Irish Blood, English Heart

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"Irish Blood, English Heart"
MorrisseyIBEH.jpg
Single by Morrissey
from the album You Are the Quarry
Released12 April 2004 (2004-04-12)
GenreAlternative rock
Length2:37
LabelAttack
Songwriter(s)Morrissey, Alain Whyte
Producer(s)Jerry Finn
Morrissey singles chronology
"Satan Rejected My Soul"
(1997) 		"Irish Blood, English Heart"
(2004) 		"First of the Gang to Die"
(2004)

"Irish Blood, English Heart" is a song written by the British singer Morrissey in 2002, from his 2004 album You Are the Quarry. It was released on 12 April 2004 in the United States and on 10 May 2004 in the United Kingdom. The song became Morrissey's highest-charting single in the United Kingdom (alongside 2006's "You Have Killed Me"), reaching number three on the UK Singles Chart. It is also his highest-charting single in Sweden, peaking at number four, and it reached number seven in Canada and the top 20 in Ireland and Norway.

Background[]

The song had been performed live numerous times prior to release, but Morrissey was without a record deal for some time. It was Morrissey's first single in seven years, and considered a major comeback. The music was written by Alain Whyte and had already been used on a song called "Not Bitter but Bored" for a band he was a part of called Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams. Morrissey wrote a whole new set of words for this tune, as well as changing the melody. He also did this with another Johnny Panic tune, "Paranoia", which was rewritten as "Don't Make Fun of Daddy's Voice".

Release[]

In the United Kingdom, the song was first played by Steve Lamacq on BBC Radio 1 on 29 March 2004. However, Radio 1 did not playlist the single. Only XFM, which playlisted it, provided much exposure for the single in the UK. Despite the lack of exposure on mainstream stations, "Irish Blood, English Heart" debuted at number three on the UK Singles Chart,[1] making it Morrissey's joint highest-charting single with or without The Smiths, alongside "You Have Killed Me" when it was released in 2006.

The single's world premiere occurred on the KROQ-FM Kevin and Bean show on 22 March 2004. The song received consistent airplay throughout April and May on such alternative rock stations as WFNX (Boston), WWCD (Columbus), CIMX (Windsor), KMBY (Monterey / Salinas), XTRA (San Diego), and of course KROQ-FM (Los Angeles), as well as CFNY (Toronto). The single's airplay increased over the next few months and upon its release it reached number 36 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, Morrissey's first single to chart there since "The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get" in 1994.[2]

Composition[]

The song draws on Morrissey's English and Irish heritage, and explores the themes of contention between the two nations. It is one of Morrissey's more political songs, with him denouncing Oliver Cromwell, Toryism, the Conservative Party, the Labour Party, and the British royal family.

The song has drawn a particular following from Chicanos and/or Latinos in the United States who resonate with its themes of "split identity."[3]

Live performances[]

The song was performed live by Morrissey on his 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2014 tours. From the 2004 tour it was recorded and put on the DVD, Who Put the M in Manchester?.

In December 2013, Morrissey played "Irish Blood, English Heart" as the last of his three-song set during the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo.

Track listings[]

Personnel[]

Charts[]

Release history[]

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States 12 April 2004 (2004-04-12)
Attack [22]
United Kingdom 10 May 2004 (2004-05-10)
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
 [23]

Media usage[]

An edited version eventually became one of the songs on the EA Sports videogame FIFA Football 2005's soundtrack. The game's version does not include the line "And spit upon the name Oliver Cromwell/And denounce this royal line that still salutes him. And will salute him, forever"; instead, after the verse "I've been dreaming of a time when/The English are sick to death of Labour and Tories", the song reverts to the line that begins "To be standing by the flag not feeling shameful/Racist or partial".

The song has also been released as downloadable content for the console versions of the main games in the Rock Band series.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Morrissey Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  3. ^ https://www.pri.org/stories/2014-10-30/love-affair-between-mexican-americans-and-morrissey-isnt-surprising
  4. ^ Irish Blood, English Heart (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Morrissey. Attack Records. 2004. ATKSI002.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ Irish Blood, English Heart (UK CD1 liner notes). Morrissey. Attack Records. 2004. ATKXS002.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ Irish Blood, English Heart (UK CD2 liner notes). Morrissey. Attack Records. 2004. ATKXD002.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ Irish Blood, English Heart (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Morrissey. Attack Records. 2004. ATKTW019.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ Irish Blood, English Heart (US 7-inch single sleeve). Morrissey. Attack Records. 2004. 06076-86000-7.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ Irish Blood, English Heart (US CD single liner notes). Morrissey. Attack Records. 2004. 06076-86000-2.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ "Ultratop.be – Morrissey – Irish Blood, English Heart" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  11. ^ "Morrissey Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  12. ^ "Hits of the World – Eurocharts" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 116 no. 22. 29 May 2004. p. 47. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  13. ^ "Lescharts.com – Morrissey – Irish Blood, English Heart" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  14. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Morrissey – Irish Blood, English Heart" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  15. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Irish Blood, English Heart". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  16. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Morrissey – Irish Blood, English Heart". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  17. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Morrissey – Irish Blood, English Heart". VG-lista. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  18. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  19. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Morrissey – Irish Blood, English Heart". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  20. ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  21. ^ "The Official UK Singles Chart 2004" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  22. ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1550. 9 April 2004. p. 20. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  23. ^ "Irish Blood, English Heart". Amazon. Retrieved 15 June 2021.

External links[]

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