaynes8830]

Bloody brilliant. You nailed it. That brought a smile to my face.

[@ReesZzz]

That riff has ‘Girl Afraid’, ‘Hand in Glove’, and ‘Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others’ vibes all in one 😍

[@TheNecroSodomizer]

That’s super accurate. Especially Girl Afraid

[@pezz0novante]

You've Got Everything Now?

[@experimentalsoundrecordings]

Johnny was brilliant. So is Desmond though.

[@panterxbeats]

Still Ill

[@erynsmerch3]

Some Girls are Big, Afraid and Wear Gloves

[@alia.8090]

If i have heard this song on the radio, i would totally believe that it is The Smiths :) Nice job Desmond

[@ben.spicebag7552]

That is genuinely a really really good guitar riff hahah would love to hear a full version of the song!

[@aaronjustice9020]

Sounds like an incomplete smiths riff on loop.

[@mozymandias1441]

Agreed!

[@DenisPetrov1980]

Well, finish the job yourself.

[@benmc6778]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jXvMh6drga-Lf9U ask and you shall receive...

[@rawpower12xu]

The trick was in doing it 40 years ago. Now a lot of skaters can do a 900, but no one even thought about it in ‘83

[@vlnow]

Imagine the genius of Morrissey and Marr for inventing this complete sound and style.

[@madman-xo3ru]

Please please please make a full version of this, it's brilliant!

[@madman-xo3ru]

@@DesmondDoom will do 👍👍👍👍👍

[@madman-xo3ru]

Hey des, iv been listening to your song on Spotify since you announced its release but as of afew hours ago, anytime I click on it it says its been removed? Can you tell me why?

[@bluehernandez3594]

@@madman-xo3ru so I wasn't the only one who noticed it? I remember seeing it released and then the same day removed. 😔

[@heckinbasedandinkpilledoct7459]

Lord knows it will be the first time

[@SummerDream3r]

This sound isn't just the Smiths but the whole of the C86 genre itself, Sarah Records bands, Cherry Red Records bands, and pretty much the breadth and bulk of 1980s jangle pop.

[@henrywallace7996]

Back then it was just called indie

[@S728-u9x]

​@@henrywallace7996 no it wasnt lol

[@henrywallace7996]

@@S728-u9x Yes it was. Indie is what it was called, none of this jangle pop stuff. C86 was an indie comp, Cherry Red was an indie label, The Smiths were an indie band, etc.

[@S728-u9x]

@@henrywallace7996 can you provide sources that show that this term was used in that way? i looked it up nd couldnt find any, what seems to be the case is that the indie term wasnt used to define a specific musical style beyond independent music and that meaning was atributed retroactively more recently. id b happy to know if thats wrong

[@henrywallace7996]

@@S728-u9x Read old issues of the NME, old zines, or anything of that nature. It’s true that indie didn’t imply a specific style at first, but by the mid-80s with The Smiths, JAMC, Housemartins and others, it did have a recognisable sound, aesthetic, culture, fashion sense, and fans (‘indie kids’). Hyper-specific terms like ‘jangle pop’ and ‘noise pop’ were not in use then, as it seems to me these are retroactive labels used to differentiate 80s indie (real indie) from what came after.

[@anxiousanarchist6565]

Great now write this into a full length song and release it because I need it

[@SunnyBeeRandomTuber]

Oh the subtle easter egg in cancelling out the Squier and manually writing Fender 😂😅❤

[@wagnerribeiro4061]

Whoa! Even when you make something "just for fun", you achieve a way better result than many people who make music "for real". Probably they ignore the basics of how a good song should sound and communicate an intention. You make the difference, bro. Never stop bringing us your undeniable talent. You rock! Cheers!

[@DesmondDoom]

Wagner "Good Vibes" Ribeiro. Cheers bruv!

[@mozymandias1441]

@@DesmondDoom is there a full version of this song? It’s really good

[@callmeishmael5742]

​@@mozymandias1441 just listen to any smiths song

[@mozymandias1441]

@@callmeishmael5742 you’re of no help moron

[@leonreborn1308]

Or maybe they just don't want to make a The Smiths song.

