Morrissey Taps His Never-ending Reserve of Lyrical Bons Mots

Whether you call him Moz, the Mozzfather, Steve, the Pope of Mope or just plain Morrissey, there's no doubt the former Smiths front man possesses one of the deadliest poison pens in alternative rock. In honor of Morrissey's show Saturday at Jones Hall — Chatter would like to remind everyone that last week's Rocks Off blog about Johnny Marr joining Moz onstage for a surprise Smiths reunion was nothing more than an April Fool's prank — we thumbed through his prodigious catalog to mine these lyrical jewels. Special thanks to Houston Press receptionist and resident Smiths/Morrissey expert Abrahán Garza for the assist.

"All You Need Is Me": "You don't like me,but you love me / Either way, you're wrong /You're gonna miss me when I'm gone /You're gonna miss me when I'm gone."(Greatest Hits, 2008)

"I Have Forgiven Jesus": "Monday — humil­i­ation / Tuesday — suffocation / Wednesday — condescension / Thursday — is pathetic / By Friday life has killed me / By Friday life has killed me." (You Are the Quarry, 2004)

"Life Is a Pigsty": "And if you don't know this / Then what do you know? / ­Every second of my life I only live for you / And you can shoot me / And you can throw me off a train / I still maintain / I still maintain / Life, life is a pigsty." (Ringleader of the Tormentors, 2006)

"One Day Goodbye Will Be Farewell": "Always be careful when you abuse the one you love / The hour or the day no one can tell / But one day 'goodbye' will be 'farewell' / And you will never see the one you love again." (Years of Refusal, 2009)

"Something Is Squeezing My Skull": "I'm doing very well / I can block out the present and the past now / I know by now you think I should have straightened myself out / Thank you, drop dead." (Years of Refusal, 2009)

"Suedehead": "You had to sneak into my room / 'Just' to read my diary / 'It was just to see, just to see' / (All the things you knew I'd written about you...) / Oh, so many illustrations / Oh, but I'm so very sickened / Oh, I am so sickened now." (Viva Hate, 1988)

"The Last of the Famous International Playboys": "I never wanted to kill / I am not naturally evil / Such things I do just to make myself more attractive to you... / HAVE I FAILED?" (Bona Drag, 1990)

"The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get": "I bear more grudges / Than lonely high court judges / When you sleep / I will creep / Into your thoughts / Like a bad debt / That you can't pay / Take the easy way / And give in." (Vauxhall and I, 1994)

"You Have Killed Me": "As I live and breathe, you have killed me / You have killed me / Yes, I walk around somehow / But you have killed me / You have killed me." (Ringleader of the Tormentors, 2006)

NEWS FEED

On the heels of the Satellite Room in Cypress, another ­local live music venue opens this weekend — after cleaning up from last month's Homopolice explosion at the Westheimer Block Party, that is. Once known as '90s punk-rock clubhouse The Oven, Mango's (403 Westheimer) opens Friday with Sideshow Tramps, Robert Ellis, I Am Mesmer and Two Star Symphony. Saturday, the venue — which also offers "vegetarian cuisine even carnivores can get down for" — welcomes Young Mammals,

Muhammad Ali and Australia's THEART; and upcoming bookings include American Fangs, Elaine Greer, Free Radicals, the Small Sounds, Satin Hooks and Come See My Dead Person.

LOCAL MOTION

Top Sellers
Vinal Edge Records
13171 Veterans Memoral Pkwy., 281-537-2575

1. Circle, Triumph

2. Decemberists The Hazards of Love

3. Absu, Absu

4. Insect Warfare, World Extermination

5. Sigur Rós vinyl reissues

6. Mono, Hymn to the Immortal Wind

7. Neko Case, Middle Cyclone

8. Faust, C'est Com...Com...Compliqué

9. Lithops, Ye Voils

10. Wolves in the Throne Room, Black Cascade

AIRWAVES

KACC (89.7 FM)
"The Gulf Coast Rocker"
Selections from the station's April 2 log, 9-10 a.m.

1. The Cars, "Dangerous Type"2. Raconteurs, "Many Shades of Black"

3. Billy Joel, "Captain Jack"

4. Bruce Springsteen, "Pink Cadillac"

5. Sonny Boy Terry, "You Were Wrong"

6. The Rolling Stones, "Rocks Off"

7. Gov't Mule, "Mr. High and Mighty"

8. Stone Temple Pilots, "Plush"

9. The Doobie Brothers, "Takin' It to the Streets"

10. Elton John, "The Bitch Is Back"

(lists compiled by Chris Gray)