Sweet and Tender Hooligan
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2014}}
{{more citations needed|date=April 2013}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Sweet and Tender Hooligan
| cover = SweetAndTenderHooligan.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = The Smiths
| album =
| released = 23 May 1995
| recorded = 1985–1987
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Alternative rock, punk rock
| length = 3:35
10:26 (total duration)
| label = Sire
| writer = Johnny Marr, Morrissey
| producer = John Porter
| prev_title = There Is a Light That Never Goes Out
| prev_year = 1992
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
"Sweet and Tender Hooligan" is a song by the English rock band the Smiths, written by singer Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr. Recorded in 1986, it was released as a single in May 1995 by Sire Records to promote the compilation album Singles.
Background
Whereas WEA in Europe opted to re-issue the 1986 single "Ask" to promote Singles, Sire in America thought it wiser to put out a single containing rarities, even though none of them featured on the actual compilation, as neither "Sweet and Tender Hooligan" itself nor its supporting tracks had been previously released as a single. The title track had previously been recorded for the BBC and included on Louder Than Bombs and the 12" of "Sheila Take a Bow"; "I Keep Mine Hidden", "Work Is a Four-Letter Word" and "What's the World?" were previously hard-to-find B-sides to earlier singles "Girlfriend in a Coma" and "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish" (both 1987).
Lyric
The lyric describes the lenient sentencing of a hooligan, with the narrator sarcastically taking the side of the criminal, saying "and he'll never ever do it again / of course he won't / not until the next time".
Track listing
- "Sweet and Tender Hooligan" (Morrissey, Johnny Marr) – 3:35
- "I Keep Mine Hidden" (Morrissey, Marr) – 1:59
- "Work Is a Four-Letter Word" (Guy Woolfenden, Don Black) – 2:47
- "What's the World?" (live) (Tim Booth, Jim Glennie, Paul Gilbertson, Gavan Whelan) – 2:06
Artwork
The single cover features a still of boxer Cornelius Carr from the music video for Morrissey's single "Boxers", as directed by James O'Brien in 1995.
Reviews
{{Album ratings
|rev1 = Allmusic
|rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{Cite web | last = Rabid | first = Jack | title = Sweet and Tender Hooligan Review | publisher = Allmusic | accessdate = 29 October 2012 | url = {{AllMusic|class=album|id=mw0000644463|pure_url=yes}}}}
}}
Jack Rabid of Allmusic described this song as "one of their great punk-inspired moments (along with "London") and as usual, should have been the A-side anyway."
Notes
{{Reflist}}
{{The Smiths}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Morrissey