Released: 1984
‘How Soon Is Now?’ by The Smiths is a raw and emotive exploration of social anxiety and the universal human desire for love and acceptance. The song paints a vivid picture of the loneliness and despair that can stem from feeling misunderstood and unloved.
The opening lines, ‘I am the son and the heir of a shyness that is criminally vulgar,’ introduce us to the protagonist’s struggle with crippling shyness. This isn’t just ordinary shyness, but something so intense it’s almost ‘criminal’.
The repeated plea, ‘I am human and I need to be loved, just like everybody else does,’ underscores the protagonist’s longing for connection. It’s a universal cry, reminding us that at our core, we all crave love and acceptance.
The verse about the club is a stark portrayal of social anxiety. The protagonist is alone in a crowd, unable to connect, and ends up feeling even more isolated and desolate.
The line, ‘When you say, “It’s gonna happen now”, well, when exactly do you mean?’ expresses frustration and impatience with vague promises and false hope. It’s a poignant reflection of the protagonist’s dwindling hope and increasing despair.
Overall, ‘How Soon Is Now?’ is a powerful exploration of loneliness, social anxiety, and the universal human need for love. The Smiths’ ability to articulate these complex emotions in such a relatable way is part of what makes this song so enduring.
