Donald Trump has raised the ire of another musician by using one of their songs in a campaign rally. It’s almost always the case of Trump not listening to the lyrics beyond the title, but the latest is especially out of left field: The Smiths‘ 1984 mope-rock classic “Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want,” which Stereogum notes (by way of political reporter Ben C Jacobs) was played before Trump’s speech at a rally in Laconia, New Hampshire on Monday night. There’s video of it below.
“I never in a million years would’ve thought this could come to pass,” wrote Johnny Marr, co-writer of the song, on Twitter. “Consider this shit shut right down right now.”
No word from the song’s other co-writer, Morrissey — who has aligned himself with far-right political parties in the UK in recent years — or Smiths drummer Mike Joyce. (Bassist Andy Rourke died last year.) Does Trump realize Morrissey also wrote anti-Thatcher song “Margaret on the Guillotine” and “The Queen is Dead”? It does seem possible he sees himself in lyrics like “Let me get what I want / Lord knows, it would be the first time,” though it also seems possible he’s never heard “Please Please Please” ever.
Ahh…right…OK. I never in a million years would’ve thought this could come to pass. Consider this shit shut right down right now. https://t.co/M6eYROedOy
— Johnny Marr (@Johnny_Marr) January 23, 2024
