Morrissey’s seventh solo album, 2004’s You Are the Quarry, was released seven years after his sixth. Considering he released all six of those records over the course of nine years, that was a major hiatus.
I didn’t really take to You Are the Quarry the way I did to Morrissey’s previous efforts. Whether that’s due to me or him, I don’t know. It could be I just wasn’t in the same mood or mindframe that made me a huge fan a decade earlier. Or perhaps it’s simpler than that, and the songs just weren’t as good.
Today’s SOTD, however, is a great one. It was the album’s first single and Morrissey’s highest charting song ever, including during his time with The Smiths. The combination of killer guitar riff and emotionally charged lyrics really struck a nerve in his native UK.
Funny how the Random iTunes Man seems to settle on the most notable songs within each album. Is it a coincidence that the most celebrated track on this album pops up and not something obscure from the back half? Does iTunes give singles more weight? Something to ponder.
There is no one on earth I’m afraid of
And no regime can buy or sell me
I’ve been dreaming of a time when
To be English is not to be baneful
To be standing by the flag not feeling shameful, Racist or partial
Irish blood, English heart, This I’m made of
There is no one on earth I’m afraid of
And I will die with both of my hands untied
I’ve been dreaming of a time when
The English are sick to death of Labour, And Tories
And spit upon the name Oliver Cromwell
And denounce this royal line that still salute him,
And will salute him forever.
Meet Me In Montauk 
What a wonderful voice! I feel like marching off to war or something 🙂
Can’t disagree with Peg more. This song is good, right until he starts singing. I would only march to war if the objective was to silence the singer:)
As for the iPod preference for the hits, I have found that to be true sometimes when I am just playing in shuffle mode. I suspect, though, it is just coincidence, unless Apple is genius enough to code hit songs differently so that they do pop up more on random play..
I’m with you, Peg. Morrissey has one of the best voices in pop music.
I’m listening to this song again to see if maybe I wasn’t awake the first time after reading Dana’s comment; nope, I was wide awake, it’s a wonderful voice and song 🙂