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.
The Loop
Morrissey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I haven't been away
I'm still right here
Where I always was
So one day, if you're bored
By all means call
Because you can do
(But only if you want to)
I just want to say
I haven't been away
I am still right here
Where I always was
So one day, when you're bored
By all means call
Because you can do
But you might not get through
Morrissey's song "The Loop" appears to be a message from the singer to someone he once had a close relationship with. Throughout the lyrics, Morrissey emphasizes that he has not been absent and that he is still in the same place that he has always been. He then invites this person to get in touch with him if they ever feel bored, but with the caveat that they might not be able to reach him.
The meaning of the song seems to be that Morrissey still cares for this person and wants to reconcile with them, but at the same time, he acknowledges that there may be reasons why they might not want to connect with him. The line "you can do, but only if you want to" hints at this - Morrissey is leaving the decision to reach out in the other person's hands, indicating that he is aware that certain things might have caused them to be estranged from each other.
The message in "The Loop" is a poignant one that seems to express a deep longing to reconnect with someone from Morrissey's past. It's a heartfelt message that speaks to the universal experience of reconnecting with people from our past, whose memories and experiences we still carry with us many years later.
Line by Line Meaning
I just want to say
Morrissey is making a declaration that he wants to express something.
I haven't been away
Morrissey is informing that he has been present and available all along.
I am still right here
In case there was any doubt before, Morrissey clarifies that he is still present and available.
Where I always was
Morrissey is emphasizing that he has not moved or changed since he was last seen.
So one day, when you're bored
Morrissey is suggesting a possible scenario when someone might feel inclined to reach out to him.
By all means call
Morrissey is opening up the possibility for someone to contact him.
Because you can do
Morrissey is reminding the listener that they have the power to reach out if they so choose.
But you might not get through
Morrissey is acknowledging that even if someone tries to contact him, there is a chance that he may not respond or be available to communicate.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVEN MORRISSEY, MARK EDWARD CASCIAN NEVIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind