The Smiths Lyric Mashup Trivia Quiz

Answer:

The Smiths were an English band in the 1980s, defined by Morrissey's melancholic, witty lyrics and Johnny Marr's jangly, intricate guitar work. The other two members were Andy Rourke (bass) and Mike Joyce (drums). These are 8 of my favorite "Smiths" songs: in order of appearance:

"This Charming Man" (1983): An awkward, working class youth with a broken down bike gets a ride from an older, more sophisticated man. The implication is attraction between the two that is forbidden by societal rules. The given sentence in the quiz is the opener, where the narrator tells us he is trapped in the wilderness.

"There is a Light that Never Goes Out" (1992): A song about the type of intense and all-consuming love that the writer (and band vocalist) Morrissey, long dreamt about. The given sentence in the quiz is in the chorus, where the narrator feels so intensely about their love interest that they would consider a grisly death together an honor.

"Panic" (1986): Written by Johnny Marr after hearing upbeat pop music being played in the wake of the Chernobyl disaster, the song is overt criticism of the mainstream musical scene in the 1980s Britain. The given lyric is the violent, controversial, and direct call to harm and eliminate the representation of this scene, the "DJ".

"Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" (1984): A song about going through the motions while feeling empty and depressed. The narrator has all the necessities in live but feels emotionless, especially towards people that "don't care if they live or die". The given lyric is the highlight of a happy couple passing by our forlorn narrator, who doubles down on their misery.

"The Boy with the Thorn in His Side" (1985): Morrissey has discussed how he felt slighted by the music industry's lack of belief in him, and then later rejected his bold style and controversial lyrics by not playing his records. The song is about his displeasure at this treatment, and the given line highlights the condescension and disgust Morrissey opens the song with.

"Half a Person" (1987): The song's narrator is a young adult who has been in love with someone that they have been chasing for years and who does not seem to reciprocate their love, making them "half a person". The lyrical line provided is the song's opener and immediately speaks to the narrator's awful frame of mind, and how long they have been chasing their love interest.

"Handsome Devil" (1983): One of the band's earlier records explores taboo relationships in early 1980s Britain, implying a schoolboy crush on an older authority figure. The provided line is Morrissey's genius ability to generate literary value despite the subject matter's raunchiness.

"Pretty Girls Make Graves" (1983): In this song, the narrator is being aggressively pursued by a woman who wants a sexual relationship, but he is not interested for unstated reasons. The given line describes the narrator's apathy, as he will "not smile for anyone", implying a lack of interest and aversion to the situation.