"Something Is Squeezing My Skull" is a song with lyrics by

Morrissey Steven Patrick Morrissey ( ; born 22 May 1959), known :wikt:mononym, mononymously as Morrissey, is an English singer and songwriter. He came to prominence as the frontman and lyricist of rock band the Smiths, who were active from 1982 to 198 ...

and music by

Alain Whyte Alain Gordon Whyte (pronounced Alan) (born 3 July 1967) is an English musician, songwriter, composer and singer. He was Morrissey's main songwriting partner and guitarist between 1991 and 2007. Prior to 1991, Whyte previously been in the band ...

. The song is the second single to be released from Morrissey's 2009 album ''

Years of Refusal ''Years of Refusal'' is the ninth studio album by English alternative rock singer Morrissey. It was released on 16 February 2009 in the UK by record label Decca and on 17 February 2009 in the US by Lost Highway. It was the last album completed ...

''. It was recorded in

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

and produced by

Jerry Finn Jermone Gregory Finn (March 31, 1969 – August 21, 2008), sometimes credited as "Huckle" Jerry Finn, was an American record producer and mix engineer. He worked with numerous punk rock and pop-punk artists such as Blink-182, AFI, Sum 41, Alka ...

, the man behind 2004’s ''

You Are the Quarry ''You Are the Quarry'' is the seventh solo studio album by English singer-songwriter Morrissey. It was released on 17 May 2004 by record label Attack, and was his first album in seven years following 1997's ''Maladjusted''. The album was a huge ...

''. The single was released on 27 April 2009 and reached number 46 on the UK Singles Chart, as well as number one on the

Scottish Singles Chart The Scottish Albums Chart is a chart compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC) which is based on how physical and digital sales towards the UK Albums Chart fare in Scotland. The official singles chart for Scotland, the Scottish Singles Chart, ...

, which at that point still only counted physical sales, becoming Morrissey's third and most recent number-one single on that chart. The song also experienced some success in France, where it reached number 35 on the

SNEP SNEP (, in English National Syndicate of Phonographic Publishing) is the inter-professional organisation that protects the interests of the French record industry. Originally known under the acronym SNICOP, the organisation was established in ...

chart. The single comes backed with live recordings of "

This Charming Man "This Charming Man" is a song by the English rock band the Smiths, written by guitarist Johnny Marr and singer Morrissey. Released as the group's second single on 31 October 1983 by the independent record label Rough Trade, it is defined b ...

", " Best Friend on the Payroll" and "I Keep Mine Hidden", the latter being performed for the first time ever by Morrissey and his band at BBC Radio 2's 'Live With Morrissey' concert in February 2009. The album art depicts Morrissey hugging

Johnny Ramone John William Cummings (October 8, 1948 – September 15, 2004), better known by his stage name Johnny Ramone, was an American musician who was the guitarist and a founding member of the Ramones, a band that helped pioneer the punk movement. ...

's memorial statue at his grave in

Hollywood Forever Cemetery Hollywood Forever Cemetery is a full-service cemetery, funeral home, crematorium, crematory, and cultural events center which regularly hosts community events such as live music and summer movie screenings. It is one of the oldest cemeteries ...

Track listing

CD1 # "Something Is Squeezing My Skull" # "

" (Live, BBC Radio Theatre Feb 2009) (Morrissey/

Johnny Marr John Martin Marr (Birth name#Maiden and married names, né Maher; born 31 October 1963) is a musician, songwriter and singer. He first achieved fame as the guitarist and co-songwriter of the Smiths, who were active from 1982 to 1987. He has sinc ...

) CD2 # "Something Is Squeezing My Skull" # "Best Friend on the Payroll" (Live, BBC Radio Theatre Feb 2009) (Morrissey/Whyte) 7" single # "Something Is Squeezing My Skull" # "I Keep Mine Hidden" (Live, BBC Radio Theatre Feb 2009) (Morrissey/Marr)

Personnel

– vocals *

Boz Boorer Martin James "Boz" Boorer (born 19 May 1962 in Edgware, Middlesex, England) is an English guitarist and producer. He founded the new wave rockabilly group the Polecats, and starting in 1991 had a 30-year collaboration with singer Morrissey as c ...

– guitar *

Jesse Tobias Jesse Tobias (born April 1, 1972) is an American musician who has been the lead guitarist and co-writer for Morrissey since 2004. Tobias first gained fame during a brief tenure with the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1993, although he was replaced b ...

– guitar * Solomon Walker – bass guitar * Matt Walker – drums *

Roger Manning Roger Manning is a New York City based singer-songwriter who plays an aggressive acoustic style of music. Manning, along with a small handful of other artists, composed the original New York City anti-folk scene. On February 6, 1985, Manning w ...

– keyboard * Kristopher Pooley – keyboard (B-sides only)

Charts

References

{{Authority control 2009 singles Morrissey songs Songs written by Morrissey Songs written by Alain Whyte Decca Records singles Number-one singles in Scotland