The Late Movies: Covers of Morrissey & The Smiths

I'm a longtime Morrissey fan. From the first time I heard The Queen is Dead by Morrissey's band The Smiths in the 80's, I was hooked. Morrissey's music is generally very maudlin (if not straight-up depressing), but somehow it's also hopeful and sweet. Below I have collected some terrific covers of songs by Morrissey and Smiths for your mope-rock enjoyment.

"There Is a Light..." -Neil Finn & Johnny Marr

Neil Finn of Crowded House is joined by Johnny Marr (of The Smiths and lately of Modest Mouse) in this terrific cover of a classic Smiths tune. Sample lyrics: "To die by your side is such a heavenly way to die."

"Everyday is Like Sunday" -Colin Meloy

Colin Meloy of The Decembrists does a solo acoustic cover of Morrissey's classic beach song, which Meloy calls "a sad campfire song...the campfire is in danger of being put out by your tears." Sample lyrics: "Every day is silent and gray. ... Come, come, nuclear bomb."

"The Headmaster Ritual" -Radiohead

Performed live on the band's webcast, 9 November 2007. Sample lyrics: "Billigerent ghouls run Manchester schools."

"The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get" -Josh Ackerman of The Mickey Mouse Club

Utterly awful. Sample lyrics: "Beware; I bear more grudges than lonely high court judges."

"Ask" -Brett Johnson

My all-time favorite Smiths song. Sample lyrics: "If there's something you'd like to try, ask me, I won't say no; how could I? Spending long summer days indoors, writing frightening verse to a bucktoothed girl in Luxembourg...."

"Girlfriend in a Coma" -Josh Radin

Sample lyrics: "Girlfriend in a coma, I know, I know it's really serious."

"Panic" -Sweet and Tender Hooligans

There's apparently a Morrissey/The Smiths tribute band. Who knew? Sample lyrics: "Hang the DJ, hang the DJ, hang the DJ."

Post Your Favorites in the Comments

There are TONS MORE of these in the wild. Please post links in the comments!