How Soon Is Now? album cover by The Smiths

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1987 · From the album How Soon Is Now?

Paint a Vulgar Picture

by The Smiths

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03 · Lyrics

"Paint a Vulgar Picture"

At the record company meeting

On their hands - a dead star

And oh, the plans they weave

And oh, the sickening greed

At the record company party

On their hands - a dead star

The sycophantic slags all say:

"I knew him first, and I knew him well"

Re-issue! Re-package! Re-package!

Re-evaluate the songs

Double-pack with a photograph

Extra Track (and a tacky badge)

A-list, playlist

"Please them, please them!"

"Please them!"

(Sadly, this was your life)

But you could have said no

If you'd wanted to

You could have said no

If you'd wanted to

BPI, MTV, BBC

"Please them! Please them"

Sadly this was your life

But you could have said no

If you'd wanted to

You could have walked away

Couldn't you?

I touched you at the soundcheck

You had no real way of knowing

In my heart I begged "Take me with you...

I don't care where you're going..."

But to you I was faceless

I was fawning, I was boring

Just a child from those ugly new houses

Who could never begin to know

Who could never really know

Oh...

Best of! Most of!

Satiate the need!

Slip them into different sleeves

Buy both, and feel deceived

Climber - new entry, re-entry

World tour

Media whore

"Please the Press in Belgium!"

This was your life...

And when it fails, to recoup?

Well, maybe

You just haven't earned it yet, baby

I walked a pace behind you at the soundcheck

You're just the same as I am

What makes most people feel happy

Leads us headlong into harm

So, in my bedroom in those ugly new houses

I danced my legs down to the knees

But me and my true love

Will never meet again...

At the record company meeting

On their hands at last a dead star

But they can never taint you in my eyes

No, they can never touch you now

No, they cannot hurt you, my darling

They cannot touch you now

But me and my true love

Will never meet again

Lyrics via Google. Copyright belongs to rights holders.

04 · FAQ

Frequently asked

When was "Paint a Vulgar Picture" released?
"Paint a Vulgar Picture" by The Smiths was released on September 28, 1987 on the album "How Soon Is Now?".
What album is "Paint a Vulgar Picture" on?
"Paint a Vulgar Picture" appears on the album "How Soon Is Now?" by The Smiths.
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