Something Is Squeezing My Skull

Morrissey debuted ‘Something Is Squeezing My Skull’ on the first European leg of his Greatest Hits tour on January 18, 2008 at La Laiterie in Strasbourg, France. The song was chosen as the first track on his Years of Refusal studio album, which was released February 16, 2009. The song was subsequently released as a single, Morrissey’s 46th (and the fourth single overall from the Years of Refusal album), on April 27, 2009.

Cover art for the vinyl and CD formats of the single

The single reached number 46 on the UK Singles Chart, as well as number one on the Scottish Singles Chart. The single experienced modest success in France, where it reached number 35.

Back cover of all versions of the single

The single’s cover art on both vinyl and CD format features Morrissey hugging Johnny Ramone's¹ memorial statue at his grave in Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, California. Its inner sleeve contains an illustration of the 1895 painting ‘The Bowery At Night’ by William Louis Sonntag Jr.² on one side,

‘The Bowery At Night’

and a photograph of an amused Morrissey getting a faux beating by the shirtless members of his band on the other side.

A secondary version of the single on CD format features a different photograph of Morrissey hugging Johnny Ramone’s memorial statue,

while its inner sleeve has an illustration of the 1838 color lithograph ‘Camden Town Engine House’ by John Cooke Bourne.³

‘Camden Town Engine House’

The other side of the alternate CD’s inner sleeve contains a different photograph of Morrissey’s band beating him (to his apparent delight).

Both the painting and the lithograph are subtly connected to the front cover artwork:

-‘The Bowery At Night’ is a nod to Manhattan’s CBGB’s⁴, where of course the Ramones first played their early shows.

-’Camden Town Engine House’ was eventually converted into a venue - named the Roundhouse - where the Ramones first played the UK in 1976.

The Roundhouse in Camden Town in London today

Co-written with Alain Whyte, ‘Something Is Squeezing My Skull’ was recorded during the sessions for the Years Of Refusal album in late 2007 at Conway Studios in Los Angeles, California with producer Jerry Finn. Given that the album credits show is as having been recorded in Los Angeles in 2008, further mixing may have been performed on the recorded song at that time. Morrissey’s musicians on the recording were Boz Boorer (guitar), Jesse Tobias (guitar), Solomon Walker (bass), Matt Walker (drums) and Roger Manning Jr. (piano, keyboards).

The song is an exceptionally manic, high energy rocker that is marked by Morrissey’s brisk vocal delivery. The crux of the lyrics involve the inundation of prescription