“Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want” by The Smiths

Sometimes a person’s life can be met with so much misfortune that they may feel that the universe itself is against them. Some of us also have a tendency to blow bad luck, if you will, out of proportion. But in any event, depression is in fact real and in more serious cases can prove unshakeable. 

So it is with the vocalist at hand, someone who infers that he’s “a good man”, but the misfortune he has experienced in life is compelling him to become a “bad” one. Or put otherwise, he has become so discouraged that he’s considering doing something unethical, such as perhaps engaging in criminal activity to make a quick buck, in the name of rectifying the situation.

So whether or not Morrissey proceeds to pray is a matter of perspective, but to note he does address the Lord in the second verse. And what he is asking from a higher, let’s say spiritual or supernatural power is “for once in (his) life” the way he sees it that he ‘gets what he wants’. 

So it’s obvious that the vocalist has not yet reached the point where he has completely lost faith.  But that said, he does feel that he’s more than overdue for a lucky break, in a manner of speaking.

“Good times for a change
See, the luck I’ve had can make a good man turn bad
So please, please, please
Let me, let me, let me
Let me get what I want this time”

When did The Smiths release “Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want”?

“Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want” has a release date of 20th August 1984. It was made public through Rough Trade Records.

To note, this was a non-album release. However, it has appeared on several of the band’s compilation projects such as their 1987 album entitled “Louder Than Bombs”. It also featured on the group’s 1984 compilation album “Hatful of Hollow”.

Credits

Produced by English producer John Porter, this track’s writers are The Smith’s founding members, Morrissey and Johnny Marr.

Chart Performance

Although this is one of the most-appreciated songs by The Smiths, it failed to achieve much commercial success, especially outside the UK. And even in the UK, it only managed a peak position of No. 83 on the official singles chart there.

Covers of “Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want”

It’s easy to say that this tune is one of the group’s most-covered songs. A notable rendition of the song was done by English vocalist Slow Moving Millie. Her version was released in November 2011. Another well-known cover is The Dream Academy’s version, which they released in 1985.

NOTE: In addition to this song, the following are some other popular Smiths’ songs that appear on the compilation album, “Hatful of Hollow“:

• “How Soon Is Now?”
• “Hand in Glove”
• “This Charming Man”
• “William, It Was Really Nothing”
• “Girl Afraid”
• “What Difference Does It Make?”