He was the lead singer of The Smiths, one of the most influential alternative bands in the 1980s. The group split up in 1987 and Morrissey started a successful solo career.
His first solo album, Viva Hate was released only six months after The Smiths split, in March 1988. The album's first single "Suedehead" peaked at #5, a higher position than any Smiths single had ever achieved. In 1990, Bona Drag, a collection of his solo singles and b-sides, including popular songs such as "The Last of the Famous International Playboys" and "Everyday is Like Sunday" (which also appears on "Viva Hate")
His second album 1991's Kill Uncle was not as well received as his first, with neither single achieving the Top 20. In 1992, the Mick Ronson-produced Your Arsenal was released and included singles such as "Tomorrow" and "We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful". A live album, Beethoven Was Deaf, followed in 1993.
In 1994, Morrissey released Vauxhall and I, which contained "The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get", his biggest hit in the United States, where it peaked at #46. Later that year, Morrissey also recorded a one-off project with Siouxsie of Siouxsie and the Banshees: they sang in duet on the single Interlude.
After "Vauxhall and I", Morrissey released Southpaw Grammar (1995) and Maladjusted (1997), both of which failed to produce a UK Top 20 single.
A period of musical inactivity followed in the late 90s and early 2000s, which was due to failure in finding a suitable label, according to a 2004 interview with Jools Holland. After seven years without a new album release, You Are the Quarry was released on May 17, 2004 (but one day later in the USA). The first single, Irish Blood, English Heart, was released internationally on May 10, 2004. The single reached number three in its first week of sales in the UK singles chart. To date, this is the highest placing chart position for Morrissey in his entire career as both a solo artist and the lead singer of The Smiths (the 2006 release You Have Killed Me also debuted at number three in its first week in the charts). It has sold over a million copies, making the album his most successful, solo or with The Smiths.
Ringleader Of The Tormentors, produced by former David Bowie producer Tony Visconti, was released in April 2006. The album went straight to the top of the UK Album charts.
Morrissey released a new Greatest Hits collection in February 2008, including two new songs: All You Need Is Me and That’s How People Grow Up, both released as singles. Morrissey is now signed to Decca Records.
In 2009, Morrissey released his latest album, Years of Refusal, which was produced by Jerry Finn, his final production credit before his death. Later in the year, Morrissey released the B-sides collection Swords.
2009 also saw the re-releases of Maladjusted and Southpaw Grammar, two of his most critically maligned albums. The Maladjusted re-release ditched two of its singles, Papa Jack and Roy's Keen, in favour of several other tracks from the period, such as I Can Have Both. Sorrow Will Come in the End, written about Morrissey's vicious legal battle with Smiths drummer Mike Joyce, was also re-instated to the UK edition. Southpaw Grammar retained all of its original tracks, albeit re-sequenced, but recieved the addition of other tracks from that time period, including the new album closer Nobody Loves Us.
Two other Morrissey releases came in 2009; The HMV/Parlophone Singles '88-'95 and Swords, the former a 3 CD compilation of singles and B-sides from Viva Hate through to Vauxhall and I, the latter a compilation of B-sides from You Are The Quarry, Ringleader of the Tormentors, and Years of Refusal.
A new Very Best Of collection was released in 2011, accompanied by a UK tour.
Morrissey's eleventh solo album, 'Low in High School', was released on November 17th, 2017. ' Low in high School' was produced by Joe Chiccarelli same producer as Morrissey’s ‘World Peace is None of Your Business’.
Morrissey's twelth studio album "California Son" is released on 24 May 2019 on the singer's label étienne and licensed on BMG, the album is a collection of cover versions. It is recorded in 2018 by Joe Chiccarelli, a frequent collaborator of Morrissey.
Morrissey's new studio album, I Am Not A Dog On A Chain, is scheduled for March 2020 release by BMG. The album was recorded in St-remy, France, with producer Joe Chiccarelli.
Alsatian Cousin
Morrissey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And would you say so if you were?
On a forecourt
On a Friday
Passing my way
Oh...
Were you and he lovers?
On a groundsheet
Under canvas
With your tent-flap
Open wide
A note upon his desk
"P.S. Bring Me Home And Have Me!"
Leather elbows on a tweed coat
-Oh!-
Is that the best you can do ?
So came his reply :
"But on the desk is where I want you!"
So I ask (even though I know):
Were you and he lovers ?
In Morrissey's song Alsatian Cousin, he confronts someone with whom he shares history, perhaps a former friend or lover, and asks them a very personal question: were they involved in a romantic relationship with somebody else? Morrissey is looking for honesty and transparency as he asks, “Were you and he lovers?” twice in the song. He challenges the person to speak up and admit the truth, to speak their truth even if it is difficult for him or for others to hear. The choice of words is loaded with meaning, as the word "lover" suggests the intimacy between two people that extends beyond just physicality.
The song also touches on themes of insecurity and vulnerability as Morrissey admits that he already has his mind made up but he wants to be sure. Meanwhile, the other person is hesitant to tell the truth and tries to skirt around the question. Morrissey feels that the honesty would allow him to move on from the situation but instead, the other person continues with insincere language and a lack of transparency, which only continues to fuel Morrissey's obsession with finding the truth.
Overall, "Alsatian Cousin" is a song that explores the complexities of relationships, the importance of honesty, and the way that insecurities can influence our perceptions of others.
Line by Line Meaning
Were you and he lovers?
Did you and that man have a romantic relationship?
And would you say so if you were?
If you were his lover, would you admit it?
On a forecourt
In a public space
On a Friday
Specifically on a Friday
Passing my way
Crossing my path
Oh...
Expressing surprise or disbelief
On a groundsheet
On a piece of fabric on the ground
Under canvas
Under a tent
With your tent-flap
With the entrance of your tent
Open wide
Fully open
A note upon his desk
A message written on his desk
"P.S. Bring Me Home And Have Me!"
A postscript with a request for sexual activity
Leather elbows on a tweed coat
Elbow patches made of leather on a jacket made of tweed
-Oh!-
Exclamation of surprise or shock
Is that the best you can do ?
Are you capable of doing anything better?
So came his reply :
This was his response:
"But on the desk is where I want you!"
He wants sexual activity to take place on the desk
So I ask (even though I know):
I already know the answer, but I will still ask:
Were you and he lovers ?
Did you and that man have a romantic relationship?
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEPHEN BRIAN STREET, STEVEN MORRISSEY, STEVEN PATRICK MORRISSEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind