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.
I Don't Mind If You Forget Me
Morrissey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't mind if you forget me
Having learned my lesson
I never left an impression on anyone
So now you send me your hardened 'regards'
When once you'd send me 'love'
Sincerely I must tell you
They make me suspicious
I don't mind
I don't mind if you forget me
Having learned my lesson
I never left an impression on anyone
The pressure to change, to move on
Was strange
And very strong
So this is why I tell you
I really do understand
Bye bye
I don't mind if you forget me
No no no no no no no
You can only be strong for so long
It may not eat you but it will beat you
So this is why I tell you
I really don't understand
This time
Rejection is one thing
But rejection from a fool
Is cruel
Rejection is one thing
But rejection from a fool
Is cruel
And I don't mind if you forget me
I don't mind if you forget me
Morrissey's song "If You Don't Mind" has been interpreted to be about someone dealing with rejection, showing a mature attitude about it and not letting it phase him or her too much. The lyrics, with the repetition of "I don't mind if you forget me" reinforce this attitude. The song is introspective in that the singer is reflecting on past relationships that ultimately didn't work out.
The lines "The pressure to change, to move on / Was strange / And very strong," could be interpreted to mean that after a breakup, there might be social pressure to quickly move on and forget about the failed relationship. This pressure may come from friends and family, who want the singer to move on from a past relationship but who fail to understand the complexity of this experience.
The line "Rejection is one thing / But rejection from a fool / Is cruel" is notable for its turn of phrase, equating being rejected by someone who is a fool to be an extra layer of cruelty on top of an already painful experience of rejection.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't mind
I am not bothered
I don't mind if you forget me
It does not matter if you forget about me
Having learned my lesson
After experiencing some setbacks
I never left an impression on anyone
I have never made a significant impact on anyone
So now you send me your hardened 'regards'
Your greeting is now cold and insincere
When once you'd send me 'love'
Previously, your greeting was warm and caring
Sincerely I must tell you
I am being honest with you
Your mild 'best wishes'
Your greeting lacks enthusiasm
They make me suspicious
I am doubtful about your sincerity
The pressure to change, to move on
There is a strong expectation for me to change and progress
Was strange
It was a peculiar feeling
And very strong
It was intense
So this is why I tell you
This is the reason for me to say
I really do understand
I empathize with your situation
Bye bye
Goodbye
You can only be strong for so long
One can only endure hardship for a limited period
It may not eat you but it will beat you
The ordeal may not consume you, but it will defeat you
This is why I tell you
I am explaining to you
I really don't understand this time
I do not comprehend the current situation
Rejection is one thing
Being turned down is tolerable
But rejection from a fool
Being rejected by someone foolish and shallow
Is cruel
Is harsh and hurtful
And I don't mind if you forget me
It does not matter if you forget me
I don't mind if you forget me
It does not matter if you forget me
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEPHEN BRIAN STREET, STEVEN MORRISSEY, STEVEN PATRICK MORRISSEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind