What Difference Does It Make? (1984) – The Smiths

The most anti-’80s band of the ’80s, The Smiths are back again and they are not messing around with What Difference Does It Make. The same friend, Tatiana, who got me into Clueso also got me into The Smiths. Well, it was more of her rebooting their music for me, since I had heard some of their stuff in my early adulthood, but Morrissey’s voice turned me off.

Upon relistening through my middle-aged years and ears, I formed a brand new musical appreciation. I’d now consider them one of my favourite bands and, suffice to say, their music has featured here prominently.

Just when I think I’ve heard everything of value in their catalogue, another song seems to surface and it hits home. Many of their songs also reward repeated listens. Each time, the appreciation and enjoyment seem to grow. Their music, at least to me, asks something of the listener – time, focus and immersion – before its meaning really opens up.

It’s pretty cool how, on the one hand, they are the consummate tight-sounding pub group, while on the other their music is highly stylised, with intelligent lyrics and musicianship. You only have to listen to How Soon is Now? to hear the richness and freshness of its sound and lyric, as though it were released to the masses yesterday. It hasn’t aged a bit, and there are few ’80s songs you could say that about.

What Difference Does It Make is one of The Smiths’ grittier and tighter pop melodies. It starts with this irrepressible, twirling yet piercing guitar riff, then in the chorus morphs into Johnny Marr’s signature metallic-sounding jangly guitar, which never gets tiresome.

The tone of the song complements Morrissey’s rambling, self-effacing lyrics about the breakdown of a friendship after a deeply personal secret is revealed. It is widely interpreted as being about someone recoiling after a revelation about the narrator’s sexuality, with many listeners seeing it as reflecting Morrissey’s own experiences of revealing his sexual identity, though he has never clearly defined it by conventional labels.

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Snippets from Wikipedia:

The track peaked at No. 12 on the UK Singles Chart in 1984 and remains one of the band’s most successful singles.

The single cover is a photograph of Terence Stamp, taken on the set of the film The Collector (1965). Initially, Stamp denied permission for the still to be used, and some pressings featured Morrissey in a re-enacted scene.

In the re-enactment, Morrissey is holding a glass of milk, as opposed to a chloroform pad in the original. However, Stamp soon changed his mind, and the original cover was reinstated.

[Verse 1]
All men have secrets and here is mine
So let it be known
For we have been through hell and high tide
I think I can rely on you
And yet you start to recoil
Heavy words are so lightly thrown
But still I’d leap in front
Of a flying bullet for you

[Chorus]
So, what difference does it make?
So, what difference does it make?
It makes none, but now you have gone
And you must be looking very old tonight

[Verse 2]
The devil will find work
For idle hands to do
I stole and I lied, and why?
Because you asked me to
But now you make me feel so ashamed
Because I’ve only got two hands
But I’m still fond of you
Oh-oh-oh

[Chorus]
So, what difference does it make?
Oh, what difference does it make?
Oh, it makes none, but now you have gone
And your prejudice won’t keep you warm tonight

[Verse 3]
Oh, the devil will find work
For idle hands to do
I stole, and then I lied
Just because you asked me to
But now you know the truth about me
You won’t see me anymore
Well, I’m still fond of you
Oh-oh-oh

[Chorus]
But no more apologies
No more, no more apologies
Oh, I’m too tired, I’m so sick and tired
And I’m feeling very sick and ill today

[Outro]
But I’m still fond of you
Oh-oh-oh
Oh, my sacred one
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh

References:
1. What Difference Does It Make? – Wikipedia