"William, It Was Really Nothing" is a song by the English rock band the Smiths. It was released as a single in August 1984, featuring the B-sides "Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want" and "How Soon Is Now?", and reached No. 17 in the UK Singles Chart. The song is featured on the compilation albums "Hatful of Hollow" and "Louder Than Bombs", as well as other best of and singles collections. In 2004, the song was ranked No. 425 on "Rolling Stone" magazine's list of the 500 greatest songs of all time.