That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore

Infobox Single
Name = That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore


Artist = The Smiths
from Album = Meat Is Murder
Released = July 1 1985
Format = 7" single, 12" single
Recorded = Autumn 1984
Genre = Alternative rock
Length = 4:59
Label = Rough Trade
Writer = Johnny Marr Morrissey
Producer = The Smiths
Video director =
Certification =
Chart position = * #49 (UK)
Reviews =
Last single = "Shakespeare’s Sister"
(1985)
This single = "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore"
(1985)
Next single = "The Boy with the Thorn in His Side"
(1985)"That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" is a song by British rock band, The Smiths. It first appeared on their album "Meat Is Murder", and was released as their eighth single. It was composed by guitarist Johnny Marr and singer/songwriter Morrissey.

A unique single, it was the second-lowest charting Smiths single, reaching only #49. The repetition and sad tone conveyed are unusual for a Smiths single. This has raised suspicions that the song is about a journalist with whom Morrissey had a relationship. According to Dave Simpson in his Uncut article (August 1998), the unnamed journalist steadfastly refuses to discuss Morrissey to this day. [ [http://www.compsoc.man.ac.uk/~moz/lyrics/meatismu/thatjoke.htm LASID - That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore ] ]

Lyrics

The song is about a car ride where the narrator's partner makes a mocking statement about those who are suicidal and lonely ("when you laugh about people who feel so very lonely / their only desire is to die"). In an extended monologue, Morrissey responds to the joke. He plays with figurative and literal meanings – notably in the line "I drove the point home" – which refers both to the literal "return home" in the car and the insistence with which he makes his point in response to the joke.Fact|date=July 2008

Track listing

7”: Rough Trade / RT186 (UK)

# “That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore” – 4:57
# “Meat Is Murder (live)” – 5:34

12”: Rough Trade / RTT186 (UK)

# “That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore” – 4:57
# “Nowhere Fast (live)” – 2:31
# “Stretch Out and Wait (live)” – 2:49
# “Shakespeare's Sister (live)” – 2:12
# “Meat Is Murder (live)” – 5:34

Etchings on vinyl

UK 7":OUR SOULS, OUR SOULS, OUR SOULS / OUR SOULS, OUR SOULS, OUR SOULS

UK 12":OUR SOULS, OUR SOULS, OUR SOULS / none

Canada 12": HELEN WHEELS / none

References

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