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.
Life Is A Pigsty
Morrissey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But with brand new
Broken fortunes,
And once again I turn
To you
Once again, I do
I turn to you
But with brand new
Broken fortunes
I'm the same
Underneath
But this, you
You surely knew
Life is a pigsty
Life is a pigsty
Life is a pigsty
Life, life is a pigsty
Life, life is a pigsty
Life, life is a pigsty
Life, life is a pigsty
and if you don't know this
Then what do you know?
Every second of my life
I only live for you
And you can shoot me
And you can throw me off a train
I still maintain
I still maintain
Life, life is a pigsty
Life is a pigsty
and I've been shifting gears all of my life
But I'm still the same underneath
And this you surely knew
I can't reach you
I can't reach you
I can't reach you anymore
Can you please stop time?
Can you stop the pain?
I feel too cold
And now I feel too warm again
Can you stop this pain?
Can you stop this pain?
Even now in the final hour
Of my life
I'm falling in love again
Again
Again
Even now in the final hour
Of my life
I'm falling in love again
Again
Again
Again
Again
I'm falling in love again
Again
Again
Again
The song "Life Is A Pigsty" by Morrissey is a melancholic song that begins with the repeated phrase of "It's the same old S.O.S. but with brand new broken fortunes," which is an abbreviation of "save our souls." Morrissey is asking for help from someone or something to deal with life's difficulties. He says that he's been turning to this person (presumably a lover) repeatedly for help, and though they might not know everything about him, they understand his struggles.
The chorus "Life is a pigsty" is repeated throughout the song, signifying Morrissey's belief that life is chaotic and messy, like a pigsty. He is expressing his dissatisfaction with the world around him and is looking for someone to provide him with solace. Morrissey implies that although he has been shifting gears his whole life, he remains unchanged underneath, and this one person (presumably the lover) knows that.
In the end, Morrissey pleads for help, asking if someone can please stop time and the pain he feels. Despite feeling cold and then warm, he falls in love again in the final hour of his life, implying that love is the only thing that can provide comfort and solace.
Line by Line Meaning
It's the same old S.O.S
Nothing has changed, I still need your help
But with brand new Broken fortunes
The specifics of my predicament have switched up a bit
And once again I turn To you
As always, I am seeking aid from you
Once again, I do I turn to you
Repeating the fact that I am once again asking for your assistance
I'm the same Underneath But this, you You surely knew
My core being remains unaltered, but I'm sure you already knew that
Life is a pigsty
Life is a chaotic and uncomfortable mess
and if you don't know this Then what do you know?
If you don't recognize the harsh nature of life, what could you possibly understand?
Every second of my life I only live for you
You are the only thing that gives meaning to my existence
And you can shoot me And you can throw me off a train I still maintain I still maintain Life, life is a pigsty Life is a pigsty
Even if you were to harm or abandon me, I still strongly believe that life is a disaster
and I've been shifting gears all of my life But I'm still the same underneath And this you surely knew
I've been changing my approach to things for years, but my true self remains constant and you are likely aware of that
I can't reach you I can't reach you I can't reach you anymore
I am unable to connect with you in the way I once could
Can you please stop time? Can you stop the pain? I feel too cold And now I feel too warm again Can you stop this pain? Can you stop this pain?
I beg of you to put an end to the suffering that I am experiencing
Even now in the final hour Of my life I'm falling in love again Again Again
Even at the end of my life, I am experiencing new feelings of love
Even now in the final hour Of my life I'm falling in love again Again Again Again Again I'm falling in love again Again Again Again
Repetition of the previous thought to emphasize the weight of the emotion
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALAIN GORDON WHYTE, STEVEN PATRICK MORRISSEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind