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.
Treat Me Like a Human Being
Morrissey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's hard, but try
For once, just for once
Just for once
Leave all your hate behind you
It's still all so strange and obscene
For you to look and see one who is real
And who feels life
Three words could change my life
So once, just for once, just for once
Let the night pass with ease, son
Treat me like a human being
I'd like to know how this feels
Three words could change my life
Yet you treat me like you never care
Although three words could change my life
You still treat me like you never care
Morrissey's "Treat Me Like a Human Being" is a song about yearning for love and acceptance. The song talks about how it's hard to try and leave all hate behind, and just be treated with respect, like a human being. Morrissey is asking for kindness to be shown to him, and he wants to feel loved and acknowledged by a certain someone who treats him indifferently. He is pleading with this person to understand that just three words could change his life, and he just wants to feel what it's like to be treated with dignity, even if it's just for once. Morrissey feels that he is real and can feel the depths of emotion, yet the person he sings to cannot perceive that.
The overall message of the song is universal - everyone deserves to be treated with equal respect, and it is about the importance of acknowledging someone's humanity. This song has a message of hope that love and connection can be found even in the darkest of moments. Morrissey's voice in this song is emotive and sincere, creating a raw and relatable experience.
Line by Line Meaning
It's hard, but try
Attempting to treat me with compassion may be difficult, but I encourage you to make an effort
For once, just for once
On this occasion, I request that you demonstrate empathy
Leave all your hate behind you
Eliminate your feelings of anger and hostility towards me
It's still all so strange and obscene
I find it unsettling and disturbing how you treat me
For you to look and see one who is real
I want you to recognize that I am a genuine human being
And who feels life
Acknowledge that I have the capacity to experience emotions and sensations
Three words could change my life
Expressing three particular phrases could have a profound impact on me
So once, just for once, just for once
I implore you to say these words, just once
Let the night pass with ease, son
Let us pass the night without antagonism or tension, my friend
Treat me like a human being
I desire to be regarded with respect and dignity as a fellow person
I'd like to know how this feels
I want to experience what it's like to be treated with kindness and humanity
Yet you treat me like you never care
Despite the potential impact of three simple words, you show me no regard or concern
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEPHEN BRIAN STREET, STEVEN MORRISSEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind