Morrissey – We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful

Know something about this song or lyrics? Add it to our wiki.
Send "We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful" Ringtone to Cell

We hate it when our friends become successful
We hate it when our friends become successful
Oh, look at those clothes
Now look at that face, it's so old
And such a video !
Well, it's really laughable
Ha, ha, ha

[Chorus:]
We hate it when our friends become successful
And if they're Northern, that makes it even worse
And if we can destroy them
You bet your life we will
Destroy them
If we can hurt them
Well, we may as well
It's really laughable
Ha, ha, ha

You see, it should've been me
It could've been me
Everybody knows
Everybody says so
They say :

"Ah, you have loads of songs
So many songs
More songs than they'd stand

We hate it when our friends become successful
We hate it when our friends become successful
Oh, look at those clothes
Now look at that face, it's so old
And such a video !
Well, it's really laughable
Ha, ha, ha

[Chorus]

Just listen
La, la-la, la-la

Send "We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by weezerific:cutlery

Track duration: 02:30

"We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful" as written by Steven Patrick/whyte Morrissey

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful song meanings
Add your thoughts

16 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment:Although it does seem feasible that this song could be about Tim Booth, I am not entirely convinced. People are overlooking the fact that Morrisey tried to make James successful by covering one of their songs. It is true that the friendship did not withstand both of their successes. Also, Morrissey became much more successful than Tim Booth, so it could be written from Tim's prespective. I also have a hunch that the song Redneck on Tim's solo album Bone could be a retaliation to this.
    Flag toooldforhamlettooyoungforlearon August 22, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:not sure this song is "of course" about x or y like a few have said. my understanding/guess from interviews i have heard was that it was a bit of an ass kicking to the smith's members who apparently (though morrissey never says it in the interviews i heard - about a dozen in this particular song he sure strongly eludes to it), well, hated it when morrissey became so much more famous...though marr et al did pretty well themselves in various enterprises (though marr's album years later was crap in my opinion - except one song the name escapes me right now)
    Flag imhockeyon June 03, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion:These lyrics are awesome - very true and can be listened from both perspectives. Genius stuff, as usual from Morrissey.
    Flag shaymanrockon December 16, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I love how there ALWAYS has to be some reference to peoples own decision on Morrisseys sexuality. Despite the fact he's said on numerous occasions he doesnt believe in sexual stereotypes {ie; you arent gay or bi, you just either like women, or men}
    The fact of the matter though, if he was gay, or straight, I doubt he'd come out with it publicly, because he loves the commotion it causes.

    Me + my boyfriend thought this might have been about Marr, but after i've read the other comments, it does actually make sense to be James.
    Flag Sugar!on June 15, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Moz said that the song was about how as long as you were working class and in the gutter, your fellow Mancs supported you. But once you become successful, vile vile envy sets in and none of your old friends want anything to do with you. This is probably about James, as has been said but I'm sure he just wanted a vague explanation
    Flag MindlessRuffianon December 13, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I love it when he laughs in his singing, there's no-one like him - "la la la ha ha harr la la la la laa har ha ha ha"

    I don't know who it's about specifically, but I like to think of it as a general diatribe against humanity and jealousy, people who hate it when they're friends are doing better than them! It is of course, very true, and lots of people must have felt that way at some point (myself included).

    I like his dissection of the song format, which shows him poking fun at himself too:

    Verse
    Chorus
    Middle eight
    Break, fade
    Flag FishesWillLaughon August 15, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this is my interpretation probably aload of crap but i think its about a dig at the cure it sounds abit like one of their tunes and morrisey mocking them becuase they hate him or vice versa he's being sarcastic by using the word friend
    Flag marki_jon June 23, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It describes rivalry between friends, back-stabbing, and basically everything Morrissey is so famed for by his ex-friends.
    Of course, Morrissey is referring to his critics in this song: he is saying he is only being criticised by them because they are jealous of his success. Despite this, there is another aspect to the song revealed by the mention of his Northern-ness, which seems indicate that the song is partly aimed at the London music critics.

    myspace.com/…
    Flag PTroubadouron March 19, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:'gay band covered this song....such a shame'......morrissey is gay you people do understand that dont you.....anyone who does not belive that needs to find out what picadilly 'palare' means
    Flag tabtom1on December 15, 2006   Link
    • 3 Replies
  • 0
    General Comment:I think this song starts off from the point of view of the past friend saying how much they hate their old friend who has now become famous and then the envy is shown as the reason for the hate they have,
    "You see, it should've been me
    It could've been me
    Everybody knows
    Everybody says so"

    I think straight after that line the point of view changes to Morrissey, explaining that he knows that his old friends hate him and he knows they can't stand to listen to his songs but he doesn't really care and starts to tease them with him singing "La, la-la, la-la..." almost in a very immature and childish way. Maybe teasing in this way because he knows about thier old friend's jealousy towards him.
    Flag um_bongoon June 25, 2006   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

Back to top
explain