The Smiths: - Ask (official Music Video)

: The video features a "nerdy," bespectacled teen attempting to declare his love to a girl with a bouquet of flowers—a literal embodiment of the lyric, "Shyness is nice, but shyness can stop you from doing all the things in life you’d like to" .

: Reviewers often highlight the contrast between Johnny Marr’s optimistic rising guitar chords and Morrissey’s themes of isolation and social failure. The Smiths - Ask (Official Music Video)

Directed by Jarman, the video eschews high-budget 80s gloss for a grainy, artsy aesthetic. : The video features a "nerdy," bespectacled teen

: While Jarman’s "Version 1" is the artistic standard, a second version exists featuring live performance footage superimposed over the original visuals. Another 1988 video directed by Peter Fowler was released to promote the live album Rank . : While Jarman’s "Version 1" is the artistic

: The Smiths appear in blurred, dreamlike intersections, maintaining their air of mystery while focusing on Morrissey’s expressive performance. Production Context

: The video is notable for featuring Craig Gannon —briefly the band's fifth member—alongside the core four.