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.
When Last I Spoke to Carol
Morrissey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"I can't pretend it gets easier."
She said: "I've hung on, I have edged
Along this narrow ledge
Since the day I was born in 1975."
When last I spoke to Carol I said:
"I can't pretend I feel love for you."
Across this pasty face of mine
Since the day I was born in 1975."
When I said goodbye to Carol
Black earth upon the casket fell
She had faded to
Something I always knew
To the rescue
Nobody ever comes
The lyrics to Morrissey's song When Last I Spoke To Carol speak of a conversation that took place between the singer and someone named Carol. The singer admits that the situation they are dealing with is not easy and that he cannot pretend that it is. Carol responds by sharing that she has been hanging on, living on the edge of a narrow ledge since she was born in 1975. In their conversation, the two are discussing their feelings for each other, and the singer admits that he cannot pretend to feel love for Carol, but she responds by saying that she has been faking a smile on her face for a long time, going back to her birth year of 1975.
The chorus reveals that the conversation was one of their last; when the singer says goodbye to Carol, black earth falls upon her casket. The final lines of the song reveal that Carol had faded into something that the singer had always known, and that nobody ever comes to the rescue. The song seems to be about the difficulties of life and relationships, and the struggle to maintain a facade of normalcy even when things are tough. Carol and the singer have been battling to maintain their composure, but it seems that ultimately, Carol has lost the battle, and the singer is left to mourn her loss.
Line by Line Meaning
When last I spoke to Carol I said:
The last time I talked to Carol, I told her something
"I can't pretend it gets easier."
I cannot lie to myself that things will become less difficult over time
She said: "I've hung on, I have edged
Carol responded by saying that she's persevered despite difficulties
Along this narrow ledge
She has walked a precarious path in life
Since the day I was born in 1975."
This has been her existence since birth
When last I spoke to Carol I said:
Once again, the final time I spoke with Carol, I told her something
"I can't pretend I feel love for you."
I cannot fake romantic feelings for her
She said: "I've hammered a smile
Carol hides her true emotions behind a forced grin
Across this pasty face of mine
This is evident by the pale complexion of her skin
Since the day I was born in 1975."
Again, she's been living like this her whole life
When I said goodbye to Carol
When I bid farewell to Carol for the final time
Black earth upon the casket fell
The burial of Carol's remains was marked by dirt covering the casket
She had faded to
Carol is no longer alive and has diminished in existence
Something I always knew
This was a certainty that was anticipated
To the rescue
However, no one came to save her
Nobody ever comes
There was no one there to offer aid or assistance
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALAIN GORDON WHYTE, STEVEN MORRISSEY, STEVEN PATRICK MORRISSEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind