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.
Dagenham Dave
Morrissey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Head in a blouse, everybody loves him
I see why
Dagenham Dave, Dagenham Dave
Oh, Dagenham Dave
Dagenham Dave, Dagenham Dave
Oh, Dagenham Dave
"I love Karen, I love Sharon" on the window screen
With never the need to fight or to question a single thing
Dagenham Dave, Dagenham Dave
Oh, Dagenham Dave
Dagenham Dave, Dagenham Dave
Oh, Dagenham Dave
Dagenham Dave, Dagenham Dave
Oh, Dagenham Dave
Dagenham Dave, Dagenham Dave
Dagenham Dave
He'd love to touch, he's afraid that he might self-combust
I could say more, but you get the general idea
Dagenham Dave, Dagenham Dave
Dagenham Dave, Dagenham Dave
Dagenham, Dagenham
Dagenham Dave, Dagenham Dave
Dagenham Dave, Dagenham Dave
Dagenham, Dagenham Dave
Dagenham Dave, Dagenham Dave
Oh, Dave, oh, Dagenham, dagenham
Dagenham Dave
Dagenham Dave, Dagenham Dave
Oh, Dave, oh, Dave, oh, Dave
Oh, Dave
Morrissey's song "Dagenham Dave" is a simple ode to the titular character and his popularity among people. The first verse talks about Dave's carefree nature, as depicted in his head-in-the-clouds attitude and mouthful of pie. The next line emphasizes how everybody loves him, with the singer stating that he can see why. This is indicative of Dave's likable, if somewhat oblivious, persona.
The chorus repeats Dave's name, emphasizing his importance and celebrity status, as if he's a folk hero. The second verse talks about how Dave has proclaimed his love for two women, Karen and Sharon, on his car's window screen. The line following this mentions that he never fights or questions anything, which again emphasizes his non-confrontational persona.
The final verse talks about Dave's desire to touch, but he's afraid he might "self-combust". This could indicate a fear of his own passions or an aversion to intimacy. The song ends with a repetition of Dave's name, as if it's a chant that everybody is a part of.
Line by Line Meaning
Head in the clouds, and a mouthful of pie
Dave is oblivious and carefree, with no worries in the world
Head in a blouse, everybody loves him
Dave has a charming personality that endears him to everyone
I see why
The singer understands why everyone loves Dave
"I love Karen, I love Sharon" on the window screen
Dave expresses his love for two women by writing their names on his car window
With never the need to fight or to question a single thing
Dave is content with his life and doesn't feel the need to challenge anything
He'd love to touch, he's afraid that he might self-combust
Dave desires physical intimacy, but is scared of the intensity of his own emotions
I could say more, but you get the general idea
The singer could elaborate on Dave's character, but the listener likely has a good understanding already
Dagenham Dave, Dagenham Dave
Repetitive chorus featuring Dave's name
Oh, Dagenham Dave
Emphasis on Dave's name
Dagenham, Dagenham
Further emphasis on Dave's hometown
Oh, Dave, oh, Dagenham, dagenham
Combination of Dave's name and hometown in the chorus
Dagenham Dave, Dagenham Dave
Final repetition of the chorus featuring Dave's name
Oh, Dave, oh, Dave, oh, Dave
Final emphasis on Dave's name
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MORRISSEY, WHYTE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brandon D Morrissey
Head in the clouds, and a mouthful of pie
Head in a blouse, everybody loves him
I see why
Dagenham Dave, Dagenham Dave
Oh, Dagenham Dave
Dagenham Dave, Dagenham Dave
Oh, Dagenham Dave
"I love Karen, I love Sharon" on the window screen
With never the need to fight or to question a single thing
Dagenham Dave, Dagenham Dave
Oh, Dagenham Dave
Dagenham Dave, Dagenham Dave
Oh, Dagenham Dave
Dagenham Dave, Dagenham Dave
Oh, Dagenham Dave
Dagenham Dave, Dagenham Dave
Dagenham Dave
He'd love to touch, he's afraid that he might self-combust
I could say more, but you get the general idea
Dagenham Dave, Dagenham Dave
Dagenham Dave, Dagenham Dave
Dagenham, Dagenham
Dagenham Dave, Dagenham Dave
Dagenham Dave, Dagenham Dave
Dagenham, Dagenham Dave
Dagenham Dave, Dagenham Dave
Oh, Dave, oh, Dagenham, dagenham
Dagenham Dave
Dagenham Dave, Dagenham Dave
Oh, Dave, oh, Dave, oh, Dave
Oh, Dave
Don Mackay76
Reminds me of working on construction in Harlow Essex. Loads of these characters.
Good blood.
Was a Spurs fan.
And I helped the Football fans when England played Ireland in a friendly around Valentines day.
The lager louts had a good crack that time.
Too many pints of Guinness I say.
Was always loyal to the Crown so I helped them out, get home, some of our boys got their skulls a wee bit cracked by Irish police.
That's Orwight.
We can handle it.
I just don't like White Working Class in England being wiped out by diggers.
Look,
Some of them are good
But they are not your friends.
🇬🇧
Ernie McCracken
It's about how the "Dave" of the song has an easy life, is successful with women, and doesn't need to "fight or to question a single thing".
This contrasts with Morrissey's usual themes of sexual frustration, loneliness and seeing a world full of injustice and terrible things.
So it's sort of remarking upon how easy others seem to have it, even if they're too dumb to realise it.
This music video shows that, in the end, Dave's girlfriend ends up leaving him for another man. Dave didn't know what he had until it was gone. This part of the story isn't in the lyrics, but it would have either have been Morrissey's idea or possibly the director's, but with Morrissey's blessing.
I see it as a successor song to "The Ordinary Boys" which appears on Morrissey's debut album Viva Hate. The lyrics deal with similar themes.
"The Boy Racer", a song which was released around the same time as "Dagenham Dave" is also along the same lines.
Tony Powell
Still one of the greatest songs ever!!
Gustavo Ramires
Meu álbum preferido do Morrissey
Frankincensed
Morrissey gives me hope for humankind.
Thom
@oh it be Always
Alfie
Yep. Stil.
oh it be
Lol how about now?
Kevin Chamberlain
Morrisey looks iconic cool in this classic video.
FXKinsella
He'll spoil your pool game and look back at you as he walks out the door. Badass
Lurgs How To Guides
Morrissey and Gripper Stebson, absolute classic
Unfunny Username #389
Fantastic.