“Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now” sums him up. I mostly just can't with Morrissey. Why is he such a curmudgeon and so grumpy? Like seriously, we know your schtick is emo and mostly acerbic woefulness but come on now!  Don't perform if you just don't want to show up or you want to harangue the audience with your views on injustices.  Just sing please. 

But I never really liked The Smiths much anyway.  EXCEPT for their cover photos featuring celebrities like Joe D’Allesandro, Richard Davalos and Jean Marais.  

Now that I’ve had my piece and vented, instead of being a negative Nancy and to avoid sounding bitter like you-know-who, here are a few things I do like about Morrissey: 

• His lyrics and song titles are endlessly amusing, incisive and thoughtful.  “You’re the One for Me, Fatty”, “Girlfriend in a Coma” and “Hairdresser on Fire”.  I have a feeling John Waters loves these titles. There are just too many priceless lyrics that could be one-liners at a party.  “I was happy in the haze of a drunken hour, but heaven knows I’m miserable now”.  Say it aloud in Truman Capote’s voice, but with the adjustment of “I was happy in the hay with a drunk for an hour”.  HA!! 

• “Hippychick” by Soho and the fantastic guitar riff from “How Soon Is Now”

• When he brought 1967 Eurovision winner (and a fave of mine) back into the limelight with her cover of “Hand in Glove”.  He’s a long-time fan of Sandie and “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now” is a take on HER song “Heaven Knows I’m Missing You Now”.   

• Which leads me to being also grateful to Morrissey for writing a letter to Sandie Shaw which started with “Hello Angel”, subsequently to become the title of her album and perhaps the inspiration behind this song written by Sandie “Flesh and Blood”

So yeah okay … he’s not ALL that awful.  I mean surely “Shoplifters of the World Unite” was a sign of prescience since they seem to be doing that in so many places 35+ years after the song was recorded.  Perhaps he’s a sage and moody prophet. But I’m not buying tickets.