This non-album single by the British band The Smiths was released in March 1985. Guitarist Johnny Marr discussed the song in a 2011 interview with Mojo magazine: "The greatest thing is the work, which you should build on, have a sense of momentum. You understand that intellectually when older but emotionally when you're young. What's the alternative? For me, 'Shakespeare's Sister' was pulling an odd star out of the sky. I had imagined this strange song and strange sound. Morrissey encouraged me and then we captured it. It was a statement of solidarity between us four and I was extremely proud of that togetherness."
The song runs just 2:09, which record label boss Geoff Travis deemed too short. Smiths drummer Mike Joyce recalled to Mojo magazine: "We didn't always choose the right singles. 'How Soon Is Now?' was originally a B-side remember. Geoff Travis was very sniffy about the length of 'Shakespeare's Sister' but the fact people said we were wrong only fired us up."
The original single's sleeve featured actress Pat Phoenix, best-known for her long-running role in the UK TV soap series Coronation Street.
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