Produced by Mick Ronson
Record… Read Full Bio ↴Written by Morrissey & Alain Whyte
Produced by Mick Ronson
Recorded February/March 1992
Released 27th July 1992 on Your Arsenal. Released as a single in December 1992, it reached a UK Singles Chart peak of #35
Guitars & backing vocals by Alain Whyte
Guitars by Boz Boorer
Bass by Gary Day
Drums by Spencer James Cobrin
Certain People I Know
Morrissey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Certain people I know
I use the cue
And then I
Hand it on to you
And when I swing it
So, it catches his eye...
- you'd have died !)
I trust the views of
Certain people I know
They look at danger
And they
Laugh their heads off
Their clothes are imitation
George the 23rd
(don't you find this absurd?)
I'd hate to be like
Certain people I know
They break their necks
And can't afford to
Get them fixed
Ah, they'd sacrifice all
Of their principles for
Anything cashable
I do believe it's terrible
Oh, wo, wo
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Oh, wo, wo
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Oh, wo, wo
Ah, ah, ah, ah
In Morrissey's song "Certain People I Know," he sings about taking a cue from certain individuals and then passing it on. He trusts the views of these people who are not afraid of danger and laugh it off. These individuals wear clothes that are similar to those of the British monarch, George the 23rd, but they are imitations. Morrissey finds this to be absurd. He would never want to be like these people because they break their necks and cannot afford to get them fixed. They would do anything for money even if it went against their principles.
The song is a commentary on the people who follow others blindly and lack their own opinions. They imitate and copy others without any real sense of understanding or individuality. Morrissey does not want to be a part of this group and expresses his disdain for their behavior. He uses irony to make his point, as the people who he connects himself to are shallow, materialistic, and insincere.
Line by Line Meaning
I take the cue from
I take guidance from
Certain people I know
Particular individuals I'm acquainted with
I use the cue
I utilize their guidance
And then I
After that, I
Hand it on to you
Pass it on to you
And when I swing it
And when I implement it
So, it catches his eye...
To draw attention to it
(weren't you there ?
(Were you not present?
- you'd have died !)
- it was so funny!)
I trust the views of
I believe in the opinions of
Certain people I know
Specific individuals that I know
They look at danger
They face danger
And they
And they
Laugh their heads off
Laugh uncontrollably
Their clothes are imitation
Their garments are counterfeit
George the 23rd
The style of George III
(don't you find this absurd?)
(Do you not find this ridiculous?)
I'd hate to be like
I would despise to become similar to
Certain people I know
Particular individuals I know
They break their necks
They risk everything
And can't afford to
They can't pay to
Get them fixed
Repair what they have broken
Ah, they'd sacrifice all
They would abandon all
Of their principles for
Of their values for
Anything cashable
Anything that can be exchanged for money
I do believe it's terrible
I think it's awful
Oh, wo, wo
Oh
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah
Oh, wo, wo
Oh
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah
Oh, wo, wo
Oh
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALAIN WHYTE, STEVEN MORRISSEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@serenamorena73
Saw him on Vegas, unbelievable on how he still has the same voice💜
@jameslansing7252
WAS AT THOSE SHOWS!!!!! BRILLIANT!
@alexanaya6820
Just saw him at the Ontario show November 11, 2022. 🧐
@asiangoofs4697
Saw him at cruel world it was great
@rogdawg123
serena you have a beautiful smile 😍
@babyblueraptor6952
I think we can all agree on something, we all love Morrissey 😍
@315Bodhi17
I agree Arianna. Morrissey has it all together.
@angelicavega2132
Yo have to love the Mozz.
@orbital808080
A true original
@adilsonsilva6533
I love more