Steven Patrick Morrissey was an eclectic figure in mid-stage punk and art rock spaces, known for his rich lyricism and soft, yet baritone, sometimes peculiar delivery. He skyrocketed his career as the frontman and lyricist behind The Smiths in 1984 with the release of their self-titled album, which became an instant classic, along with Meat Is Murder (1985) and The Queen Is Dead (1986). By 1988, Morrissey had his own solo career, simply going by his last name, and he kept up with the project into 2020 with I Am Not a Dog on a Chain.
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In an interview with Tremr in 2018, Morrissey detailed some of his creative process, indicating that he’s never had a rigorous one, “No one knows anything until the producer presses Record. It’s an edginess that usually works.” The result is often chaotic, especially in the case of The Smiths’ discography, but organic feeling.
With his expansive career in alternative music, each of his projects have touched plenty of musicians, inspiring them to create their own iterations of them.
1. “I Know It’s Gonna Happen Someday,” David Bowie (1993)
Written by Morrissey, Mark E. Nevin
David Bowie composed his own rendition of a Morrissey song in 1993. The cover appears towards the end of Black Tie White Noise, his 18th studio album.
The two artists were close in the early nineties, with Bowie an avid fan of Morrissey and The Smiths. After meeting officially in 1990, the two performed together in 1991, sporting a cover of Marc Bolan’s “Cosmic Dancer.” But the friendship didn’t last long, as Bowie’s cover of “I Know It’s Gonna Happen Someday” came off as a passive-aggressive towards Morrissey.
Bowie believed parts of Morrissey’s discography were a little too reminiscent of his own works, citing the use of saxophones as being eerily similar to those on “Rock ’N’ Roll Suicide.” Thus, Bowie took on the song himself, even intentionally reworking it to sound similar to something off of Ziggy Stardust. Morrissey never forgave him for this response to his music, even after Bowie’s death in 2016.
“I Know It’s Gonna Happen Someday” is featured on Your Arsenal (Definitive Master), Morrissey’s fourth album. The song is conceptual, opening with radio static and snippets from a few radio “channels.” Buried underneath the feedback, and grainy talking and singing, is a twinkling guitar, which fades into the drums and Morrissey’s vocals. The song addresses a lover, and is about patience when awaiting an end of some kind, referred to simply as “it.”
My love, wherever you are Whatever you are
Don’t lose faith
I know it’s gonna happen someday To you
Please wait Please wait Oh, wait Don’t lose faith
2. “Jack The Ripper,” My Chemical Romance (2002)
Written by Morrissey, Boz Boorer
The Smiths planted the seed for much of modern punk rock, and that was not lost on My Chemical Romance, who have been a staple of the genre since 2002. The band has had 9 Billboard Hot 100 hits, with their first entry in 2005, and 6 Billboard 200 entries. Their 2006 album, The Black Parade, hit No. 2 after its release. Songs like “I’m Not Okay (I Promise)” and “Welcome to the Black Parade” are considered pop-punk classics, and their music has crossed generational lines. Though they disbanded in 2012, they reunited for one song in 2022, “The Foundations of Decay,” and embarked on an arena tour across the United States.
Their cover of “Jack The Ripper” was included on their 2002 EP Like Phantoms, Forever, which featured two songs off of their debut album, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love, and concluded with a live version of the Morrissey song. As it was during the early days of My Chemical Romance, the band only produced one hundred copies of the EP, which they distributed among their local scene, now making it one of the rarest items in their discography.
“Jack The Ripper,” titled after the infamous serial killer, is the third track on World of Morrissey (1995). The song is about pining for an unobtainable person, blurring the line between romantic desire and bloodlust, while sung over a guitar ballad.
And oh, you look so tired
(But tonight you presume too much) Too much, too much
And if it’s the last
Thing I ever do
I’m gonna get you
Crash into my arms I want you
You don’t agree But you don’t refuse I know you
My Chemical Romance performed the song live on occasion, adding power chords that served their unpolished, garage-rock sound.
3. “I Know It’s Over,” Jeff Buckley (1995)
Written by Morrissey, Johnny Marr
Jeff Buckley’s career was brief due to his death in 1997 at age 30. He developed a cult fanbase following his passing, with his guitar-driven songwriting speaking to listeners. He was signed by Columbia Records in 1992, where he began working on his debut album, Grace, released in 1994.
In addition to his original works, Buckley recorded several covers. These included “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen, which appeared on Grace, and “I Know It’s Over” by The Smiths.
Morrissey and Jeff Buckley exchanged mutual praise. In 2010, Morrissey cited Grace as one of his favorite albums of all time, and Buckley was an avid admirer of The Smiths. Buckley’s first performance of “I Know It’s Over” was recorded in 1995 at Sony Studios, and saw its first official release in 2007.
The track, an emotionally potent song off The Queen Is Dead, is about someone who has just entered the afterlife, and their message to those mourning them to accept their demise. It is a particularly haunting song for Buckley to have performed, especially as it was released posthumously.
Oh Mother, I can feel the soil falling over my head And as I climb into an empty bed
Oh well. Enough said.
I know it’s over – still I cling
I don’t know where else I can go
Oh…
Photo by Bulent Doruk/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
