Suedehead

Morrissey

About Suedehead

"Suedehead" is the debut solo single by English singer Morrissey, released in February 1988. The single charted higher than any of the singles released by his former band the Smiths, entering the UK Singles Chart at No. 6 and then peaking at No. 5 the week after. "Suedehead" peaked at No. 2 in Ireland, No. 8 in New Zealand, and reached the Top 50 in Germany, the Netherlands, and Australia. The lead track was featured on Morrissey's debut album Viva Hate and the compilation album Bona Drag, the latter of which also featured the B-side "Hairdresser on Fire". The artwork of the single features a photo taken by Geri Caulfield during a Smiths gig at the London Palladium. The music video, directed by Tim Broad, features Morrissey walking through the streets of Fairmount, Indiana, the boyhood city of actor James Dean, including shots of the school where Dean studied and the Park Cemetery, where he is buried. Other allusions to Dean in the video include a child (played by Sam Esty Rayner, Morrissey's nephew, who went on to direct the video for "Kiss Me a Lot" in 2015) delivering to Morrissey a copy of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince, Dean's favourite book. 


3:56
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Why do you come here?
And why, why do you hang around?
I'm so sorry, oh, I'm so sorry

Why do you come here
When you know it makes things hard for me?
When you know, oh, why do you come?

Why do you telephone?
And why send me silly notes?
I'm so sorry, oh, I'm so sorry

Why do you come here
When you know it makes things hard for me?
When you know, oh, why do you come?

You had to sneak into my room just to read my diary
It was just to see, just to see
All the things you knew I'd written about you

Oh so many illustrations
Oh, but I'm so very sickened
Oh, I am so sickened and now

Oh, it was a good lay, good lay
It was a good lay, good lay
It was a good lay, good lay, aha

Oh, it was a good lay, good lay
It was a good lay, good lay
Oh, it was a good lay, good lay
Ah ah ha ah ha

Oh, it was a good lay
It was a good lay, ah
It was a good lay, good lay, good lay
Ah ha ah ha

It was a good lay, it was a good lay

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Morrissey

Steven Patrick Morrissey (born 22 May 1959), known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career, making the top ten of the UK Singles Chart on ten occasions. His first solo album, 1988's Viva Hate entered the UK albums chart at number one. Widely regarded as an important innovator in indie music, Morrissey has been described by music magazine NME as "one of the most influential artists ever", and The Independent has stated "most pop stars have to be dead before they reach the iconic status he has reached in his lifetime".Pitchfork Media has called him "one of th… more »

3 fans

Written by: Stephen Street, Steven Morrissey

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Creation
"Suedehead" was the first solo single released by English singer Morrissey following the breakup of his band, The Smiths.
Album Association
The song was issued in 1988 as the lead single from its related album "Viva Hate".
Chart Performance
Although the song was never a true chart-topper, it gained immense popularity. In the UK Singles Chart, "Suedehead" peaked at number 5, which was higher than any of The Smiths' singles had achieved.
Noteworthy Video
The video for "Suedehead" involves Morrissey visiting locations associated with his idol, the writer James Dean, including Dean's childhood home, Fairmount, Indiana.
Name Origin
The term "Suedehead" originates from a subculture in the 70s who were followers of the skinhead subculture but distinguished themselves by keeping their hair at a normal length instead of shaving it off.
Critical Response
Critics have consistently viewed "Suedehead" as one of Morrissey's pivotal songs. It has therefore appeared on multiple Morrissey “best of” compilations, such as "Bona Drag".
Musical Composition
Musically, “Suedehead” is constructed as a pop song with a rockabilly sway, showcasing shifts between major and minor chords that lent it a mournful yet catchy tune.
Lyrics Interpretation
Lyrically, “Suedehead” explores themes of love, loss, longing, and dislocation- themes that are consistent throughout Morrissey's songs. It tells the story of a troubled relationship with a lover who won't leave him alone.
Cultural Influence
The line "Why do you come here when you know it makes things hard for me?" has been frequently sampled by various artists over the years, such as J Dilla in the song "Suedehead".
Album Reception
The parent album "Viva Hate" reached number 1 in the UK Albums Chart, showing the considerable fan base that followed Morrissey from The Smiths into his solo career.

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