William, It Was Really Nothing (single): Difference between revisions

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[[Category:The Smiths Lyrics]]
[[File:William-It-Was.jpg | thumb | right | Cover art]]
[[File:William-It-Was.jpg | thumb | right | Cover art]]
[[File:William-It-Was-Re12inch.jpg | thumb | right | 12" vinyl cover art]]
[[File:William-It-Was-Re12inch.jpg | thumb | right | 12" vinyl repress cover art]]
[[File:William_cd.jpg| thumb | right | CD single cover art]]
[[File:ADS_Speakers_William.jpeg| thumb | right |A.D.S. advert used in creating the cover (1981-2)]]
{{Discobox
{{Discobox
| Name = William, It Was Really Nothing
| Name = William, It Was Really Nothing
| Total Length = 2:09
| Total Length = 2:09
| Recorded =  
| Recorded =  
| Writer = Morrissey/Marr
| Writer = [[Writer::Morrissey]] / [[Writer::Johnny Marr]]
| Producer = [[John Porter]]
| Producer = [[Producer::John Porter]]
| Mastered =  
| Mastered =  
| Art = A.D.S. speakers advert / [[Billie Whitelaw]]
| Art = Cover star: A.D.S. speakers advert / [[Mention::Billie Whitelaw]] in "[[Mention::Charlie Bubbles]]" (1968) / [[Mention::Colin Campbell]] in "[[Mention::The Leather Boys]]" (1964)<br>Layout: [[Mention::Caryn Gough]]
| Vinyl Etching = THE IMPOTENCE OF ERNEST<br>ROMANTIC AND SQUARE IS HIP AND AWARE<br>THE IMPOTENCE OF ERNEST (Alt 7" A-side)<br>WE HATES BAD GRAMMER (Alt 7" B-side)<br>THE IMPOTENCE OF ERNEST (Alt 12" A-side)<br>ROMANTIC AND [ ] IS HIP N'AWARE (Alt 12" B-side)
| Vinyl Etching = THE IMPOTENCE OF ERNEST<br>ROMANTIC AND SQUARE IS HIP AND AWARE<br>THE IMPOTENCE OF ERNEST (Alt 7" A-side)<br>WE HATES BAD GRAMMER (Alt 7" B-side)<br>THE IMPOTENCE OF ERNEST (Alt 12" A-side)<br>ROMANTIC AND [ ] IS HIP N'AWARE (Alt 12" B-side)
| Publisher = [[Rough Trade Records]] (UK)<br>[[Sire Records]] (US)
| Publisher = [[Rough Trade Records]] (UK)<br>[[Sire Records]] (US)
| Format =  7" Vinyl, 12" Vinyl, CD
| Format =  7" Vinyl, 12" Vinyl, CD
| Release = 24 August 1984
| Release = 24 August 1984, repress: 16 November, 1987
| Chart = UK #17   
| Chart = UK #17   
| Type = Single
| Type = Single
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| NextLink = How Soon Is Now? (single)
| NextLink = How Soon Is Now? (single)
}}
}}
[[Category:The Smiths Lyrics]]


==Information==
==Information==
The initial sleeve was created using an advert for Analog & Digital Systems Inc. speakers ("A.D.S."), circa 1981-82.<br>
Threatened legal action resulted in the Billie Whitelaw image being used as a replacement when the record was repressed in 1987.<br>
A.D.S. had alleged (as cited in [https://www.morrissey-solo.com/wiki/Peepholism:_Into_The_Art_Of_Morrissey Peepholism], p19):<br>
"Violation of privacy" & "deceptive trade practices". (subsequently dropped)<br>


===Recording===
The Italian 12" release includes a different version of "How Soon Is Now? [https://www.discogs.com/The-Smiths-William-It-Was-Really-Nothing/release/1440461 Info from Discogs]:


===Release===
<blockquote>
Mispressed edition featuring a different version of "How Soon Is Now", with additional vocal harmonies from Morrissey. The song is very different at the end when it comes to an abrupt close with Morrissey saying "OK?". The music then fades back in again.
</blockquote>


==Track list==
==Track list==
===7" Vinyl===
===7" Vinyl===
UK - []<br>
UK - [Rough Trade RT 166]
US - []


