The Smiths – You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby

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  Song Meaning:I think it's basically telling the people who are upset and want happiness that they basically 'haven't earned it yet' and they 'must suffer and cry for a longer time' in order to earn the happiness they want.

  Flag jessicaron May 09, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:Unless you put effort into living your life well, nothing good is going to come out of it.

  Flag noiamnotwhereibelongon November 09, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:I think what this song is talking about how there really isn't such a thing as instant gratification.
  "you must suffer and cry for a longer time"
  almost makes me think like hmm...God's not gonna let me be happy without being pretty damm miserable first haha.
  I suppose for me it boils down to the fact that you can't really get anything or do anything without work, even though the work may not be "work" in the traditional sense.
  
  Of course....this is just my take on it xD

  Flag mediocremurphyon October 21, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:I recall reading somewhere that this song was actually in reference to an event in which there was one song the band felt would give the Smiths the break they were longing for if released as a single, rather than the one the label released. When Moz complained to the label that the song they released didn't do well, someone told him the very name of the song.

  Flag CivoLeeon October 01, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:gets me through rough times, this one... and yes, the smiths are very pretty
  
  kirsty maccoll's cover of this song must be one of the best smiths covers in existence.

  Flag tamninon May 16, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:I love this as a feel good song.
  Maybe a slightly odd choice, but it gives hope that good things are just around the corner.
  Like, this hurt will make the next pleasure better.

  Flag Ay-Kayon May 04, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:The song is an objective view of himself. The "son" adds to the patronising manner of which this song is trying to outline. "You must suffer and cry for a longer time" is also the person/people who hold the objective view, showing a lack of compassion and their only advice being to hold tight and it might get better. An upbeat and catchy tune!

  Flag m25roaron March 11, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:I interpret it as the subject of the song having to work hard and long to find love and admiration to ultimately no avail while everyone else he knows receives it without even trying. These other people, however, still have the nerve to say he "hasn't earned it yet."

  Flag timothyrealon July 13, 2007   Link

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  General Comment:Is it just me, or are his vocals and the music more 'together' in this song than most other, chorus is foot tapping for a change, and its so much more catchier than any of their other songs when it comes to ' earned it yet soooonnnnnn'

  Flag jonnywardon June 02, 2007   Link

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  General Comment:To me this song is about expecting to be loved and revered without really putting any work in. It's about how you expect to get things "just because" but the fact is that true love, admiration, respect and caring are earned by frustration and triumph, by falling and getting up again and again until something works out. It's almost like if someone has no talents or personality but still wonders why they have no true friends and why they aren't respected or admired.
  
  If this was about the drummer of the band, that definitely makes sense. Because Morrissey and Marr "earned" their respect through hard work and songwriting while the rest of the group mainly showed up for gigs and the moments in the studio where the tracks had to be laid down. The fact that Morrissey believes success should be earned is evident in the fact too that he doesn't want to get back together with the Smiths, because he feels like they would be essentially hijacking some of the fame and image he's worked hard to maintain over the years, while they have done nothing to deserve to once again be in the limelight.

  Flag BuckWilderon December 06, 2006   Link

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