Hold On To Your Friends
Morrissey's 17th single, and the second single from his Vauxhall and I studio album, 'Hold On To Your Friends' was released May 30, 1994. Ironically, many music critics were more impressed by the single’s B-side, which consisted of an extended cover version of ‘Moonriver’1. The single made it no further than number 48 in the UK Singles Chart.
The single's cover art consists of an up-close, grainy photograph of a pensive Morrissey, his eyes fixed on someone or something, head sharply inclined to his right. The photograph is credited to 'Jake'2.
'Hold On To Your Friends' was very likely written in the first half of 1993. It was recorded with producer Steve Lillywhite during the Vauxhall & I sessions, which stretched from June to August 1993 at Hook End Manor. The musicians on this recording were Boz Boorer (guitar), Alain Whyte (guitar and co-writer), Jonny Bridgwood (bass) and Woodie Taylor (drums).
While one can assume that most of Morrissey's songwriting is by and large personal to him, 'Hold On To Your Friends' may very well be considered not just personal, but also a profound cri de cœur:
"Morrissey says that he doesn't have many friends. When asked to list them, he names three: Jake, who hovers outside my door, another friend called Debbie, and his old friend Linder Sterling, who recently published a book of photographs, Morrissey Shot.
These, he says, are strong friends. They are in his life more or less daily. But he still envies the easy, close friendship of others.
Given his record, I assume the song 'Hold On To Your Friends' on Vauxhall And I is an act of self-chastisement. Morrissey denies it.
'It was written about somebody I know in relation to their treatment toward me.' But when I ask if his own lack of trust in others prevents him from becoming close to people, he replies simply: 'Yes, it is a lack of trust. I'm simply waiting for people to do something damaging. And they inevitably do.'
There is a long pause. Then he adds: 'I often wonder, if I was a penniless pauper, would a lot of people that I know want to know me? Maybe they would, but it's more than likely they wouldn't, because when I was a penniless pauper, nobody wanted to know me.' And he starts laughing."3