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.
Such a Little Thing Makes Such a Big Difference
Morrissey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Such a little thing
But the difference it made was grave
There you go
Wielding a bicycle chain
Oh, why won't you change?
Change and be nicer?
A gentle tone of kindness
Or written words on paper
Can you write?
How I love all of
The very simple things of life
(God's good air)
How I love all of
The very simple things of life
Such a little thing
A fumbling politeness
The difference saved me
Wielding a bicycle chain
Why won't you change?
"I will not change
And I will not be nice"
Most people keep their brains
Between their legs
(don't you find?)
Leave me alone - I was only singing
Leave me alone because
I was only singing
Leave me alone - I was only singing
Leave me alone
You have just proved (again)
Most people keep their brains
Between their legs
The song Such a Little Thing Makes Such a Big Difference by Morrissey speaks to the power of small acts of kindness and genuine concern for one another. In the first verse, Morrissey implores someone to change their behavior and treat others with more kindness and respect. He uses the metaphor of a bicycle chain to illustrate how even the smallest shift in behavior can have a grave difference on how others perceive us. Morrissey suggests that a gentle tone of kindness, written words, or even fumbling politeness can change the course of someone's day.
The second verse continues to examine the simplicity of life's pleasures such as god's good air. Morrissey seems to cherish the small acts of love and kindness that make life worth living. He seems to find comfort in the fact that even the fumbling attempts at politeness or kindness can have a real impact on others. The song takes a more aggressive tone in the final verse as Morrissey bemoans the fact that some people refuse to change despite the clear benefit that it could have on their lives and the lives of those around them. He suggests that many people are ruled by their baser instincts rather than their minds and that this is something that must change.
Overall, the song is a commentary on the importance of small acts of kindness and the impact they can have on our lives. Morrissey seems to be imploring his listener to take the time to treat others with compassion and respect, even if it requires a small amount of effort.
Line by Line Meaning
Such a little thing
A small action or gesture
Such a little thing
Still referring to the smallness of the previous line
But the difference it made was grave
Despite its smallness, the impact was significant
There you go
Addressing someone's actions or behavior
Wielding a bicycle chain
Suggesting violence or aggression
Oh, why won't you change?
Asking someone to improve their behavior
Change and be nicer?
Specifically asking for an attitude adjustment
A gentle tone of kindness
Describes a small but impactful gesture
Or written words on paper
Another example of a small action with a big impact
Can you write?
Asking if someone is capable of such a small action
How I love all of
An expression of admiration for something
The very simple things of life
Referring to the beauty of simple, everyday things
(God's good air)
An example of the simple things the singer is cherishing
A fumbling politeness
Describing a small attempt at being courteous
The difference saved me
Describing how even small gestures can have a significant impact
I will not change
A refusal to improve or change behavior
And I will not be nice
A direct refusal to be kind or polite
Most people keep their brains
An observation about human behavior
Between their legs
A commentary on how people often prioritize sex over rational thought
Leave me alone - I was only singing
A plea to be left alone despite criticism
You have just proved (again)
A sarcastic comment in response to someone's negative behavior
Most people keep their brains
Repeating the earlier observation
Between their legs
Repeating the earlier commentary
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEPHEN BRIAN STREET, STEVEN MORRISSEY, STEVEN PATRICK MORRISSEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind