Death of a Disco Dancer by The Smiths

Album: Strangeways, Here We Come (1987)

License This Song

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

This grim elegy to the sufferings of the mid-1980s gay community finds Morrissey substituting "disco dancer" for "homosexual."

The death of a disco dancer
Well, it happens a lot 'round here
And if you think peace
Is a common goal
That goes to show
How little you know

Morrissey ruminates on the rise of gay AIDS casualties and homophobic violence.
Guitarist Johnny Marr commented to Q Magazine that one of the best things about the song "is that keyboard drone. It's like Goldfinger on bad acid. Which is kind of The Smiths in a nutshell."
Morrissey played piano on this track – it's the only Smiths song on which he played a musical instrument.

Comments: 1

Mathewh386@gmail.com from Manchester in 1986 a 19 year old clubber, Christian Joyce choked ro death on a Hamburger at Royale's Nightclub, Wythenshawe, Manchester, I studied design with Chris 3 years earlier, The incident was reported in the local oress and some national newspapers with a strong emphasis on the fact that he tried to get people to help him as he was choking, unfortunately most people thought he was pilled off his face, drunk or, as was quoted in the press "We would rather not get involved" Morrissey, not one to let a story go unused took the story and spinned it out into Death of a Disco Dancer.

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Cigarettes And Chocolate MilkRufus Wainwright

"Cigarettes And Chocolate Milk" describes a time in Rufus Wainwright's life when he found himself hungover and pounding chocolate milk to feel better. It didn't work, so he smoked a cigarette, which is when he realized his addictive personality could be a problem.

KokomoThe Beach Boys

"Kokomo" gave The Beach Boys their first #1 hit in 22 years. They picked the title because it sounded tropical.

Go Away Little GirlDonny Osmond

Originally a chart-topper for Steve Lawrence in 1962, "Go Away Little Girl" became the first song of the rock era to hit #1 for two different artists when Donny Osmond's cover version also reached the summit in 1971.

Gonna Get Over YouSara Bareilles

Jonah Hill directed the video for Sara Bareilles' song "Gonna Get Over You." It's a mash-up of Grease and West Side Story.

My Ding-a-LingChuck Berry

Chuck Berry's only #1 hit was "My Ding-a-Ling," a novelty song about a boy and his... you know.

GhosttownMadonna

"Ghosttown" was Madonna's 45th chart-topper on the Dance Club Songs chart, breaking the record for the most #1s an artist has tallied on a single Billboard chart.