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From: kjohn@quads.uchicago.edu (SINE QUA NON)
"What Difference Does It Make?" - The Smiths (debut album version)
(Morrissey/Marr)
Capo up two frets or tune up two semi tones.
Part 1 - Main Riff
F#---------------------------------------------------------------|
C#-----------------------------------------------------3---------|
A ---2-------0---2---2-------0---------2-------0---2-----------0-|
E -------2---------------2-----------------2-----0---0-----2-----|
B -0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0_h_3-3---3---3-----------0---0---|
F#---------------------------------------------------------------|
Part 2 - "So, what difference does it make?"
F#--------5---------------10----8----8---7-7-7-7----5---5---|
C#-x_sl_5-----5---x_sl_10----10---10---9-9-9-9-9--5---5---5-|
A ----------4---4----------------------9-9-9-9-9------------|
E ----------------------------------------------------------|
B ----------------------------------------------------------|
F#----------------------------------------------------------|
F#--------5---------------10----8----8---7-7-7-7----5---5---|
C#-x_sl_5-----5---x_sl_10----10---10---9-9-9-9-9--5---5---0-|
A ----------4---4----------------------9-9-9-9-9------------|
E ----------------------------------------------------------|
B ----------------------------------------------------------|
F#----------------------------------------------------------|
Part 3 - "It makes none, but now you have gone..."
(barre 4th fret with 1st finger)
F#-------------5-4-------------5-4-----------5-4-5-4-|
C#-------7---5-----------7---5-----------7---5-5-5-5-|
A ---6-----6---------6-----6---------6-----6---------|
E -4---4-----------4---4-----------4---4-------------|
B ---------------------------------------------------|
F#---------------------------------------------------|
End Riff #1:
F#----------0------------0-|
C#-5_p_3--1-0--5-5_p_3-1-0-|
A -5_p_4--2----5-5_p_4-2---|
E -------------------------|
B -------------------------|
F#-------------------------|
End Riff #2:
F#------------------------------------12----5_sl_x-|
C#-13--12--8-10-10-------13--12--8-10-10----5_sl_x-|
A -12--11--7--9--9-------12--11--7--9--9----5_sl_x-|
E ------------------------------------------7_sl_x-|
B ------------------------------------------7_sl_x-|
F#-------------------------------------------------|
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Tab Discussion, Comments, and Critiques
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No Picture
† james † Average |
#1 by † james † at Jul 13, 1970 at 6:30 PM EST |
| this song is about a relationship that changes due to one of the persons involved revealing a dark secret. What the secret is...who knows? maybe he's a closet abba fan, maybe he fancies his mother, maybe he's epileptic...who knows? i'm off to check out 'wonderful woman' now to see if anyone's said it's about a transvestite. | |
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Andrea Average |
#2 by Andrea Lauria at May 10, 1971 at 1:14 PM EST |
| no dude, i just reckon its an old friend, and thats all | |
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Joe Average |
#3 by Joe Blurton at Jan 16, 1972 at 9:14 PM EST |
| ... but then there is the now you know the truth about me you won't see me anymore. it could just mean know you realise I love you and it's not returned you're avoiding me. not explicitly homosexual but leaning more toward that interpretation there I think... women wouldn't react like that...sounds more like a tough kid thing to do... | |
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Erin Rhythm Player |
#4 by Erin at Sep 10, 1972 at 3:45 PM EST |
| I think the gay lad fancies his mate as well and thats why he tells him and even tho he gets all rejected, he still likes him: ' but I'm still fond of you' | |
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paddy Average |
#5 by paddy coscoran at May 2, 1976 at 12:13 AM EST |
| Deffinetly my fav song with Smiths. | |
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Shreder Dude Wanna Be |
#6 by Shreder Dude at Jul 13, 1976 at 4:27 PM EST |
| I think it's safe to say that it's about homosexuality on this one. | |
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Dan Average |
#7 by Dan Flores at Nov 18, 1980 at 8:14 AM EST |
| the single to "what difference does it make?" has a picture of the actor terence stamp on it's cover from the movie "the collector." it is based on a book about a lonely butterfly collector who eventually kidnaps a woman he has admired from afar in an attempt to win her affection. i don't know how much this adds to an interpretation of the song. i just think it's interesting. | |
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Randy Lead Player |
#8 by Randy Lott at Jun 7, 1992 at 4:01 AM EST |
| Yeah, I kind got the impression that he likes him, too. | |
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devon Average |
#9 by devon at Jun 24, 1995 at 6:45 PM EST |
| my interpretation of this song is that its about two ruffian youths... friends since children... one of them turns out to be gay... and tells the other... or he finds out... one youth does not want to hang out with a poof and the gay kid is saying 'what difference does it make?' 'cant we still be friends?' CONSIDER............. 'all men have secrets...' 'yet you start to recoil...' 'nopw you know the truth about me, you wont see me anymore...' 'yr prejudice wont keep you warm tonite...' the best part is 'you must be looking very old tonite' meaning old ways... | |
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Squirrels Lead Player |
#10 by Squirrels Dyrant at Aug 10, 1999 at 1:44 AM EST |
| I think it's safe to say that it's about homosexuality on this one. | |
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Jamie Wanna Be |
#11 by Jamie Smith at Sep 9, 1999 at 1:45 AM EST |
| I always thought that this was about a man in a relasioship with a controlling manipulative woman.. "I stole and I lied, and why? because you asked me to" ..who belittles him.. "but now you make me feel so ashamed because I've only got two hands".. ..and she's dumped him, but he still loves her.. "well, I'm still fond of you So what difference does it make?" | |
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mike Average |
#12 by mike rojas at Mar 17, 2001 at 11:58 PM EST |
| I don't think it's necessarily a homosexual love affair, i think it could just as easily be straight, but i don't think that's what's important, what is important is that he is telling someone, a friend, that he has deeper feelings, and like another poster said, "what difference does it make as you're still in control and these feelings can't go any further unless you return them. If you don't return the deeper feelings then we can still be friends." but the other person, now that they know their friend Mr Mozza is secretely in love with them, they can't continue the friendship. I'm sure there's plenty of people who have spoken their true feelings of love to a friend only for that person to be weirded out and to shun them. I'm sure some of you guys have confessed some kinda love or crush to a female friend and it has pretty much soured the friendship. | |
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Ben Wanna Be |
#13 by Ben Koss at Mar 9, 2002 at 4:00 PM EST |
| I also agree - especially at the end when Morrissey sings 'oh my sacred one', that definitly gives it away. | |
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Alexxx <3 Lead Player |
#14 by Alexxx <3 at Apr 3, 2004 at 3:31 AM EST |
| That's what I got out of it, too. | |
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Ryan Rhythm Player |
#15 by Ryan Ruegemer at Jun 29, 2007 at 1:08 PM EST |
| I just thought the thrust of it was what difference does my devotion make to our relationship??? what difference does it make to our future that I'd die for you it makes none because you are the one in control and I can do nothing to make you treat me with respect or to love me back. its the futility of one sided attraction to me. As to whether the target of this is male or female necessarily I don't think there is conclusive evidence. Maybe his secret is the fact that he knew this all along and he is opening up for the first time....? or maybe is it homosexual...? | |
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