"Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want" is a song by the English rock band The Smiths. It was released in 1984 as the B-side to the single "William, It Was Really Nothing" and later included on the compilation albums Hatful of Hollow and Louder Than Bombs
. The song is notable for its brief length of about 1 minute and 50 seconds and its melancholic, yearning tone. The music was written by Johnny Marr shortly after "William, It Was Really Nothing," intentionally composed in a waltz time signature to contrast the upbeat A-side. Marr aimed to capture a "spookiness and sense of yearning" reminiscent of Del Shannon’s "The Answer to Everything," a song from his childhood
. Morrissey, the lyricist and vocalist, described the song as "a very brief punch in the face" and resisted extending it, feeling that lengthening would dilute its impact
. Lyrically, the song expresses a plea for a change in fortune and a desire to finally get what the narrator wants, reflecting themes of longing and frustration:
Good times for a change
See, the luck I've had
Can make a good man turn bad
So please please please
Let me get what I want this time
The song has been featured in various films, including Pretty in Pink (1986) and Never Been Kissed , and an instrumental cover by The Dream Academy was used in Ferris Bueller's Day Off
. The Smiths, formed in 1982, are a seminal English alternative rock band known for their influential music and distinctive style. They released four studio albums and numerous singles and compilations during their career
. In summary, "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want" is a short but emotionally powerful track by The Smiths that captures a poignant sense of yearning and has become one of their memorable songs despite its B-side status