[@glebkutepov7924]

Thing is, it's not even a joke, it's accurate.

[@mathewkirk1748]

Loving the Squier to Fender upgrade on that bass! Cheapest and most reliable upgrade available.

[@bobcanada7382]

As a lifelong Smiths fan, this hits really close to home- in a good way!

[@John-lp5xh]

You don't own the smiths, we don't care if it gets your approval or not

[@manephewlenny6401]

0:38 You slipped into The Durutti Column by accident there.

[@Vanniberna]

Gosh, this is so accurate

[@jackalope2302]

"I hate this job but at least I get to see your face." I miss those days

[@xmartinx357]

Magnificent. I've replayed this at least 50 times. You NEED to do a full version.

[@edcastilloromo]

Same.. cant get it off my head

[@ericksantosabreu9781]

you guys totally got the words out of my mouth

[@edcastilloromo]

@@DesmondDoom you, sir… are a god…

[@xmartinx357]

@@DesmondDoom Fantastic!!

[@dgillies5420]

@@xmartinx357 Let's crowdsource the lyrics, I have a suggested next refrain in my comment up above !!

[@wolfrain319]

Is there a full version of this? It's actually catchy, you pretty much nailed the lyricism and sound of The Smiths holy crap

[@ExtremeGamer2623]

Pleaaaase, make a full version, this is awesome!😊

[@greenrobot5]

I like how finally KZbin shows me interesting vids on the explore page

[@syadremood]

I wasn't happy and wasn't sad, but now I'm in love... can't stop listening to this. Instantly needed to play this on guitar. Pls! Make full song! And thank You!

[@williamglenn777]

I came into this not expecting to like it, but I ended up loving it! Great job!

[@doubleredsx3]

I've been putting this on repeat for the 500th time and if someone told me this was their demo tape I would have believed them! Please finish the song

[@AdahnFlorence]

Was sounding like Don't Fear The Reaper for a second there.

[@planetofthegapes]

Oh England's such a charming place I hate my job But at least I get to see your face I leave work and go home alone Want your number Dream of talking on the telephone Chorus: Night shifts and graveyards work Chains of labour I try to shirk On our smoke break I saw your hollow smile Eyes meeting across a sceptre'd aisle Riot gear, streets are burning Yes, four more years The Iron Lady won't be turning Night shifts and graveyards work Chains of labour I try to shirk On our smoke break I saw your hollow smile Eyes meeting across a sceptre'd aisle Coda: No, can't get you out of my head Feel the emptiness of you next to me in bed Just stay out for one more round Ask you out, but you just shoot me down Night shifts and graveyards work Chains of labour I try to shirk On our smoke break I saw your hollow smile Eyes meeting across a sceptre'd aisle

[@Nersius]

Not sure whether I hate you because this isn't real, or adore you since I got to hear it anyway.

[@cum4986]

Fuckin hell man, go write the album!

[@ChadConnor]

this is gay

[@martinXY]

So many extra points for Scepter'd aisle/isle. That would win The Smiths a prize.

[@HSBsoulsurfer]

These are THE BEST lyrics ever!!!!! 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣 Brought me back to the cringe year working night shifts at the grocery store, all the sexual affairs going on around me, right in my face, the drama, the "cool people" who had all the dirt & gossip out on the bench at smoke break, lmaoooo

[@SmartJapanHacks]

This is so good! We need a full version of this.

[@streetfightingman4240]

Absolutely nailed it. I can imagine the lyrics "Wearing the same old clothes You wore when we first met I never liked the colours you wore But it suits you some how" Edit: I'm going to edit these as some of them are a bit crap in hindsight So, imagine the main Jingle or listen along, Morrissey's usual moaning sound to his voice "I recall a time, when things were great, I would smile even when the bus was laaaaate I didn't think that you'd remember me, So I left a bunch flowers at the cemet-ryyyy

[@docsavage8640]

Morrissey would probably want good lyrics instead 0:58

[@osaker205]

​@@docsavage8640they aren't bad tho?

