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.
Irish Blood English Heart
Morrissey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This I'm made of,
There is no one on earth I'm afraid of,
And no regime can buy or sell me
I've been dreaming of a time when,
To be English is not to be baneful,
To be standing by the flag, not feeling shameful,
Irish blood English heart,
This I'm made of,
There is no one on earth I'm afraid of,
And I will die with both of my hands untied
I've been dreaming of a time when,
The English are sick to death of Labor, and Tories,
And spit upon the name Oliver Cromwell,
And denounce this royal line that still salute him,
And will salute him
Forever
Morrissey's song Irish Blood English Heart is an ode to his own heritage and identity as an Englishman with Irish blood. He begins by proudly stating that he is made up of Irish blood and English heart and that there is no one on earth that he is afraid of. Morrissey's lyrics take a political stance as he talks about how no regime can buy or sell him. He wants to be free from any political or societal constraints that might prevent him from being who he truly is.
Morrissey then goes on to describe a future where being English is not something to be ashamed of. He wants to be able to proudly stand by the English flag without feeling any shame, racism, or racial bigotry. He wants to be part of a country where the people are tired of the current political system that is failing them. He denounces Oliver Cromwell, a historical figure who is celebrated in England, but Morrissey sees him as a cruel and oppressive leader.
By singing about being an Englishman with Irish roots, Morrissey is bringing attention to the fact that the UK is a multicultural society. Morrissey's lyrics are often heard as controversial and divisive but in this song, he is actually calling for unity and for a recognition of shared heritage across different nationalities.
Line by Line Meaning
Irish blood English heart,
My heritage consists of both Irish and English bloodlines.
This I'm made of,
My identity is shaped by my mixed Irish and English heritage.
There is no one on earth I'm afraid of,
I am fearless and not intimidated by anyone or anything in this world.
And no regime can buy or sell me
I cannot be bought or controlled by any government, political or social regime.
I've been dreaming of a time when,
I have an aspirational hope for the future.
To be English is not to be baneful,
To be English should not inherently mean to be harmful or malevolent.
To be standing by the flag, not feeling shameful,
To proudly display the flag of England without experiencing shame or guilt.
Racist or racial
Without any form of bigotry or prejudice towards any particular group of people.
And I will die with both of my hands untied
I will not be a prisoner or bound by any constraints when I die.
The English are sick to death of Labor, and Tories,
The people of England are fed up with both the Labour and Conservative political parties.
And spit upon the name Oliver Cromwell,
They even reject the figure of Oliver Cromwell and show disdain towards him.
And denounce this royal line that still salute him,
They also condemn the current royal family for their acknowledgement of Cromwell.
And will salute him
And will continue to show respect for him and his actions despite the people's disapproval.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALAIN GORDON WHYTE, STEVEN PATRICK MORRISSEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@burakdaloglu
Thanks FIFA 2005 to make me discover this great song and Morrissey. Listening for 16 years, damn
@gaborkovacsnl
Same here! :)
@fantasyboxing71
Likewise
@gusthejoker85
Yes sir. Football games had the best soundtracks
@JavierGuzman13
Same 🤘🏻😎
@AnthonyCardenasB
I used to play fifa 2005 in an old Lenovo laptop... Memories
@TotallyLostSoul
I want someone to play this at my funeral - I was brought up by an Irish mother in my father's England - it's like the song of my heritage. Love Moz for putting into words my own feelings.
@simonedgbaston
👍 🏴
@danieloliver4558
A significant proportion of the population could say the same especially in the north west everyone I know has Irish parents/grandparents
@lesleyh4437
Ditto ditto ditto ditto ditto….may you live long and prosperous my friend