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.
Black Eyed Susan
Morrissey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You make us nervous
Because we're very aware that you do not care
Oh, black-eyed Susan
What don't you believe in?
"No is always easier than yes"
Whoo !
Black-eyed Susan
You must insist :
You are a born-again atheist, oh
Oh, heavy-rings on
Bitten fingers
Black-eyed Susan sometimes
Shakes to break
So, watch it
Oh
Black-eyed Susan
Rest and do nothing
'Cause it's the only thing that you do quite well
Aah
Black-eyed Susan
Rest and do nothing
'Cause it's the only thing that you do quite well
Aah
Black-eyed Susan
Rest and do nothing
'Cause it's the only thing that you do quite well
Aah
Black-eyed Susan
Please remember
We were the first
We were the first
Oh
The opening lines of Morrissey's song "Black Eyed Susan" immediately set a tone of discomfort and unease. The titular character is described as making the other characters nervous, and it seems that this is because she simply does not care about the opinions or feelings of those around her. She is "a born-again atheist," refusing to believe in anything that requires her to take action or responsibility. There is a sense that Black Eyed Susan is a wild card, unpredictable and potentially dangerous, with the suggestion that she might lash out and "shake to break" at any moment.
Line by Line Meaning
Black-eyed Susan
Addressing the person named Black-eyed Susan
You make us nervous
Black-eyed Susan's behavior causes discomfort and unease in others
Because we're very aware that you do not care
People are aware that Black-eyed Susan is indifferent to their feelings
Oh, black-eyed Susan
Repeating the address of Black-eyed Susan
What don't you believe in?
Asking what Black-eyed Susan doesn't believe in
"No is always easier than yes"
Black-eyed Susan believes that it is easier to say no than to say yes
Whoo !
Exclamation of excitement or emphasis
Black-eyed Susan
Repeating the address of Black-eyed Susan
You must insist :
Black-eyed Susan is persistent in their beliefs
You are a born-again atheist, oh
Black-eyed Susan claims to be an atheist who has found faith again
Oh, heavy-rings on
Referring to Black-eyed Susan's jewelry
Bitten fingers
Black-eyed Susan nervously bites their fingers
Black-eyed Susan sometimes
Referring to Black-eyed Susan's occasional behavior
Shakes to break
Black-eyed Susan shakes uncontrollably until they break down
So, watch it
A warning to be cautious around Black-eyed Susan
Oh
Expression of emotion or emphasis
Black-eyed Susan
Repeating the address of Black-eyed Susan
Rest and do nothing
Black-eyed Susan is good at doing nothing and should keep doing it
'Cause it's the only thing that you do quite well
Resting and doing nothing is the only thing Black-eyed Susan excels at
Aah
Expression of emotion or emphasis
Black-eyed Susan
Repeating the address of Black-eyed Susan
Please remember
Request to Black-eyed Susan to remember something
We were the first
Referring to something that happened in the past where Black-eyed Susan was involved
We were the first
Repeating the previous line for emphasis
Oh
Expression of emotion or emphasis
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MORRISSEY, WHYTE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind