Boxers
"Hell is the bell that will not ring again"
Morrissey's 20th single, 'Boxers' was released January 16, 1995 to promote his tour of the same name. The single reached number 23 on the UK Singles Chart despite not appearing on an album at the time of the release.
This song was written and recorded during what is now called the 'Boxers single session' in October 1994 at Olympic Studios in South London, with producer Steve Lillywhite. At the time of its recording, the song was meant to appear as a B-side to a single from the Vauxhall & I album. When this did not come to pass, 'Boxers' was instead used as a single title track. Musicians on this recording were Boz Boorer (guitar), Alain Whyte (guitar), Jonny Bridgwood (bass) and Woodie Taylor (drums).
The cover art on the UK release features a grainy black and white photograph of who is believed to be American boxer Billy Conn* (there is no formal credit for the photo).
A photograph of Morrissey credited to Jake Walters adorns the cover of the US release.
Presumably, Morrissey's relationship with Jake Walters (who was supposedly a former boxer) may be the impetus of his nascent fascination with boxing at this time (as evidenced by both the single and promotional video). Alternatively (additionally?), Morrissey may have been seeking to move away from his fey, tortured poet persona. It is interesting to note that in his 'The Boy Racer' promotional video (also released in 1995), Morrissey's visage bears faux wounds not unlike those that a battered boxer might suffer in the ring.
'Boxers' seems to have a mixed, though largely positive reception from Morrissey fans. Notably, it has been said that the song marks the beginning of Morrissey's mid-90's musical malaise (a harbinger of sorts for what would manifest on Southpaw Grammar). As is the case with all art, the matter is anything but objective.
"Boxers' is a very, very important song for me. I think it is a beautiful song (laughs). I would. But no, I love it. It's very, very close to me."
-Morrissey, KCXX Radio (San Bernardino, California) Interview in 1998
According to Stephane in Passions Just Like Mine, Morrissey sometimes altered the lyrics of 'Boxers' when performing it live:
On the North American leg of the Oye Esteban tour, Morrissey sometimes sang the more personal "I wish the ground would open up and take me down". Additionally, he would sometimes sing the self-deprecating "will time never pass for you", as well as the more personal "I will return one day because of all the things that I see when my eyes close". This was very reflective of his situation in the music business at the time (being without a record contract).
Watch the promotional music video here:
Lyrics
Losing in front of your home crowd
You wish the ground
Would open up and take you down
And will time never pass?
Will time never pass, for us?
Your weary wife is walking away
Your nephew is true
Well, he thinks the world of you
And I have to close my eyes
Losing in front of your home town
The crowd call your name
They love you, all the same
The sound, the smell and the spray
you will take them all away
And they'll stay 'til the grave
Your weary wife is walking away
Your nephew is true
Well, he thinks the world of you
And I have to close my eyes
Losing in your home town
Hell is the bell that will not ring again
You will return one day
Because of all the things that you see
When your eyes close
Your weary wife walking away
Your nephew is true
He still thinks the world of you
And I have to dry my eyes
*William David Conn (October 8, 1917 – May 29, 1993) was an American professional boxer and Light Heavyweight Champion famed for his fights with Joe Louis. He had a professional boxing record of 63 wins, 11 losses and 1 draw, with 14 wins by knockout. His nickname, throughout most of his career, was "The Pittsburgh Kid." He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame
.