Interesting Drug
Morrissey Lyrics


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There are some bad people on the rise
There are some bad people on the rise
They're saving their own skins by
Ruining other people's lives
Bad, bad people on the rise
Young married couple in debt
-Ever felt had?
Young married couple in debt
-Ever felt had?

On a government scheme
Designed to kill your dream
Oh mum, oh dad
Once poor, always poor
La la la la la
Interesting drug
The one that you took
Tell the truth - it really helped you
An interesting drug
The one that you took
God, it really really helped you
You wonder why we're only half-ashamed?

"Because enough is too much!
And look around...
Can you blame us? Can you blame us? "

On a government scheme
Designed to kill your dream
Oh mum, oh dad
Once poor, always poor
La la la la la
Interesting drug
The one that you took
Tell the truth - it really helped you
An interesting drug
The one that you took
God, it really really helped you
You wonder why we're only half-ashamed?

"Because enough is too much!




And look around...
Can you blame us? Can you blame us? "

Overall Meaning

Morrissey's Interesting Drug is a scathing indictment of government schemes that are designed to keep people trapped in poverty. The song starts with the recurring line "There are some bad people on the rise" which could be interpreted as a reference to political leaders who pursue policies that benefit themselves while harming others. The lyrics go on to describe a young married couple who are in debt and trapped in a government scheme that is "designed to kill your dream." This is likely a reference to the UK government's controversial "right to buy" policy, which allowed people living in council housing to buy their homes from the government, but also had the effect of reducing the amount of affordable housing available for low-income families.


The chorus of the song is a sarcastic tribute to an "interesting drug" which has helped the singer cope with the realities of life in a society that is rigged against people like him. The repeated line "Tell the truth - it really helped you" could be interpreted as a challenge to those who criticize drug users, suggesting that they are only pretending to be morally superior. The song's final lines, "Can you blame us? Can you blame us?" suggest that Morrissey sees drug use as a way of coping with a society that has failed to provide him with a fair opportunity to succeed. The song ultimately seems to suggest that the real problem is not drug use, but the political and economic system that creates the conditions in which people turn to drugs in the first place.


Line by Line Meaning

There are some bad people on the rise
There are some wicked individuals coming into power.


They're saving their own skins by Ruining other people's lives
These unscrupulous people are making sure they prosper by harming others.


Bad, bad people on the rise
These villains are on the rise and should be heeded.


Young married couple in debt -Ever felt had?
A young couple, who are continuously in debt, feel taken advantage of and helpless.


On a government scheme Designed to kill your dream
The government's plan is to crush people's dreams and aspirations.


Oh mum, oh dad, Once poor, always poor La la la la la
The singer, expressing his frustration with his current financial predicament, sings about his parents' financial struggles and the cycle of poverty it creates.


Interesting drug The one that you took Tell the truth - it really helped you
An allusion to the idea that a certain drug could alleviate poverty, but only if one is willing to take it.


An interesting drug The one that you took God, it really really helped you
Reiterating the thought that a particular drug could be a solution to poverty and implies that some have already taken this drug and are better off than those who didn't take it.


You wonder why we're only half-ashamed? Because enough is too much! And look around...Can you blame us? Can you blame us?
The singer's comment on society's response to their hardship; society has become numb to poverty, and the singer asks whether one should be held accountable for taking drastic measures to improve their situation.




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEPHEN BRIAN STREET, STEVEN MORRISSEY, STEVEN PATRICK MORRISSEY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@WiltshireByways

‘Ok Steven, what would you like us to put in your video?’
‘Animal rights, me dancing about, bicycles, a job centre and schoolboys.’

‘Again? Anyth-‘
‘…and a woman in a funny outfit dancing about...’

‘Steven, no.’
‘…with big boobies…’

‘Stev-‘
‘...really wobbly ones.’

‘STEVEN! ‘
'...la la la la la, interesting drug!'



All comments from YouTube:

@conomono3636

Ohh when Morrissey comes out and hands those flyers ❤️ such a handsome man

@sexobscura

if only he really would come out

@tcleehk

Kirsty MacColl's backing vocals were great!

@TampaFanatic1

Wow, how I miss her beautiful voice. Has it been 20 years since she was killed in that horrible "accident" in Cancun???? Damn, time flies......

@wetherholtz

Oh yes, accident

@wetherholtz

@@stephen3654 some stupid fuck didn't notice she was in the water, altough he was not allowed to

@bobdavis4848

@@TampaFanatic1 And to save her son! It was going to be one of her sons killed but she made it herself instead in order to push him out of the way of the out of bounds speedboat. Rest in Peace Kirsty MacColl. Morrissey rules; I just watched his "Oye Esteban!" videos collection.

@sexobscura

... and Linder looks cool in her quasi-jumpsuit, too

2 More Replies...

@renatofabbro5263

I've always had such tremendous admiration for Morrissey using his platform to call out animal cruelty. Much respect for that and his fine music.

@artaxsinking5562

Holy crapola, I've been devouring his voice since I was in middle school in 1992 and I still think he is awesome. That voice is so unique and beautiful.

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