Asleep
Words by Morrissey - Music by Johnny Marr


"There is a better world... Well, there must be!"

Sing me to sleep
Sing me to sleep
I'm tired and I
I want to go to bed
Sing me to sleep
Sing me to sleep
And then leave me alone
Don't try to wake me in the morning
'Cause I will be gone
Don't feel bad for me
I want you to know
Deep in the cell of my heart
I will feel so glad to go
Sing me to sleep
Sing me to sleep
I don't want to wake up
On my own anymore
Sing to me
Sing to me
I don't want to wake up
On my own anymore
Don't feel bad for me
I want you to know
Deep in the cell of my heart
I really want to go
There is another world
There is a better world
Well, there must be
Well, there must be
Well, there must be
Well, there must be
Bye...
Bye...

Players
Morrissey (Voice)
Johnny Marr (Piano)

Officially Released Versions
1. B-Side of "The Boy With The Thorn In His Side" (RT 194 - Released October, 1986). Produced by John Porter. (Also included on the Louder Than Bombs and The World Won't Listen compilations.)

Quintessential Bootleg Version
"Asleep" was recorded during a soundcheck at Inverness Eden Court on October 1, 1985. This version of the song is very special because it is the only known live version. The song was never played during a concert.

Critical Commentary
"... a naively moving piano and voice lullaby." - Unknown Critic, Spin

Sundry
Although "Asleep" is on the Louder Than Bombs compilation, it is heard in the best context on the 12" single of "The Boy With The Thorn In His Side". There, the phrase "You are sleeping, you do not want to believe" repeated at the end of "Rubber Ring" leads perfectly into the howling wind and somber piano refrain of "Asleep". One of the finest moments on a Smiths record.

A music box playing "Auld Lang Syne" is heard at the end of the song.

This is possibly the most seriously suicidal of all Smiths songs and it is also one of the few to feature only Morrissey and Marr (who plays the lovely piano).

Comtesse Review (as if you care)
"Asleep" is a piano lullaby with meaningful (if suicidal) lyrics and a lovely melody. It's not really that major of a song and it does suffer in comparison to other Smiths songs by the lack of guitar and bass, but it's still an excellent b-side. As mentioned previously, the must-have version is from the original b-side, where "Rubber Ring" fades into "Asleep". A very special moment.