The Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths
From The Smiths' eponymous first album. “Reel Around the Fountain” met with controversy, with some tabloid newspapers alleging the songs were suggestive of paedophilia, a claim strongly denied by the group.
[Verse 1]
It's time the tale were told
Of how you took a child
And you made him old
It's time the tale were told
Of how you took a child
And you made him old
You made him old
[Pre-Chorus 1]
Reel around the fountain
Slap me on the patio
I'll take it now
Oh
[Chorus 1]
Fifteen minutes with you
Well, I wouldn't say no
Oh, people said that you were virtually dead
And they were so wrong
Fifteen minutes with you
Oh, well, I wouldn't say no
Oh, people said that you were easily led
And they were half-right
Oh, they, oh, they were half-right, oh
[Verse 2]
It's time the tale were told
Of how you took a child
And you made him old
It's time that the tale were told
Of how you took a child
And you made him old
You made him old
[Pre-Chorus 1]
Oh, reel around the fountain
Slap me on the patio
I'll take it now
Ah, oh
[Chorus 2]
Fifteen minutes with you
Oh, I wouldn't say no
Oh, people see no worth in you
Oh, but I do
Fifteen minutes with you
Oh, I wouldn't say no
Oh, people see no worth in you
I do
Oh, I, oh, I do
Oh
[Bridge]
I dreamt about you last night
And I fell out of bed twice
You can pin and mount me like a butterfly
But, "Take me to the haven of your bed"
Was something that you never said
Two lumps, please
You're the bee's knees but so am I
[Pre-Chorus 2]
Oh, meet me at the fountain
Shove me on the patio
I'll take it slowly
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
[Chorus 3]
Fifteen minutes with you
Oh, I wouldn't say no
Oh, people see no worth in you
Oh, but I do
Fifteen minutes with you
Oh, no, I wouldn't say no
Oh, people see no worth in you
I do
[Outro]
Oh, I, I do
Oh, I do
Oh, I do
Oh, I do
Reel Around the Fountain was written by Johnny Marr & Morrissey.
Reel Around the Fountain was produced by John Porter.
The Smiths released Reel Around the Fountain on Mon Feb 20 1984.
Morrissey was quoted in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine saying that the song is about “loss of innocence that until one has a physical commitment with another person, there’s something childlike about the soul.”