You Have Killed Me

"You Have Killed Me" is the first single from the album Ringleader of the Tormentors by Morrissey. The single was released on 27 March 2006. The title track was written by Morrissey and Jesse Tobias. 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".

"You Have Killed Me"
Single by Morrissey
from the album Ringleader of the Tormentors
Released27 March 2006 (UK)
28 March 2006 (US)
Recorded2005
GenreAlternative rock, indie rock
Length3:08
LabelSanctuary Records
Songwriter(s)Morrissey/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)

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.

Airplay and charts

United States

The single's main track, "You Have Killed Me", appeared on the "official" MySpace page of Morrissey on Monday, 6 February 2006. Soon after, the song was added to the playlists of several alternative rock radio stations in the United States. Its biggest supporters were originally KDLD (Los Angeles) and XTRA (San Diego). In the first week of its release, it debuted as the seventy-fifth most-played song on US modern rock radio. It was made available for download on iTunes on 14 February 2006.

Soon after, the single appeared on the playlists of twenty-nine US modern rock stations. The major supporters during mid-February were KDLD, S021 and S026 (Sirius Satellite Radio), XTRA, WFNX (Boston), X047 (XM Satellite Radio), KXRK (Salt Lake City), and KRBZ (Kansas City). However, for most of mid and late-February, the song was not added to any more stations, gaining in airplay largely due to huge increases in airplay from KDLD, WFNX, and especially the three digital radio stations. By the time March arrived, it had even become the number one song on KDLD and S026, though it failed to make the playlists of any more stations and was even dropped from some.

During the first week in March, the single received its first new adds in weeks, joining the playlists of WWCD (Columbus) and WHTG-FM (Monmouth / Ocean), both of which had been major supporters of the singles from You Are the Quarry. By 12 March it was receiving at least fifteen plays per week from each of these stations and had also been added to the playlists of three more stations.

At the middle of March, the song stood as the 45th most-played song on US alternative radio. After that, its airplay fell into decline and it failed to make the Modern Rock Tracks chart. Despite this, "You Have Killed Me" entered the Hot 100 Singles Sales chart at number one with 3,160 copies sold.

United Kingdom

The track became a part of Xfm London's "Upfront" list of songs on 20 February 2006. It was added to the station's playlist on 27 February 2006.

On 3 March 2006 it was added to the playlist of Virgin Radio. The next day, it was added to the C-List of BBC Radio 2 and the A-List of BBC 6 Music. On 11 March 2006, it moved to Radio 2's B-List. On 1 April 2006 it reached the A-List of Radio 2. Upon its release it was predicted to sell well in the UK, reaching number one on the Woolworths chart upon its release.

"You Have Killed Me" became Morrissey's joint highest UK chart entry with "Irish Blood, English Heart" entering the UK Singles Chart at number three.

Canada

The song was released in Canada on 9 April 2006 during the major chart success of Madonna's "Hung Up". Although radio stations had begun adding the track to playlists, it was unable to enter the BDS airplay chart and did not receive much airplay.

Track listing

CD1

  1. "You Have Killed Me" (Morrissey/Tobias)
  2. "Good Looking Man About Town" (Morrissey/Whyte)

CD2

  1. "You Have Killed Me" (Morrissey/Tobias)
  2. "Human Being" (Johansen/Thunders)
  3. "I Knew I Was Next" (Morrissey/Tobias)
  4. "You Have Killed Me" (Video)

7"

  1. "You Have Killed Me" (Morrissey/Tobias)
  2. "Good Looking Man About Town" (Morrissey/Whyte)

US/Canadian CD

  1. "You Have Killed Me" (Morrissey/Tobias)
  2. "Human Being" (Johansen/Thunders)
  3. "Good Looking Man About Town" (Morrissey/Whyte)
  4. "I Knew I Was Next" (Morrissey/Tobias)

Personnel

Charts

References
  1. "Danishcharts.com – Morrissey – You Have Killed Me". Tracklisten.
  2. "Hits of the World – Eurocharts" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 118 no. 15. 15 April 2006. p. 77. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  3. "Morrissey: You Have Killed Me" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  4. "Lescharts.com – Morrissey – You Have Killed Me" (in French). Les classement single.
  5. "Offiziellecharts.de – Morrissey – You Have Killed Me". GfK Entertainment Charts.
  6. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – You Have Killed Me". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  7. "Italiancharts.com – Morrissey – You Have Killed Me". Top Digital Download.
  8. "Dutchcharts.nl – Morrissey – You Have Killed Me" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  9. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  10. "Swedishcharts.com – Morrissey – You Have Killed Me". Singles Top 100.
  11. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  12. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2006" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
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