[@DrFeltcher]

​@@docsavage8640 they're very Morrissey come on. Lol

[@tomimpala]

"Next to that rundown pub in Glasgow, And we could never know No, we cooould Never knowww And he spins out from his office chair But he never goes any wh-e-e-ere"

[@end.olives]

These are all bad, but perhaps if you could sing i would get it. I think it just needs more male manipulator vibes instead of virgin love song vibes

[@Bradford.C.Wallsbury]

Need an album of this mock smiths stuff !!!

[@TheChiacch]

It's amazing how the lyrics can be explained from so many points of view. Maybe here they are talking about a guy who really hates his job, but at least he can find moments to be with his love (it's amazing the influence of this piece in Pam-Jim's realtionship in The Office). Also we can imagine that the guy has not any love in his job, and "the face" he sees is the money that he earn. I remember the first time I listened to this song, at Big Bob Pub in Leeds, and it just broke my mind.

[@tomimpala]

My dad had an old record of this and sometimes when I was 7 he'd sneak be downstairs away from mum and listen to this for an hour. The b-side the baker's behind also gets too much hate.

[@ObediahPolkinghornIII-cz5io]

OH MY GOD.... Yes, please. More of this. I'm 48 years old, I've been listening to The Smiths since boarding school, and I haven't laughed this hard since 2016. Thank you.

[@marquisdecarabas1312]

Love this Fender Bass...it must be one of these expensive custom shop models...never saw the headstock logo in this design on the stock bases so far...maybe the DD (desmond doom) signature collection bass? 😂😁👍👍

[@RobBeatdownBrown]

As a huge Smiths fan I sat poised and ready to be offended. But you pretty much nailed it 🤷🏽‍♂️ LOL

[@matheusaugustosampaio5984]

"I hate this job but at least I get to see your face", very Morrissey indeed

[@supercooloz13]

This was my favorite Smiths song back 1986!

[@MarkLipka]

*THIS is now my favorite Smiths song!*

[@smokernoker]

I thought you really got morrisey to sing on this video, you've done a fantastic job on mimicking his singing

[@andreshernandez1180]

Wait... are you implying that’s NOT Morrisey? 🤔 IMPOSSIBLE! 🤯

[@Saffron-sugar]

I’m embarrassed by how right you are and how excellent that tune is

[@NESADDICT]

It’s like you completely understand every single band I love!

[@LeadonMacDuff]

That would easily qualify to be a Smiths release. Beautiful.

[@BoyGeorgiaX]

That bass line is exactly what I imagined during the few seconds of guitar before it dropped in. Really good work all around

[@SM-wr4nn]

Ok! Ive been a Smiths fan since 1987 and this is completely spot on! And I'd like the complete version please! LOVE IT!!! 🥰😅😅

[@tombstoneharrystudios584]

Accurate...I'm as huge a Smiths fan as anyone but you've nailed their style!

[@ericwickman920]

I love the modification on the P-Bass! Spat my coffee out a little. So obvious and an easy mod to do. Sounds great.

[@neelparekh9624]

The scratched out Squire on the bass lol

[@PeopleRTellingme]

Nicely done😂! That earned a sub, and I am definitely down with this riff. It’s all about the frantic jangle.

[@rattyeely]

This sounds way too accurate, I'm convinced this is a Smiths song I haven't heard yet

[@jacksampsonforever]

AHA! Now we know you have a beard! Another great job. Plus, I'm glad to learn how Johnny gets his sound

[@DesmondDoom]

I've been supplying him with chest hair since the 90's

[@JeffKerouactheMusicalWriter]

That is a really good riff, I love it!

[@Rawratchu616]

I knew this guy was legit when I saw a genuine Fender bass guitar.

[@thomasortmann1607]

Going to see Morrissey tonight in Brussels. Will be screaming my lungs out for his classic "Charming Place".

[@glimmeringharpy]

Omg I know it’s a parody/ homage but this song had my heart vibrating. If you ever offer it on your music platform in full, I’d love to listen to it. Well done! Checking out your original work now 🎉 oh and fave The Smiths song is tough but I love Handsome Devil and Miserable Lie ❤

[@DesmondDoom]

Just dropped the full song, thanks for your support!

