Back To The Old House

Words by Morrissey - Music by Johnny Marr

"When you cycled by
Here began all my dreams
The saddest thing I've ever seen
And you never knew
How much I really liked you
Because I never even told you
Oh, and I meant to"

• Officially Released Versions
  "What Difference Does It Make?" 7"/12" (RT 146 - Released January, 1984).   This John Porter-produced version of the song features the entire band.  It was made widely available on the Louder Than Bombs compilation in 1987. 
  Hatful Of Hollow (Rough 76 - Released November, 1984).  This excellent acoustic version was recorded for the John Peel Show and produced by Roger Pusey.   This version features only Morrissey and Marr, and is a much superior, affecting version of the song.

• Bootleg Versions
  Devils Charm (live at the Assembly Room, Derby, December 7, 1983)
  Electric Stars, Live At The Electric Ballroom; Live At The Electric Ballroom, 19 December 1983 (live at the Electric Ballroom, December 19, 1983)
  Hammersmith, Last of the English Roses, Misery Loves Company (live at the Hammersmith Palais, March 12, 1984)
  Smithsessions (John Peel Show)

• Quintessential Bootleg Version
  The live version from the Hammersmith Palais is an excellent version of this incredibly moving and beautiful early Smiths classic.  The rest of the concert is great too!

• Controversy
  None.

• Sundry
  "Fiendishly good." - Bill Black, Sounds, November 17, 1984
  "An affecting affecting little piece where The Smiths' formulaic modal melodies match neatly with a lyric where, for once, Morrissey isn't trying to be Dorian Gray." - Adam Sweeting, Melody Maker, 1984