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🎶 Cemetry Gates – The Smiths

Hey music explorer! 🎧 Ready to walk through a mysterious gate into a world of music, words, and imagination? “Cemetry Gates” is a song by a band called The Smiths, and it’s full of curiosity. Imagine strolling through a quiet graveyard, reading the names on the stones, and suddenly—poetry pops into your head! That’s kind of what this song feels like.

The Smiths were a famous British band in the 1980s, and they made songs that sound happy but sometimes talk about serious things. This one mixes pretty guitar music with lyrics about books, old writers, and even a funny argument between two friends about who copied whom. 😂

It’s short—just under three minutes—but full of clever words. The singer even mentions people like Oscar Wilde and Keats! It’s like taking a walk and having a deep chat with your brain at the same time. 🧠✨

So next time you're on a walk, think about this song. What would you say to a poet from the past? Would you laugh, think, or write your own poem? 🎶🪦📖

“Cemetry Gates” (1986) is a standout track by the English rock band The Smiths, featured on their seminal album *The Queen Is Dead*. Clocking in at 2 minutes and 39 seconds, the song is known for its jangly, upbeat guitar riffs juxtaposed against lyrics filled with wit, literary references, and dry humor.

Written by vocalist Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr, “Cemetry Gates” explores themes of originality, plagiarism, and the blurred lines between homage and imitation. The lyrics describe a casual walk through a cemetery where the narrator reflects on death, authorship, and an intellectual spat with a friend. Names like Keats and Wilde make appearances, evoking a literary world that Morrissey often draws upon for inspiration.

Musically, the song is characterized by Marr’s signature melodic guitar style, which gives it a light and breezy feel despite the graveyard setting. The contrast between the playful music and Morrissey’s ironic commentary creates a track that is both catchy and clever—a hallmark of The Smiths’ style.

“Cemetry Gates,” a track from The Smiths’ 1986 album *The Queen Is Dead*, stands as a masterclass in lyrical irony and musical understatement. Though short in length (2:39), the song encapsulates the band’s characteristic blend of jangly guitar melodies and Morrissey’s literary-minded lyricism.

At the heart of the song lies a conversation, or perhaps an inner monologue, that deals with accusations of plagiarism. Morrissey references poets like John Keats and Oscar Wilde not merely as name-drops, but as thematic anchors. Wilde, in particular, serves as a mirror for Morrissey’s own intellectual flamboyance and cultural critique.

The setting—a cemetery—acts as a metaphorical landscape where dead authors speak louder than the living. This evokes postmodern concerns about originality and the recycling of ideas. Yet Morrissey does so with humor: “There’s always someone, somewhere / With a big nose, who knows.” The snark masks a serious cultural inquiry.

Graveyards never sounded so clever. 💀🎸 If you’ve got a taste for brainy lyrics, British charm, and that perfect combo of melancholy and melody, “Cemetry Gates” by The Smiths is your jam.

It’s got everything: poetic shoutouts (hello Oscar Wilde & Keats!), a walk through a cemetery, and a cheeky argument about who stole whose words. 😂 The song is short but rich—like a bite-sized book with a killer soundtrack.

Tag your English Lit major friend, your goth ex, or anyone who still writes in journals. This song *is* the moment. #TheSmiths #CemetryGates #SadIsSmart #GothPopGenius

Title Cemetry Gates
Artist The Smiths
Duration 2:39
Album The Queen Is Dead
Release Date 1986-06-16
Instrumentation Guitar, Bass Guitar, Drums, Vocals
Recording Location Farnham
Language English
Genre Alternative Rock
Publisher Rough Trade Records
Coverage United Kingdom
Producer Stephen Street
Subject Graveyard
Lyricist Morrissey
Composer Johnny Marr