{{tracklist
{{tracklist
| 01 =  
| 01 = William, It Was Really Nothing
| 01link =  
| 01link = William, It Was Really Nothing (single)
| 01-duration = : (Morrissey/[[Johnny Marr|Marr]])
| 01-duration = 2:09 (Morrissey/Marr)
| 02 =  
| 02 = Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want
| 02link =  
| 02link = Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want
| 02-duration = : (Morrissey/Marr)
| 02-duration = 1:50 (Morrissey/Marr)
}}
}}


===12" Vinyl===
===7" Vinyl repress===
UK - []<br>
UK - [Rough Trade RT 166]
US - []  


{{tracklist
{{tracklist
| 01 =  
| 01 = William, It Was Really Nothing
| 01link =  
| 01link = William, It Was Really Nothing (single)
| 01-duration = : (Morrissey/Marr)
| 01-duration = 2:09 (Morrissey/Marr)
| 02 =  
| 02 = How Soon Is Now?
| 02link =  
| 02link = How Soon Is Now? (single)
| 02-duration = : (Morrissey/Marr)
| 02-duration = 6:43 (Morrissey/Marr)
| 03 =
| 03link =
| 03-duration = : (Morrissey/Marr)
}}
}}


===CD Single===
===12" Vinyl / CD===
UK - []
UK - [Rough Trade RTT 166 / RTT 166CD]


{{tracklist
{{tracklist
| 01 =  
| 01 = William, It Was Really Nothing
| 01link =  
| 01link = William, It Was Really Nothing (single)
| 01-duration = : (Morrissey/Marr)
| 01-duration = 2:09 (Morrissey/Marr)
| 02 =  
| 02 = How Soon Is Now?
| 02link =  
| 02link = How Soon Is Now? (single)
| 02-duration = : (Morrissey/Marr)
| 02-duration = 6:43 (Morrissey/Marr)
| 03 =  
| 03 = Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want
| 03link =  
| 03link = Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want
| 03-duration = : (Morrissey/Marr)
| 03-duration = 1:50 (Morrissey/Marr)
| 04 =
| 04link =
| 04-duration = : (Morrissey/Marr)
}}
}}


== Lyrics ==
== Lyrics ==


{{lyrics
<poem>
|
The rain falls hard on a humdrum town
 
This town has dragged you down
}}
Oh, the rain falls hard on a humdrum town
 
This town has dragged you down
==Personnel==
Oh, no, and everybody's got to live their life
 
And God knows I've got to live mine
God knows I've got to live mine


== Sleeve Artwork ==
William, William it was really nothing
<gallery  perrow="6">
William, William it was really nothing
File: | Cover art. (198)
It was your life...


How can you stay with a fat girl who'll say:
"Oh! Would you like to marry me?
"And if you like you can buy the ring"
She doesn't care about anything
Would you like to marry me?
And if you like you can buy the ring
I don't dream about anyone - except myself!


</gallery>
Oh, William, William it was really nothing
William, William
</poem>


==Music Video==
==Music Video==
<video>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDcRCAg2xsw</video>
<youtube>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6WgdPCaRgs</youtube>


===Credits===
===Credits===
*Performed On [[Top Of The Pops]], BBC, 30 Aug 1984
*Performed On [[Top Of The Pops]], BBC, 30 Aug 1984


==Live History==
{{CommonSongSections | Artist = The Smiths | Song = {{#replace:{{#replace:{{PAGENAME}}| (single)|}}| (song)|}}}}
 
{{Page
==Appears On==
|RelatedForumThreads=150363
<gallery  perrow="8">
|DiscogsReleaseId=5460333
File: | ''[[]]'' <br><br><br>(19)
|DiscogsAdditionalReleaseId=374697, 495315, 395714
File: | ''[[]]'' <br><br><br>(19)
|WikipediaPageTitle=William,_It_Was_Really_Nothing
File: | ''[[]]'' <br><br><br>(19)
}}
File: | ''[[]]'' <br><br><br>(19)
{{PageDate
File: | ''[[]]''<br><br><br> (19)
|Date=1984-08-24
</gallery>
}}
 
== Related Items ==
 
 
== References ==
21,263

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