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Information About

Shoplifters Of The World Unite




  Cover Shoplifterssmithsgif
  Artist The Smiths
  From Album ''' The World Won't Listen '''
  Released January 26 1987
  Format 7", 12"
  Recorded Late 1986
  Genre Rock
  Length 2:58
  Label Rough Trade
  Writer Johnny Marr <br> Morrissey
  Producer Johnny Marr
  Chart Position #12 <small> ( UK ) </small>
  Video Director &mdash
  Reviews <nowiki></nowiki>
  Last Single " Ask " <br />(1986)
  This Single "Shoplifters of the World Unite" <br />(1987)
  Next Single " Sheila Take A Bow " <br/>(1987)


"Shoplifters of the World Unite" is a song by The Smiths . It was released as a single in January 1987 , reaching #12 in the UK Singles Chart . As was often the case with Smiths singles, it did not appear on an original studio album. It can be found on the '' Louder Than Bombs '', '' Singles '' and '' The World Won't Listen '' compilations.

The title bears reference to the communist slogan " Workers Of The World, Unite! ". It has been suggested that the song is about Homosexuality , and further that it is a critique of Section 28 . This is perhaps owing to the similarity between the word "shoplifter" and the word "shirtlifter", a Slang term for a homosexual man in the United Kingdom .

During a chat with Shaun Duggan, Morrissey explained the meaning of the song as follows: "It's more or less spiritual shoplifting, cultural shoplifting, taking things and using them to your own advantage."http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDxca9FuogA

Musically the song bears a strong resemblance to the T. Rex song " Children Of The Revolution ". Both Morrissey and Johnny Marr are Marc Bolan fans, and Marr has admitted in an interview that the melody for a previous Smiths single, " Panic ", was copied from " Metal Guru ".

Morrissey has said that this is his favourite Smiths song.http://foreverill.com/disc/shoplift.htm He sang it in his 2004 concerts.
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TRACK LISTING


7": Rough Trade / RT195 (UK)


# "Shoplifters of the World Unite"
# "Half a Person"


12": Rough Trade / RTT195 (UK)


# "Shoplifters of the World Unite"
# "London"
# "Half a Person"


ETCHINGS ON VINYL

UK 7" and 12": ALF RAMSEY'S REVENGE / none

Alf Ramsey was a football manager in the sixties.


ARTWORK

Photograph of Elvis Presley by James R. Reid.


REFERENCES