THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

72-Morrissey-First of the Gang to Die.

2004-Number 6 single.

Best Bit-At 2.26. I am a great believer in the theory that nearly all of the best songs are written by people under the age of 30. That is to say that an artist has produced their best material by that age, but of course there is always an exception to every rule, and here it is.

Steven Patrick Morrissey (see also best songs 940) was born on May 22nd, 1959, in Davyhulme, Greater Manchester, England, he claims that his parents named him after the American actor Steve Cochran, (1917-1965) although his fathers brother who had died in infancy had been called Patrick Steven Morrissey. Morrissey has said that he never liked being called Steven, and preferred just being called Morrissey. His first venture into being a lead singer occurred when meeting Billy Duffy (see also best songs 854) in 1977, and joining his Punk band the ‘Nosebleeds,’ he then followed Duffy into another Punk band called ‘Slaughter & the Dogs,’ where his reputation around the Manchester area continued to grow in the late 1970’s. Morrissey had first met Johnny Marr in 1978, but it wasn’t until 1982 when Marr reintroduced himself to Morrissey that the Smiths (see also best songs 673-222-167 and 42) were formed.

After the Smiths split in 1987 Morrissey embarked on a solo career that has to date included the release of 13 studio Albums between 1988-2020, and 59 singles that have been issued within the same time span. In the UK, 33 of his singles have reached the top 40, with his 2004 hit ‘Irish Blood, English Heart,’ charting the highest at Number 3. In America none of Morrissey’s singles have ever broken into the Billboard Hot 100, but seven of his Albums have made the top 40 Billboard 200 Album chart, for the discography of the Smiths see best songs 42.

‘First of the Gang to Die’ was the second single released from Morrissey’s seventh solo studio Album ‘You Are the Quarry,’ from 2004, and was his first new release in seven years. The song was written by Morrissey, (lyrics) who was 45 years old at the time, and Alain Whyte, (music) who was 37, with the production being by Jerry Finn (1969-2008.) Alain Whyte is a long term collaborator with Morrissey and he first began working with him in 1991. Whyte has co-written at least 80 songs with Morrissey, which have appeared on seven of his solo Albums issued between 1992-2009, Whyte has also been credited with co-writing many of the songs that have appeared as ‘B’ sides. After 2009 Whyte went on to write for other artists including Madonna, Chris Brown, and The Black Eyed Peas.

So what is ‘First of the Gang to Die’ actually about? In 1997 Morrissey relocated to Los Angeles, and the song is probably about the ‘Hispanic Gang’ culture in that city. Morrissey is telling the tale of thug life on ‘Hip-Hop’s’ home turf, in the land of the ‘Bloods,’ and ‘Crips,’ who are rival gangs. What makes the lyrics so compelling is that they are sung in a very ‘English’ manner, which his Hispanic fan base, for whom this song is seen as a tribute, must find very confusing….buts that’s Morrissey.

‘And he stole from the rich and the poor, and the not very rich, and the very poor, and he stole all hearts away. He stole all hearts away.’