The Headmaster Ritual (single)

Cover art

Alternate cover art

THE SMITHS Single
Name	The Headmaster Ritual
Release
Writer/composer	Morrissey/Marr
Publisher	Rough Trade Records (UK) Sire Records (US)
Format(s)	7" Vinyl, 12" Vinyl, CD
Chart position	UK #
Single chronology
Barbarism Begins At Home ← The Headmaster Ritual → That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore

Lyrics

Belligerent ghouls run Manchester schools Spineless swines, cemented minds Sir leads the troops Jealous of youth Same old suit since 1962 He does the military two-step down the nape of my neck

I wanna go home I don't want to stay Give up education as a bad mistake

Mid-week on the playing fields Sir thwacks you on the knees Knees you in the groin Elbow in the face Bruises bigger than dinner plates

I wanna go home I don't wanna stay

Belligerent ghouls run Manchester schools Spineless bastards all Sir leads the troops Jealous of youth Same old joke since 1902 He does the military two-step down the nape of my neck

I wanna go home I don't want to stay Give up life as a bad mistake

Please excuse me from gym I've got this terrible cold coming on He grabs and devours He kicks me in the showers Kicks me in the showers And he grabs and devours

I want to go home I don't want to stay

Live History

Play count (The Smiths concert): 40

The Smiths live history:

• Chippenham, England 1985-02-27 (The Smiths concert)
• Guildford, England 1985-02-28 (The Smiths concert)
• London, England 1985-03-01 (The Smiths concert)
• Portsmouth, England 1985-03-03 (The Smiths concert)
• Reading, England 1985-03-04 (The Smiths concert)
• Poole, England 1985-03-06 (The Smiths concert)
• Brighton, England 1985-03-07 (The Smiths concert)
• Margate, England 1985-03-08 (The Smiths concert)
• Ipswich, England 1985-03-11 (The Smiths concert)
• Nottingham, England 1985-03-12 (The Smiths concert)

... further results

Play count (Morrissey concert): 20

Morrissey live history:

• Las Vegas, Nevada 2004-04-17 (Morrissey concert)
• Anaheim, California 2004-04-18 (Morrissey concert)
• Los Angeles, California 2004-04-22 (Morrissey concert)
• Los Angeles, California 2004-04-24 (Morrissey concert)
• Los Angeles, California 2004-04-26 (Morrissey concert)
• Los Angeles, California 2004-04-27 (Morrissey concert)
• New York, New York 2004-05-03 (Morrissey concert)
• New York, New York 2004-05-08 (Morrissey concert)
• Manchester, England 2004-05-22 (Morrissey concert)
• London, England 2004-06-11 (Morrissey concert)

... further results

Appears On

• Meat Is Murder
• The Headmaster Ritual (single)
• ...Best II
• Who Put The 'M' In Manchester?
• The Sound Of The Smiths
• The Smiths Singles Box
• Complete

Cover Versions

• Radiohead