Ask (single)

Cover art

Australia 12" cover art

Germany 12" cover art

THE SMITHS Single
Name	Ask
Release	20 October 1986
Total Length	2:29 (Single version) 3:15 (Album version) 3:26 (Demo version)
Recorded	June 1986
Writer/composer	Morrissey / Johnny Marr
Producer	John Porter then mixed by Steve Lillywhite
Art work	Cover star: Yootha Joyce in Catch Us If You Can (1965) by John Boorman / Germany 12" Vinyl: Colin Campbell in "The Leather Boys" (1964) Layout: Caryn Gough
Vinyl Etching	A: "ARE YOU LOATHSOME TONIGHT?" B: "TOMB IT MAY CONCERN"
Publisher	Rough Trade Records (UK) Sire Records (US)
Format(s)	7" Vinyl, 12" Vinyl, CD
Chart position	UK #14 UK #62 (reissue)
Single chronology
Panic ← Ask → Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others
Single WEA reissue chronology
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out ← Ask → Sweet And Tender Hooligan

Information

An alternate take of this song appears on The Smiths – Unreleased Demos & Instrumentals bootleg LP.
The Australian cover is a cropped image sourced from a press photograph credited to Jo Novark (actually Pat Bellis).

Track list

7" Vinyl

UK - [Rough Trade RT 194]

Ask – 2:59 (Morrissey/Marr)
Cemetry Gates – 2:39 (Morrissey/Marr)

12" Vinyl / CD

UK - [Rough Trade RTT 194 / RTT 194CD]

Ask – 2:59 (Morrissey/Marr)
Cemetry Gates – 2:39 (Morrissey/Marr)
Golden Lights – 2:38 (Twinkle)

12" Vinyl

Australia - [Rough Trade RTANZ 12019]

Ask – 2:59 (Morrissey/Marr)
Shoplifters Of The World Unite – 2:56 (Morrissey/Marr)
Cemetry Gates – 2:39 (Morrissey/Marr)

Lyrics

Shyness is nice
And Shyness can stop you
From doing all the things in life you'd like to

Shyness is nice
And Shyness can stop you
From doing all the things in life you'd like to

So, if there's something you'd like to try
If there's something you'd like to try
Ask me
I won't say "NO"
- How could I? -

Coyness is nice
And Coyness can stop you
From saying all the things in life you'd like to

So, if there's something you'd like to try
If there's something you'd like to try
Ask me
I won't say "NO"
- How could I? -

Spending warm, Summer days indoors
Writing frightening verse
To a buck-toothed girl in Luxembourg

Ask me, ask me, ask me
Ask me, ask me, ask me

Because if it's not Love
Then it's the Bomb
The bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb
The bomb that will bring us together

Nature is a language
- Can't you read? -
Nature is a language
- Can't you read? -

So, ask me, ask me, ask me
Ask me, ask me, ask me

Because if it's not Love
Then it's the Bomb
The bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb
The bomb that will bring us together

If it's not Love
Then it's the Bomb
Then it's the Bomb
That will bring us together

So, ask me, ask me, ask me
Ask me, ask me, ask me

Music Video

Live History

Play count (The Smiths concert): 18

The Smiths live history:

... further results

Play count (Morrissey concert): 90

Morrissey live history:

... further results

Appears On

Appears On Covers Compilation

Cover Versions

Mentioned In

Mac DeMarco

Discogs Information

Credits

Bass - Andy Rourke
Drums - Mike Joyce
Guitar - Johnny Marr
Guitar [Second] - Craig Gannon
Layout - Caryn Gough
Model [Cover Star] - Yootha Joyce
Sleeve - Morrissey
Voice - Morrissey

Notes

Custom inner sleeve is pink or red with cat. no "RTT 194" in white on top right corner.

'Cemetry Gates taken from the LP 'The Queen Is Dead'

Other sleeve notes: 'All songs recorded in London 1986', 'Cover Star Yootha Joyce (1927-1980) Thames Television' [Yootha Joyce on the set of the 1965 film "Catch Us If You Can" known in North America under the title "Having A Wild Weekend"]

Images

Ask - Discogs master release: https://www.discogs.com/master/4005
Ask (12" 45 RPM Single EMI pressing) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/703296-The-Smiths-Ask

Discogs information (additional release)

Notes

Originally released October 1986 on 12".

Cover Star: Yootha Joyce (1927-1980) Thames Television.

Images

Ask (Single) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/487333-The-Smiths-Ask

Discogs information (additional release)

Notes

[Label] Hergestellt durch TELDEC Schallplatten GmbH, Hamburg

℗ 1986 Zensor Tracks A, B1: Warner Bros. M. Ltd. Track B2: Carlin Music

According to some Smiths discographies the black vinyl edition is rarer than the clear vinyl edition.

Runout matrix stamped except "NATURE FEED's THE ZENSOR GROUP" and CS-B-III are etched.

Images

Ask (12" 45 RPM Maxi-Single Clear) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/789350-The-Smiths-Ask

Discogs information (additional release)

Notes

Unique Australian only picture sleeve Some copies feature gold stamped ‘Promotion Only Not For Sale’ on rear of sleeve First published ℗ in UK 1986

Images

Ask (12" Single 45 RPM) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/2915476-The-Smiths-Ask

Discogs information (additional release)

Notes

Images

Ask (Single Reissue) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/385491-The-Smiths-Ask

Wikipedia Information

"Ask" is a song recorded by the English rock band the Smiths. It was released as a single on 20 October 1986 through Rough Trade Records. Credited to vocalist Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr, "Ask" is an ostensibly upbeat, positive pop song built around major chords. Its lyrics discuss shyness and encourage listeners to overcome their inhibitions. Its multiple guitar parts and complex production led to disagreements regarding its final mix. Craig Gannon, who at the time was rhythm guitarist for the group, has claimed he wrote – and was denied credit for – the song's chord structure. "Ask" continued the Smiths' top-20 streak in their native country, peaking at number 14 on the UK Singles Chart. It reached number nine on the Irish Singles Chart. Filmmaker Derek Jarman directed the song's music video. Like most of the Smiths' singles, it was not included on a studio album. It can be found on the compilations The World Won't Listen and Louder Than Bombs (both 1987) as well as the live album Rank (1988).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ask_(song)

Related Forum Threads

The Smiths A-Z: "Ask" - Morrissey-solo (Jan 06, 2022)