[@glimmeringharpy]

@@DesmondDoom I JUST SAW! THANK YOU! ❤🎉

[@glimmeringharpy]

@@DesmondDoom hi! I went to listen to your song again on Apple Music in the US, but it said the song is not available in my country 😭 I was listening to it everyday since it came out 💔

[@isabelljacques8373]

@@glimmeringharpy where is it?!😭😭😭😭😭

[@stevelibby6852]

Most incredible is X'ing out 'Squire' and writing in "Fender" in ball point. Well played on a few levels, sir.

[@gilleslijnzaad2991]

I think of this video nearly every time I listen to a Smiths song, you did way too good of a job

[@lorenzosquire4089]

This guy so good!! Hits the mark like every time!

[@67ghostofwar]

Please finish this song. This song sounds better than most of the rubbish they play on the radio these days

[@youdeservethis]

I am dying! The Smiths got me through college and grad school! I love it so much!

[@LucasPenido]

From a HUGE The Smiths fan, this is AWESOME!!! Can you please make a full album just with these kinda songs?! 😂😂😂

[@mrduuud]

Maybe AI could finish it?

[@MeloettaMarmalade]

​@@mrduuud Gross no

[@improbablytheguy]

@@mrduuud AI has no place in music

[@frds_skce]

Neither is OP for asking a full album here

[@abbz101012xc]

as a smiths fan this SLAPS

[@abbie444_]

This isn't even a parody, this is a real smiths song.

[@pippipster6767]

Genius. This is my new favourite Smiths song 😂

[@jittery...]

please make a full version, this is great

[@AndrewVanBeekOttawa]

I think you mean "Please, please, please let me get what I want"

[@jittery...]

@@AndrewVanBeekOttawa bro what

[@AndrewVanBeekOttawa]

@@jittery... It's a song title that fits with your request. Silly joke, never mind...

[@uufukful]

this is the parody we'd like to see, no offense, no hate, just brilliant imitation and funny lyrics, this is golden. I really love the bass line and rythm as a whole.

[@dersuscende]

I would say this is a perfect example for the Smiths "2 minutes formula" like William and This Charming Man. Nice, nice work on recreating the soul of this legendary band! Me, I would play the bass section more legato, the jangle-jingle part more up-tempo on picking if major chords, struming if in minor key (a là Bigmouth style). I think I'm gonna try starting from your hints 😊 Keep up the good work!

[@DRUZYDAY]

This is spot on- and it’d be at the top of my playlist if it were a Smiths song, too-

[@experimentalsoundrecordings]

I thought about all the tragedy in the world and began crying then quicker wrote my first Smiths song. Sounds incredible mate!

[@fullmoonsociety7463]

Imagine you are Kermit stuck at a working class job, every day is foggy and you love a girl that does not love you back. Now write a song.

[@peterslaby9782]

Sorry brother but now you need to do the whole song. We demand it.

[@dalhuset]

When mimicry becomes comedy, and becomes high art.

[@CruceEntertainment]

Add like a little transition with Gbmaj7, then Dbmaj7/9, and back to the main Cm. Oh Johnny, you make such beautiful music, I just love singing all over it.

[@MrSir-bo3zk]

Are you gonna make a full song of this? Can you please? This is just something that need to be made its too perfect to not finish I want the whole mixtape pleasee 🙏🏾

[@johnnys-left-earring]

this was great, i’m the biggest smiths fan you’ll ever meet

[@gianlucapedone679]

That guitar riff... Love it 😎

[@IcepickScotsky]

The Smiths breakdown that I didn't know I needed to hear. The image of Morrissey with a fireman's moustache that I didn't know I needed to see

[@koneking2569]

Actually legit keen for a full length version

[@Letmb]

pls make this a full song

[@dorkbrandon4422]

Would you like some tea or coffee? No I just want some more jangle

[@youthofyesterdayrecords]

Funny how none of the hundreds of bands that have followed this formula since they came around has come close to making me feel the way the Smiths do.

[@therevolutionarybumsoffici100]

omg I've been streaming your music for sometime now. coming across your videos just now. wow man!

[@skitouche91]

That "see your faAAaaAaaAce" Was actually on point

[@billtomson5791]

Has Morrissey heard this? I loved the Smiths.