The last night of the fair
By the big wheel generator
A boy is stabbed, his money is grabbed
And the air hangs heavy like a dulling wine
The last night of the fair
She is famous, she is funny
An engagement ring doesn’t mean a thing
To a mind consumed by brass(money)
And though I walk home alone
Though I walk home alone
My faith in love is still devout
Though I walk home alone
My faith in love is still devout
The last night of the fair
From a seat on a whirling waltzer
Her skirt ascends for a watching eye
It’s a hideous trait on her mother’s side
The last night of the fair
From a seat on a whirling waltzer
Her skirt ascends for a watching eye
It’s a hideous trait on her mother’s side
And though I walk home alone
Though I walk home alone
My faith in love is still devout
I may walk home alone
My faith in love is still devout
Then someone falls in love and and someone’s beaten up
Someone falls in love
The pulses being beat are mine
And someone falls in love
And someone’s beaten up, someone’s beaten up
And the senses being dulled are mine
And tonight I will walk home alone
I will walk home alone
But still my faith in love is still devout
Though I woke home alone
I may walk home alone
My faith in love is still devout
This the last night of the fair
And by the big wheel generator
A boy is stabbed and his money is grabbed
And the air hangs heavy like a dulling wine
She is famous, she is funny
An engagement ring doesn’t mean a thing
To a mind consumed by brass(money)
Though I walk home alone
Yes I might walk home alone
Sill, my faith in love is still devout
I might walk home alone tonight
My faith in love is still devout
So scratch my name on your arm with a fountain pen
This means you really love me
Scratch my name on your arm with a fountain pen
This means you really love me
And then… I might walk home alone
I might walk home alone
But my faith in love is still devout
My faith in love is still devout
My faith in love is still devout
This is the last night of the fair
And the grease in the hair of the speedway operator
Is it all a tremulous heart requires?
A girl is denied
She said: “How quickly would I die if I jumped from the top of the parachutes?”
This is the last night of the fair
And the grease in the hair of a speedway operator
Is all a tremulous heart requires
A girl who is denied says
“How quickly would I if I jumped from the top of the parachutes?”
Please….scratch my name on your arm with a fountain pen
And this means you really love me
Scratch my name on your arm with a fountain pen
And this means you really love me
And yes, I walk home alone
I might walk home alone
But still, my faith in love is still devout
mp3 : The Smiths – Rusholme Ruffians (early version)
Indeed.
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 
Nice one. Also would put forward What Difference Does It Make? As a candidate in this category.
It’s an excellent piece of writing, of that there’s no doubt. Had it – lost it?
Had it. Turned into Nigel Farage.
And this is one of the best….
Fabulous tune
SC
swiss adam nails it
and makes me laugh too
In best Father Ted Irish accent : “I hear you’re a racist these days, Steven. Tell me what got you interested in that sort of t’ing?”
Great addition to this series, JC. Brilliant song. One of their best. Check out the (pre-Rusholme) words to Victoria Wood’s superb ‘Fourteen Again’ too.
Thanks Jim.
The live version on Rank is good too, with the Elvis beginning. It is a great song- riff, imagery, lyrical steals, the lot.
Absolute classic.
My faith in love is still devout.
Please please please more postings of early versions from them.