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.
Tony The Pony
Morrissey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just don't say I didn't warn you
Always nagging big brother
He's only looking out for you
Tony the pony
Tony the pony
Just don't say I didn't warn you
Old and jealous big brother
You had your time and you spent it
Crying
Now, Tony the pony
Tony the pony
So, that's what they call you now?
When you're free outside
So cold and hard and in control
And...
There's a free ride on
Tony the pony
Oh, why do you always want to stop me
From doing the things in life that make me happy?
And when I'm outside with friends, laughing loudly
Why do you always want to stop me?
Oh, I would never
I would never
But you will carry the can for anyone
The free ride on
Gullible Tony
You're drunker quicker
And you're sicker even quicker
For something heavy is gonna fall on you
Oh...
And what do they call you now?
When you're free outside
So cold and hard and in control
And, oh...been a lark
There's a free ride on
Fucked-up Tony
I will never say I told you so
Or how I knew that something bad
Would happen to you
I don't want to say I told you so
Oh, but Tony, I told you so!!!
I told you so
The song "Tony The Pony" by Morrissey is a warning to a friend who is drinking on the corner and not listening to advice. The singer is warning his friend, whom he calls "Gullible Tony," that he will end up carrying the can for anyone, which means he will take the blame for anything that goes wrong, including his heavy drinking. The singer is frustrated that Tony's older brother is always nagging him, but Tony is not listening and is still standing on the corner. The singer tries to explain to Tony that he should not let his brother stop him from doing things that make him happy, but Tony does not listen.
The song reflects Morrissey's frustration with the people who do not listen to his advice, and he feels helpless because he cannot control their actions. The line "And, oh...been a lark" suggests that Tony thinks his drinking is fun and does not understand the consequences of his actions. The line "There's a free ride on Fucked-up Tony" reinforces this idea that Tony's drinking will lead to negative consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
Still drinking on the corner
You continue to drink on the corner.
Just don't say I didn't warn you
I warned you about the consequences.
Always nagging big brother
Your older sibling is always bothering you.
He's only looking out for you
They want the best for you.
Tony the pony
A nickname given to you.
You're still standing on the corner
You haven't left the corner yet.
Old and jealous big brother
Your older sibling is envious of you.
You had your time and you spent it crying
They wasted their youth crying.
Now, Tony the pony
The nickname still sticks.
So, that's what they call you now?
The nickname is still being used.
When you're free outside
You're finally free to do what you want outside.
So cold and hard and in control
You seem tough and emotionless.
And...There's a free ride on Tony the pony
Taking advantage of you won't cost them anything.
Oh, why do you always want to stop me
Why are you always hindering my happiness?
From doing the things in life that make me happy?
Why can't I pursue my desires?
And when I'm outside with friends, laughing loudly
I'm enjoying life with my friends.
Why do you always want to stop me?
Why do you always want to interfere?
Oh, I would never. I would never
I wouldn't do that to you.
But you will carry the can for anyone
You'll take the blame for anything.
The free ride on Gullible Tony
People see you as easily fooled.
You're drunker quicker and you're sicker even quicker
Alcohol affects you more severely now.
For something heavy is gonna fall on you
You'll face consequences for your actions.
And what do they call you now?
What nickname do they use now?
Oh...been a lark
It was all a joke to them.
There's a free ride on Fucked-up Tony
People take advantage of your mistakes.
I will never say I told you so
I won't say I warned you.
Or how I knew that something bad would happen to you
I predicted that something bad would happen to you.
I don't want to say I told you so
I don't want to rub your mistakes in your face.
Oh, but Tony, I told you so!!! I told you so
I can't help but remind you that I warned you.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARK EDWARD CASCIAN NEVIN, MORRISSEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ronaldreagen2956
Still drinking on the corner
Just don't say I didn't warn you
Always nagging big brother
He's only looking out for you
Tony the pony
Tony the pony
You're still standing on the corner
Just don't say I didn't warn you
Old and jealous big brother
You had your time and you spent it
Crying
Now, Tony the pony
Tony the pony
So, that's what they call you now?
When you're free outside
So cold and hard and in control
And...
There's a free ride on
Tony the pony
Oh, why do you always want to stop me
From doing the things in life that make me happy?
And when I'm outside with friends, laughing loudly
Why do you always want to stop me?
Oh, I would never
I would never
But you will carry the can for anyone
The free ride on
Gullible Tony
You're drunker quicker
And you're sicker even quicker
For something heavy is gonna fall on you
Oh...
And what do they call you now?
When you're free outside
So cold and hard and in control
And, oh...been a lark
There's a free ride on
Fucked-up Tony
I will never say I told you so
Or how I knew that something bad
Would happen to you
I don't want to say I told you so
Oh, but Tony, I told you so!!!
I told you so
@fuckyouimalex
Still drinking on the corner
Just don't say I didn't warn you
Always nagging big brother
He's only looking out for you
Tony the pony
Tony the pony
You're still standing on the corner
Just don't say I didn't warn you
Old and jealous big brother
You had your time and you spent it
Crying
Now, Tony the pony
Tony the pony
So, that's what they call you now?
When you're free outside
So cold and hard and in control
And...
There's a free ride on
Tony the pony
Oh, why do you always want to stop me
From doing the things in life that make me happy?
And when I'm outside with friends, laughing loudly
Why do you always want to stop me?
Oh, I would never
I would never
But you will carry the can for anyone
The free ride on
Gullible Tony
You're drunker quicker
And you're sicker even quicker
For something heavy is gonna fall on you
Oh...
And what do they call you now?
When you're free outside
So cold and hard and in control
And, oh...been a lark
There's a free ride on
Fucked-up Tony
I will never say I told you so
Or how I knew that something bad
Would happen to you
I don't want to say I told you so
Oh, but Tony, I told you so!!!
I told you so
@lauralockrey2524
One of my favorite Morrissey songs. I hate that it was removed from kill uncle
@drunkenramble4120
This man really understands his craft. His lyrics are so entertaining and thought provoking, and sometimes just mean. Love it!
@decaffeinatedafrican5997
@nigga turd nigga turd i am a decaffeinated nigga
@mijadreams3486
@@decaffeinatedafrican5997 lmfao
@RossBayCult
This song is about Tony Wilson of Factory Records and Granada Television. The story behind this song is a long one. But Tony Wilson predicted that Moz would never make it as a musician and Morrissey proved him wrong. This song is “dedicated” to Tony Wilson.
@superchangoale
Pls tell us more!! :)
@sixT4T
here's a cookie... 🍪
@davidmcdonald6804
Bring to right in😊
@nicholass.6829
Thanks for sharing.
@adrienhernandez864
Picture this. It’s 2008-2009, you’re 7-8, and your parents are getting ready to go host a popular, local, small town club/bar hosting a Smiths tribute and this song is playing in the background of from the iPod playlist and your Mom is spraying hairspray to get those perfect rockabilly bangs and your dad smells of pomade from his pompadour and his Aqua di Gio cologne smelling throughout the house. Nostalgia. Thank you Moz