Produced by Steve Lillywhite
Record… Read Full Bio ↴Written by Morrissey & Boz Boorer
Produced by Steve Lillywhite
Recorded Summer 1993
Released 14th March 1994 on Vauxhall and I
Personnel
Guitars & backing vocals - Alain Whyte
Guitars - Boz Boorer
Bass - Jonny Bridgwood
Drums - Woodie Taylor
Speedway
Morrissey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down the hammer
Can you see it in your heart?
All of the rumors
Keeping me grounded
I never said, I never said that they were
Completely unfounded
So when you slam
Down the hammer
Can you see it in your heart?
Can you delve so low?
And when you're standing
On my fingers
Can you see it in your heart? Ah
And when you try
To break my spirit
It won't work
Because there's nothing left to break
Anymore
All of the rumors
Keeping me grounded
I never said, I never said that they were
Completely unfounded
You won't sleep
Until the earth that wants me
Finally has me
Oh you've done it now
You won't rest
Until the hearse that becomes me
Finally takes me
Oh you've done it now
And you won't smile
Until my loving mouth
Is shut good and proper
Forever
All of the rumors
Keeping me grounded
I never said, I never said that they were
Completely unfounded
And all those lies
Written lies, twisted lies
Well, they weren't lies
They weren't lies
They weren't lies
I never said
I never said
I could have mentioned your name
I could have dragged you in
Guilt by implication
By association
I've always been true to you
In my own strange way
I've always been true to you
In my own sick way
I'll always stay true to you
Morrissey's song "Speedway" appears on his third solo album, "Vauxhall and I," which was released in 1994. Despite the jangly, pop-infused melody, the lyrics are dark and moody, touching on themes of betrayal, martyrdom, and unresolved anger. Essentially, the song is about Morrissey's frustration with rumors and lies that are being spread about him, and his refusal to be broken by those who seek to tear him down.
The opening lines ("And When You Slam / Down the Hammer / Can You See It In Your Heart?") suggest that Morrissey is being attacked or criticized in some way, and that the people responsible for the rumors are doing so with a sense of malice or cruelty. The repeated refrain of "All of the Rumors / Keeping Me Grounded / I Never Said, I Never Said That They Were / Completely Unfounded" further emphasizes Morrissey's frustration with being unjustly accused or criticized.
The second half of the song takes a more intense turn, with Morrissey essentially telling his detractors that he won't be broken or silenced by their lies. The lines "You Won't Sleep / Until the Earth that Wants Me / Finally Has Me / Oh You've Done It Now" suggest that Morrissey's critics are actively wishing for his demise, while the lines "And You Won't Smile / Until My Loving Mouth / Is Shut Good and Proper / Forever" imply a sense of sadistic glee on the part of the people who are spreading rumors about him.
Despite the dark subject matter, the song ends on a note of resilience and defiance, with Morrissey pledging to stay true to himself and his own principles, even in the face of adversity. The final lines of the song, "I've Always Been True To You / In My Own Strange Way / I'll Always Stay True To You" further underline his commitment to his art, no matter what others may say or do.
Line by Line Meaning
And when you slam
When you forcefully take an action
Down the hammer
which might be a destructive one
Can you see it in your heart?
Are you aware of the damage you are causing?
All of the rumors
Falsehoods spread by others about me
Keeping me grounded
Preventing me from rising above them
I never said, I never said that they were
I didn't explicitly deny them
Completely unfounded
because some of them might be based on some truth
Can you delve so low?
Are you capable of stooping so low?
And when you're standing
When you are taking advantage of me
On my fingers
Making me desperate and vulnerable
And when you try
When you attempt
To break my spirit
To crush my determination
It won't work
I am beyond breaking now
Because there's nothing left to break
I have been through so much already
Anymore
That I can take anything
You won't sleep
You won't rest
Until the earth that wants me
Until I am buried
Finally has me
Finally dead
Oh you've done it now
You have no idea what you have done
You won't rest
You won't stop
Until the hearse that becomes me
Until my funeral procession carries me away
Finally takes me
Finally to my final destination
And you won't smile
You won't be happy
Until my loving mouth
Until I can no longer speak out against you
Is shut good and proper
Is silenced for good
Forever
For eternity
And all those lies
And all those false accusations
Written lies, twisted lies
Lies presented in different forms
Well, they weren't lies
Some of them were true
They weren't lies
Entirely
They weren't lies
Completely
I never said
I didn't defend myself against them
I never said
But I also never accused you directly
I could have mentioned your name
I could have revealed your true identity
I could have dragged you in
I could have implicated you as well
Guilt by implication
Making you feel guilty through indirect accusations
By association
Because of your connection to me
I've always been true to you
I have always been honest with you
In my own strange way
In a way that might seem odd to you
I've always been true to you
I have always been loyal to you
In my own sick way
In a way that might not be healthy
I'll always stay true to you
I will continue to be loyal to you
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVEN MORRISSEY, MARTIN JAMES BOORER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@valeriegarcia2949
All of the rumors
Keeping me grounded
I never said, I never said that they were
Completely unfounded
So when you slam
Down the hammer
Can you see it in your heart?
Can you delve so low?
And when you're standing
On my fingers
Can you see it in your heart? Ah
And when you try
To break my spirit
It won't happen
Because there's nothing left to break
Anymore
All of the rumors
Keeping me grounded
I never said, I never said that they were
Completely unfounded
You won't sleep
Until the earth that wants me
Finally has me
Oh you've done it now
You won't rest
Until the hearse that becomes me
Finally takes me
Oh you've done it now
And you won't smile
Until my loving mouth
Is shut good and proper
Forever
All of the rumors
Keeping me grounded
I never said, I never said that they were
Completely unfounded
And all those lies
Written lies, twisted lies
Well, they weren't lies
They weren't lies
They weren't lies
I never said
I never said
I could have mentioned your name
I could have dragged you in
Guilt by implication
By association
I've always been true to you
In my own strange way
I've always been true to you
In my own sick way
I'll always stay true to you
@315Bodhi17
Gorgeous Moz. Thanks for this.
Lyrics
And when you slam
Down the hammer
Can you see it in your heart?
All of the rumors
Keeping me grounded
I never said, I never said that they were
Completely unfounded
So when you slam
Down the hammer
Can you see it in your heart?
Can you delve so low?
And when you're standing
On my fingers
Can you see it in your heart? Ah
And when you try
To break my spirit
It won't work
Because there's nothing left to break
Anymore
All of the rumors
Keeping me grounded
I never said, I never said that they were
Completely unfounded
You won't sleep
Until the earth that wants me
Finally has me
Oh you've done it now
You won't rest
Until the hearse that becomes me
Finally takes me
Oh you've done it now
And you won't smile
Until my loving mouth
Is shut good and proper
Forever
All of the rumors
Keeping me grounded
I never said, I never said that they were
Completely unfounded
And all those lies
Written lies, twisted lies
Well, they weren't lies
They weren't lies
They weren't lies
I never said
I never said
I could have mentioned your name
I could have dragged you in
Guilt by implication
By association
I've always been true to you
In my own strange way
I've always been true to you
In my own sick way
I'll always stay true to you
Songwriters: Steven Morrissey / Martin James Boorer
@PJV1990
I've only recently gotten into Morrissey and The Smiths, however ever since that moment I've been binge watching and listening to every single Morrissey & The Smiths song/album/interview/video I can find. It has literally taken up 95 percent of my free time (and I have a lot of that at the moment). I don't regret a second of it. It honestly feels like a Morrissey-shaped black hole swept me up before I could even realise what was happening. I can't get enough! I can't even begin to describe the pull Morrissey has on me. It's like I'm hypnotised, transfixed and mesmerised by his artistry, talent, voice, charisma and style whilst having no say in the matter. It was like the universe said 'You are going to love Morrissey and have no say in the matter dammit!'
I've never felt this sort of connection to another artist/songwriter before. It's like he 'gets' the pain of being forced to live an ordinary life you don't want when you have dreams of something better. I finally know why fellow fans love and worship this man to the point of obsession, where a single glance or touch from Morrissey can send people to the moon crying their eyes out with absolute delight.
Morrissey and his lyrics have saved my life.
@outdoorminer5533
I’m so glad you found him.
@kenetic1228
Welcome
@ryecean9896
Me too going through the same thing now. 👍
@HC-oy3jr
Moz finally has you oh you done it now. His music has been in my life near 40 years but at the rate you're going and today's technology you'll catch up. Suppose you don't rely on flyers? Lol welcome to a wonderful journey. Glad to see such passion good for you!
@moirmurray6799
I'm now 50 and have listened to morrissey/the smiths since 14...I'm the same no one has ever came close to filling morrisseys shoes...utter perfection 👌
@mgs721
Morrissey is the greatest lyricist in the history of rock n' roll. Yeah, I said it.
@oyemate8647
I don't agree. Isaac Brock. Isaac Brock has written the most depressing, honest and moving lyrics ever to be written. Seriously. Morrissey might be more charismatic (although many people also hate him xd), more interesting, he has an absolutely beautiful voice, he is an icon and his lyrics are amazing, but all my love for him won't change the fact that Brock's stuff is better than anything else.
@oyemate8647
@@gordonsh5964 what? xd
@johnboylan3591
Along with Lennon