You Have Killed Me

"You Have Killed Me" is the first single from English alternative rock singer Morrissey's eighth studio album, Ringleader of the Tormentors (2006). The single, written by Morrissey and Jesse Tobias, was released on 27 March 2006. Morrissey said it would showcase the "marked difference in sound" brought about by the new influence of Tobias on Morrissey's work while Billboard magazine described it as a "simple, effective first single".^{[citation needed]} Upon its release, the song peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart and reached the top 10 in Denmark, Finland, Ireland, and Sweden.

"You Have Killed Me"
Single by Morrissey
from the album Ringleader of the Tormentors
B-side	"Good Looking Man About Town" "Human Being" "I Knew I Was Next"
Released	27 March 2006 (2006-03-27)
Length	3:08
Label	Sanctuary, Attack
Songwriter(s)	Morrissey, Jesse Tobias
Producer(s)	Tony Visconti
Morrissey singles chronology
"Redondo Beach" / "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" (2005) "You Have Killed Me" (2006) "The Youngest Was the Most Loved" (2006)

Lyrical content

The lyric references Pier Paolo Pasolini's 1961 film, Accattone, about prostitution in the slums of Rome, as is shown in the first two lines of the lyrics ("Pasolini is me"/"Accattone you'll be"). There is much speculation as to the meaning of this quote. Some fans believe it is merely an example of Rome's influence on Morrissey, whereas others feel it is a reference to the loss of virginity, since Accattone is Pasolini's first film. A picture of Terence Stamp, main character of Pasolini's movie Teorema, was also chosen by Morrissey as cover of one of The Smiths early singles, "What Difference Does It Make?".

The lyric also mentions Anna Magnani, Luchino Visconti, and in some live performances Fellini. The references to Anna Magnani and Luchino Visconti probably refer to the Visconti's segment of the anthology film Siamo Donne, in which actresses are shown in their everyday lives, rather than as glamorous or sexualised. Anna Magnani frequently portrayed ordinary women who sacrificed everything for her family, as in Visconti's Bellissima or Pasolini's Mamma Roma.

Track listings

UK CD1 and 7-inch single[1][2] "You Have Killed Me" (Morrissey, Jesse Tobias) – 3:08 "Good Looking Man About Town" (Morrissey, Alain Whyte) – 2:53 UK CD2[3] "You Have Killed Me" (Morrissey, Tobias) – 3:08 "Human Being" (David Johansen, Johnny Thunders) – 6:08 "I Knew I Was Next" (Morrissey, Tobias) – 3:46 "You Have Killed Me" (video)

US CD single[4] "You Have Killed Me" (Morrissey, Tobias) – 3:08 "Human Being" (Johansen, Thunders) – 6:08 "I Knew I Was Next" (Morrissey, Tobias) – 3:46 "Good Looking Man About Town" (Morrissey, Whyte) – 2:53

Personnel

• Morrissey: voice
• Boz Boorer: guitar
• Jesse Tobias: guitar
• Alain Whyte: guitar
• Gary Day: bass
• Michael Farrell: keyboard
• Matt Chamberlain: drums

Charts

Chart (2006)	Peak position
Denmark (Tracklisten)[5]	3
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[6]	12
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[7]	5
France (SNEP)[8]	69
Germany (GfK)[9]	65
Ireland (IRMA)[10]	9
Italy (FIMI)[11]	22
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[12]	58
Scotland (OCC)[13]	2
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[14]	8
UK Singles (OCC)[15]	3
UK Indie (OCC)[16]	1

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	27 February 2006	Triple A alternative radio	Sanctuary Attack	[17]
Australia	27 March 2006	7-inch vinyl CD		[18]
United Kingdom		CD		[19]

References

1. You Have Killed Me (UK CD1 liner notes). Morrissey. Sanctuary Records, Attack Records. 2006. ATKXS017.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
2. You Have Killed Me (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Morrissey. Sanctuary Records, Attack Records. 2006. ATKSE017.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
3. You Have Killed Me (UK CD2 liner notes). Morrissey. Sanctuary Records, Attack Records. 2006. ATKXD017.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
4. You Have Killed Me (US CD single liner notes). Morrissey. Sanctuary Records, Attack Records. 2006. 06076-86016-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
5. "Morrissey – You Have Killed Me". Tracklisten.
6. "Hits of the World – Eurocharts" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 118, no. 15. 15 April 2006. p. 77. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
7. "Morrissey: You Have Killed Me" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
8. "Morrissey – You Have Killed Me" (in French). Les classement single.
9. "Morrissey – You Have Killed Me" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
10. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – You Have Killed Me". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
11. "Morrissey – You Have Killed Me". Top Digital Download.
12. "Morrissey – You Have Killed Me" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
13. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
14. "Morrissey – You Have Killed Me". Singles Top 100.
15. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
16. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
17. "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1646. 24 February 2006. p. 20.
18. "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 27th March 2006" (PDF). ARIA. 27 March 2006. p. 28. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 April 2006. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
19. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 25 March 2006. p. 27.

External links

• Single info
• Q&A
• Billboard magazine preview
• The "official" Morrissey MySpace page