How Soon Is Now?

The Smiths' 'How Soon Is Now?' is a haunting anthem of alienation and the longing for love and acceptance. Released in 1985, the song is often hailed as one of the band's most iconic tracks, with its distinctive guitar riff and Morrissey's plaintive vocals. The Smiths, known for their jangly guitar pop and introspective lyrics, often explored themes of angst, love, and the human condition, and this song is a prime example of their style.

The lyrics of 'How Soon Is Now?' speak to the universal desire to be loved and the fear of being socially ostracized. The opening lines introduce the listener to a character who is the 'son and the heir' of an overwhelming shyness, suggesting a legacy of insecurity and social awkwardness that feels almost like a burden. The repetition of 'I am human and I need to be loved' underscores the basic human need for connection and understanding, a plea that resonates with anyone who has ever felt alone or misunderstood.

The song's narrative takes the listener through the experience of going to a club, a place where one might hope to find companionship, only to end up feeling more isolated. The protagonist leaves alone, goes home, and is consumed by despair. The question 'How soon is now?' reflects impatience and a sense of urgency, a cry for the moment of change that never seems to come. The song captures the frustration of waiting for a significant moment in life that will alter one's lonely existence, but as the song concludes, 'all my hope is gone,' it leaves the listener with a sense of desolation and the bitter realization that such a moment may never arrive.