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.
America Is Not The World
Morrissey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Because America
Your belly's too big
And I love you
I just wish you'd stay where you is
Oh.. in America
The land of the free, they said
In a just and a truthful way
But where the president
Is never black, female or gay
And until that day
You've got nothing to say to me
To help me believe
Oh.. in America
It brought you the hamburger
Oh well America you know where
You can shove your hamburger
And don't you wonder
Why in Estonia they say
Hey you big fat pig
You fat pig, You fat pig
Steely Blue eyes
With no love in them
Scan The World
And a humourless smile
With no warmth within
Greets the world
And I, I have got nothing
To offer you
No-no-no-no-no
Just this heart, deep and true
Which you say you don't need
See with your eyes
Touch with your hands, please
Hear through your ears
Know in your soul, please
For haven't you me with you now?
And I love you
I love you
I love you
And I love you
I love you
I love you
Morrissey's song "America is Not the World" is a critique of American exceptionalism, and specifically, the illusion of freedom and justice in the United States. Morrissey acknowledges his love for America but points out its flaws, saying its head and belly are too big. He further challenges America's claim to justice and equality with the line "but where the president is never black, female or gay." Morrissey's lyrics highlight the disconnect between America's idealized self-image and its reality. He suggests that America is not as free and just as it claims to be until it represents its entire population.
Morrissey also takes a dig at American dietary habits in the song, lamenting that Americans brought the world the hamburger. He asks, "And don't you wonder why in Estonia they say, hey you big fat pig, you fat pig, you fat pig." This line is a satirical reference to America's fast-food culture and obesity epidemic. Morrissey further critiques the President's role in upholding systemic injustices and implies that America needs to undergo fundamental change before claiming to represent freedom and democracy.
In the final verse, Morrissey offers his heart to America, asking Americans to see, touch, and hear with their senses to understand the plight of marginalized groups in the country. He claims to love America but argues that it needs to acknowledge and address its problems before it can claim to represent freedom and equality.
Line by Line Meaning
America, your head's too big
America, you have an egotistical and self-centered view of the world
Because America
The reason why America has an oversized sense of self-importance
Your belly's too big
America has an overconsumption problem
And I love you
Despite these flaws, Morrissey still has affection towards America
I just wish you'd stay where you is
He would prefer if America didn't try to impose its values on other countries or try to intervene in their politics
The land of the free, they said
The popular image of America is that it is a land of freedom and opportunity
And of opportunity
America is a place where anyone has the potential to succeed
In a just and a truthful way
Using a system that is fair and honest
But where the president
Despite its ideals, America has not yet had a president who represents its diversity
Is never black, female or gay
No president has belonged to a minority group, which shows that America still has limitations challenges in its representation and inclusivity
And until that day
Until America has a more diverse presidency,
You've got nothing to say to me
Morrissey doesn't want to hear opinions from someone who hasn't had the answer to these issues yet
To help me believe
It's difficult for him to trust in the American ideal until it aligns with its true values
It brought you the hamburger
America has spread its fast-food culture to other countries
Oh well America you know where
Morrissey seems to suggest that he disapproves of the fast-food industry
You can shove your hamburger
He doesn't like what America has exported, which he sees as unhealthy and vulgar
And don't you wonder
Morrissey is critical of America's behavior on the international stage
Why in Estonia they say
He points to other countries that have disdain for America
Hey you big fat pig
He quotes an insult from Estonia which brands America as overfed and gluttonous
You fat pig, You fat pig
He repeats the insult to emphasize how other countries view America
Steely Blue eyes
A reference to the United States' flag
With no love in them
The country's values have become too commercialized and impersonal
Scan The World
America monitors the globe to protect its interests
And a humourless smile
The United States doesn't seem to take joy in spreading its influence
With no warmth within
The country's actions don't seem to come from a place of compassion or empathy
Greets the world
This is how America presents itself to the world
And I, I have got nothing
Morrissey doesn't have much to contribute to the conversation
To offer you
Specifically to America, Morrissey doesn't have anything to help the country fix its issues
No-no-no-no-no
He's repeating himself to emphasize his pointlessness in this situation
Just this heart, deep and true
The only thing he can offer is his sincerity
Which you say you don't need
But it seems that his message of empathy and authenticity is not what America is interested in
See with your eyes
He's asking Americans to look critically at their country
Touch with your hands, please
To actually experience what America has become
Hear through your ears
Listening to people's concerns and criticisms
Know in your soul, please
To feel a deeper connection to their values and aspirations
For haven't you me with you now?
To remind them that he's an observer, concerned with their well-being
And I love you
Despite his criticism, Morrissey still holds warmth for America
I love you
A repetition of the previous line
I love you
A repetition of the previous line
And I love you
A repetition of the previous line
I love you
A repetition of the previous line
I love you
A repetition of the previous line
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVEN MORRISSEY, ALAIN GORDON WHYTE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind