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.
You Know I Couldn't Last
Morrissey Lyrics
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May hurt you
But the printed word might kill you
The whispering
May hurt you
But the printed word might kill you
The blue eyes fool you
They're just gelignite
Loaded and aiming right between your eyes
CD's and T-shirts, promos and God knows
You know I couldn't last
Someone please take me home
The teenagers
Who love you
They will wake up, yawn and kill you
The teenagers
Who love you
They will wake up, yawn and kill you
So don't let the blue
The blue eyes fool you
They're just gelignite
Loaded and aiming right between your eyes
CD's and T-shirts, promos and God knows
You know I couldn't last
Someone please take me home
There's a cash register ringing and
It weighs so heavy on my back
Someone please take me home
The critics who
Can't break you
They somehow help to make you
The critics who
Can't break you
Unwittingly they make you
So don't let the good days
Of the gold discs
Creep up and mug you
With evil legal eagles
You know I couldn't last
Accountants rampant
You know I couldn't last
Every -ist and every -ism
Thrown my way to stay
And the Northern leeches go on
Removing, removing, removing
Then in the end
Your royalties bring you luxuries
Your royalties bring you luxuries
Oh but
The squalor of the mind
The squalor of the mind
The squalor of the mind
The squalor of the mind
The lyrics of Morrissey's "You Know I Couldn't Last" are quite complex and deal with different themes such as fame, the danger of the media, and the toll it takes on one's mental health. In the first verse, Morrissey warns about the power of the printed word, suggesting that it can be more harmful than whispered words. He then highlights the deceptive nature of fame, warning about its dangers and the risk of it turning violent or leading to one's demise. The second verse mentions the impact of critics, with Morrissey acknowledging that although they may not be able to break an artist, they can still help shape their image and public perception. The chorus of the song emphasizes Morrissey's desire to leave the music industry, with lyrics about wanting to go home and escape the pressures of the business.
The final lines of the song are particularly poignant, with Morrissey expressing that even though royalties may bring luxury, the "squalor of the mind" can never truly be escaped. This line suggests that despite the seeming glamour of the music industry, there are deep-rooted issues that can never be fully resolved, leading to mental anguish and turmoil.
Line by Line Meaning
The whispering
May hurt you
But the printed word might kill you
Gossip and hearsay can be hurtful, but written accusations and defamation can destroy a reputation.
The teenagers
Who love you
They will wake up, yawn and kill you
Fans who idolize you can quickly turn on you and become your worst adversaries.
So don't let the blue
The blue eyes fool you
They're just gelignite
Loaded and aiming right between your eyes
CD's and T-shirts, promos and God knows
You know I couldn't last
Someone please take me home
Be cautious of charming and deceiving people who might hurt you; the commercial exploitation of music and fame can be draining and disorienting.
The critics who
Can't break you
Unwittingly they make you
Critics who criticize but cannot truly harm an artist ironically contribute to their growth and success.
So don't let the good days
Of the gold discs
Creep up and mug you
With evil legal eagles
You know I couldn't last
Accountants rampant
You know I couldn't last
Every -ist and every -ism
Thrown my way to stay
Be aware of the dangers of the music industry and the treachery of those around you; be prepared for the onslaught of discrimination and exploitation.
The squalor of the mind
The squalor of the mind
The squalor of the mind
The squalor of the mind
The degradation of the human psyche can be the inevitable result of the harsh reality of fame and success.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVEN MORRISSEY, ALAIN GORDON WHYTE, GARY DAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind