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.
Margaret on the Guillotine
Morrissey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Have a wonderful dream
Margaret on the guillotine
Cause people like you
Make me feel so tired
When will you die?
When will you die?
When will you die?
When will you die?
And people like you
Make me feel so old inside
Please die
And kind people
Do not shelter this dream
Make it real
Make the dream real
Make the dream real
Make it real
Make the dream real
Make it real
Morrissey's "Margaret On the Guillotine" is a controversial song that was released in 1988. The song references the former British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher and the idea of her being executed. Morrissey is known for his criticism of Thatcher and her policies, and this song is no exception. Morrissey goes as far as asking "when will you die?" and telling her to "please die."
The song starts off with "the kind people have a wonderful dream, Margaret on the guillotine." Here, Morrissey is referring to the idea that some people have of Margaret Thatcher being executed, a gruesome image. Morrissey then continues on to say that people like Thatcher make him feel tired and old inside, which could be interpreted as a consequence of the policies Thatcher implemented during her time in office.
The idea behind the song is not to encourage violence or to promote hatred towards Thatcher, but rather it is a political statement on the effects of Thatcherism on society. Morrissey is often described as an artist who does not shy away from expressing his political views and this song is a prime example of this.
Line by Line Meaning
The kind people
Referring to those who are usually considered to be good people
Have a wonderful dream
They have an idealistic vision of a better society
Margaret on the guillotine
They wish for the execution of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
Cause people like you
This is directed towards those who share similar ideologies and policies as Thatcher
Make me feel so tired
It exhausts and dispirits Morrissey to see Thatcher's supporters still upholding her legacy
When will you die?
This is a direct provocation towards Thatcher; Morrissey wishes for her death
And people like you
Again, directed towards Thatcher's support base
Make me feel so old inside
Their continued support of Thatcher is a reminder of how little real progress has been made in the UK's political and social climate
Please die
A direct, unambiguous request for Thatcher to pass away
And kind people
Those who are typically seen as being kind and gentle
Do not shelter this dream
They should not suppress or dismiss this desire for change
Make it real
They should actively work towards realizing this dream of a better society
Make the dream real
Reiterating the idea that this idealistic vision can and should be achieved
Make the dream real
Further emphasizing the importance of taking action
Make it real
Repeating the call to work towards positive change
Make the dream real
Again, emphasizing that this vision for a better society can and should be made into reality
Make it real
Final urging to take action towards positive change
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVEN MORRISSEY, STEPHEN STREET
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind