My Top Fifteen Morrissey Songs

This post is long overdue, and for now I’m not quite sure why I stopped updating this blog last year. Anyway, my legitimate excuse was that I waited for Morrissey to release his latest album, Low in High School before I write my list of my top fifteen Morrissey songs. Initially, I planned on just writing a top ten but it turns out that I just can’t! And since this is my blog, I decide to make it a top fifteen list. And I know most Morrissey fans will disagree with this list and that’s really OK. It will be pretty interesting to provide me your list regardless if you agree or not with my top fifteen. And expect that this will not similar to other music and blog sites who also had published their own top Morrissey song posts.

 

(1) Life is a Pigsty (Ringleader of The Tormentors)

My all-time favorite song by Morrissey is Life is a Pigsty. I couldn’t really put into words why this song is my favourite and this is what I am jealous of Morrissey who’s such a wonderful writer/songwriter aside from being equally amazing singer. I hope that I can put into words why I love this song and oftentimes I find myself listening to this song on repeat, especially when I’m on the road for hours. And since I already mentioned from my tweet that Southpaw Grammar is my favourite album, then I’m also gonna mention that Ringleader of the Tormentors is my second favorite.

Interestingly, Morrissey’s favorite song that he wrote is Life is a Pigsty.

Favorite line: And I’d been shifting gears all of my life but I’m still the same underneath, this you surely knew.

 

(2) Seasick, Yet Still Docked (Your Arsenal)

I would oftentimes wonder how many felt sad and emotional when they listened to this song. This song is so melancholic, so haunting, that I wonder what Morrissey is feeling when he penned the lyrics to this song, and then when he finally recorded it. Even the official music video is truly melancholic. And now all I want is to spend my day in bed.

Favorite line: And you can tell I have never really loved. You can tell, by the way, I sleep all day.

 

(3) The Last of the Famous International Playboys (Bona Drag)

Yay it’s 3/4 The Smiths! And if you squints you’ll see that Johnny Marr was with them, just kidding! And since I know how to use the internet and Google, according to Wikipedia that this song mythologizes the notorious pair of vicious London gangsters known as the Kray twins (Ronnie and Reggie Kray), who held a tight rein on the East End of London during the 1960s.

Favorite line: Such things I do just to make myself more attractive to you. Have I failed?

 

(4) Hold on to Your Friends (Vauxhall and I)

I actually wrote a post last year about this song and it pretty much tells how much I love this song. I remember I was listening to this song while being depressed and thinking about friends.

Favorite line: But now you only call me when you’re feeling depressed. When you feel happy I’m so far from your mind. My patience is stretched, my loyalty vexed. Oh, you’re losing all of your friends

 

(5) Disappointed (Bona Drag)

Aside from Bona Drag, Disappointed also appeared in different albums (HMV/Parlophone Singles, Everyday is Like Sunday B-sides, etc).

Favorite line: “Don’t talk to me, no, about people who are nice. ‘Cause I have spent my whole life in ruins because of people who are nice. Oh, this world may lack style, I know. Each bud must blossom and grow, oh…” and “Goodnight and thank you!”

 

(6) Interesting Drug (Bona Drag)

This was Morrissey’s fourth solo single and my favorite song to play whenever I’m in a very good mood.

Favourite line: “On a government scheme, designed to kill your dream”

 

(7) Dagenham Dave (Southpaw Grammar)

Southpaw Grammar is truly a masterpiece but it’s no secret that this album receives less love compare to his other albums. Dagenham Dave is my favorite track from this album.

Favorite line: “He’d love to touch, he’s afraid that he might self-combust”

 

(8) Bengali in Platforms (Viva Hate)

Viva Hate is the very first Morrissey album that I got and so this record has a very special place in my heart. And Bengali in Platforms is my absolute favorite track from this album. But this song, I’m aware, is controversial. According to this book, this song is bout a Bengali boy who is living in the UK, and trying, but failing, to fit in. These line pretty much sums what the book is referring to: Bengali, Bengali, oh, shelve your Western plans and understand that life is hard enough when you belong here.

I actually wanted to make a longer post about this song, and what other people’s interpretation but nah, I decided not to. But again, this is my favorite song from this album.

 

(9) The Never-Played Symphonies (Swords)

One of Morrissey’s underrated song, The Never Played Symphonies. This is also included to the Deluxe Edition of You Are The Quarry, but I didn’t have that record and I only have Swords.

Favorite line: “You were one, you knew you were one. And you slipped right through my fingers, no not literally but metaphorically. And now you’re all I see…as the light fades…”

 

(10) Best Friend On The Payroll (Southpaw Grammar)

There are quite a few interpretation who Morrissey is referring to with this song but I refuse to discuss that in this post. This is also one of my top favourite from my favourite album.

Favorite line: “I turn the music down; and I don’t know why, this is my house.”

 

(11) The Youngest Was The Most Loved (Ringleader of the Tormentors)

The title pretty much describes me as a person because I’m the youngest and it’s true that I am the most loved (but I didn’t turned into a killer!) 😀 This is my second favourite track from the album, Ringleader of the Tormentors. And it makes me really happy that Morrissey made an equally amazing music video for this song.

 

(12) At Amber / The Bed Took Fire (My Early Burglary Years/Bona Drag)

Favorite line: “If I had your limbs for a day I would steam away”

 

(13) Trouble Loves Me (Maladjusted)

Maladjusted is also one my top album by Morrissey and Trouble Loves Me is my top track from this record.

Favorite line: “Trouble loves me, seeks and finds me” and “Go to waste in the wrong arms…”

 

(14) All the Young People Must Fall in Love (Low in High School)

I instantly fell in love with this song when I saw Morrissey performed this in Berlin Live | ARTE Concert. For me this is such a heart-warming, optimistic song and I can listen to this song on repeat. The message of this song is pretty straight-forward. I agree that all the young people must fall in love. 😉

Favorite line: “Presidents come, presidents go and oh look at the damage they do”

 

(15) November Spawned A Monster (Bona Drag)

My all-time favorite Morrissey music video is Jacky’s Only Happy When She’s Up On The Stage, closely followed by November Spawned a Monster.

Favorite line: “Sleep on and dream of love because it’s the closest you will get to love”