Written by Johnny Marr and Morrissey, the song features self-deprecating lyrics that reflected Morrissey s frustrations with the music industry at the time. Musically, the song was inspired by the Rolling Stones Jumpin Jack Flash and centres around a guitar riff that Marr wrote during a 1985 soundcheck.

Bigmouth Strikes Again was released as the lead single from the album, bypassing Rough Trade s preferred choice, There Is a Light That Never Goes Out . The single reached number 26 in the UK Singles Chart and has since seen critical acclaim along with several versions recorded by other artists.

Bigmouth Strikes Again began as a lyric written by Morrissey in the summer of 1985. ^{The lyric was the final one of three written about Morrissey s frustration with the music industry, the previous two being The Boy with the Thorn in His Side and Rubber Ring. Bigmouth Strikes Again specifically reflects Morrissey s negative experiences with the music press. When asked by the NME about the song, Morrissey replied, I can t think of one sentence . We re still at that stage where if I rescued a kitten from drowning, they d say: Morrissey Mauls Kitten s Body . So what can you do?}