The Smiths - This Charming Man (Live on Top of The Pops '83)

The Smiths - This Charming Man (Live on Top of The Pops '83)

This Charming Man performed live on Top of The Tops, broadcasted on 24th November 1983.

Lyrics:
Punctured bicycle
On a hillside desolate
Will Nature make a man of me yet?

When in this charming car
This charming man

Why pamper life's complexities
When the leather runs smooth on the passenger seat?

I would go out tonight
But I haven't got a stitch to wear
This man said "It's gruesome
That someone so handsome should care"

A jumped-up pantry boy
Who never knew his place
He said "return the rings"
He knows so much about these things
He knows so much about these things

I would go out tonight
But I haven't got a stitch to wear
This man said "It's gruesome
That someone so handsome should care"

This charming man
This charming man

A jumped-up pantry boy
Who never knew his place
He said "return the ring"
He knows so much about these things
He knows so much about these things
He knows so much about these things

#TheSmiths #ThisCharmingMan #TopofThePops

[Harpdashian]

It’s weird how much they stick out in the mid 80s, they’re flamboyant but not in the same way a lot of 80s bands were, they seem quite modern

[kevanbrown]

"Punctured bicycle, on a hillside desolate", what an opening line to a pop song, running alongside Johnny Marr's great guitar line. Go Morrissey with those flowers. In later appearances he had a tree branch.

[georgeydlfc]

Why pamper life’s complexities when the leather runs smooth on the passenger seat. Genuinely one of the best lyricist of our time

[alightthatnevergoesout]

Morriseys voice just seems to glide over the instruments. Majestic.

[thomasdonnelly]

For me this is as about as perfect as pop music gets. It's under 3 minutes, it has an infectious guitar riff, a flawlessly groovy bass line, a simple but effective drum part, and the voice soars over with the most stylish and ambiguous lyrics. Genius. I put it up there with The Beatles greatest hits any day!

[ftfwseoaoj]

I’d build a time machine just to watch this live
The Smiths are the best 80s band of all time

[chrisjames]

I'm an 88 year old Titanic survivor, and when I was in the lifeboat fighting for my life, it was this song that kept me going. Thank you Morrisons

[johnmichaelson]

RIP Andy Rourke & condolences to the family. I first met Andy in the BBC bar after they'd just backed Sandi Shaw on Top of the Pops in 1984. Such a lovely fella & what a Bass Player, wow just wow. If anyone has any doubts about Andy's playing just check out what Guy Pratt says about Andy. It's such a sad day, he's gone but never forgotten, his music will speak for himself & his talent.

[mmmanutd]

I would go out tonight, but I'm in quarantine

[MultiSUPERLATIVO]

The vulnerability that is indeed the true power. No microphone in his hand. He is clearly saying it was a playback.
Morrissey's presence on stage was so strange and different from the other pop singers of that era. Respect.

[masteryeet]

My dad was such a lucky bastard he got to see this live as he was 22 when this aired
edit: let me reiterate i know that top of the pops performances weren’t performed live, i simply meant that my dad saw this as it was live on air, not the performance itself being performed live.

[roses]

His voice is still so refreshing to this day

[bob_lobblah]

He's so damn charming he don't even need a mic, the universe just obliges

[delby]

A terrible shame to hear of Andy Rourke's death. What a great bass player. My condolences to his family and friends. May he RIP.

[jagandsunder]

RIP Andy - that bass-line! This chiming riff wouldn't stand a chance over a root-note plod. Bravo sir.

[fortyminers]

who else was never able to see them live and wishes they could time travel

[sethsosa]

I would go out tonight but I haven’t got a mask to wear 😔

[Gabriel-fjes]

One of the best and most memorables moments in rock history.

[manfredlopeza]

Happy to be here listening to Morri's voice, the perfect guitar of Johnny "F" Marr, Andy's bass and Mike's drums.
Keep going, guys. We can overcome with this 2020, remember that "there is a light that never goes out".

[sandorrclegane]

How did shows back then have the audacity to just straight up play the studio recording. They didn't even try