The Smiths’ Unhappy Birthday: Morrissey’s Petty Is Unparalleled
It’s time to look at one of the most petty songs around: “Unhappy Birthday” by The Smiths. Today we’re looking at a track off The Smiths’ final album, Strangeways, Here We Come from 1987. The album was released a few months after the band broke up. Despite the ongoing feud between Morrissey and Johnny Marr, they still both consider it some of their best work. But who is “Unhappy Birthday” about? And what do we know about the song? It’s time to find out.
Morrissey is one of the funniest songwriters out there, and I made that argument in a recent video. One commenter pointed out how petty he is as well, so today we’re looking at the brilliant pettiness of Morrissey and The Smiths.
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WATCH NEXT:
✓ Franky Mr. Shankly: Why The Smiths’ Funniest Song is So Brilliant https://youtu.be/tPJAN4sOSkI
✓ Why “Suffer Little Children” is The Smiths’ Darkest Song https://youtu.be/tgrWNyeTfek
✓ The Story of “Bigmouth Strikes Again” https://youtu.be/_RTDWQ0jM7o
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CHAPTERS:
0:00 Morrissey’s Level of Petty is Unmatched
0:54 Strangeways, Here We Come
2:32 The Ghost in the Outro
4:54 Murder at the Wool Hall
6:39 I Hope You Have an Unhappy Birthday
7:33 The Album That Outlived the Band
8:57 Who is Unhappy Birthday About?
CLIPS:
Liverpool Feb 8, 1986: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx2gy0M6cQQ
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@jasonmassplayingmusic5533
July 20, 2026 at 12:50 am
One of my favorite tracks from Strangeways…A masterpiece…
@david-oval
July 20, 2026 at 12:50 am
When are we going to stop putting cousin it with an updo on a pedestal? Honestly, the hair : personality ratio gives me the uncanny valley ick.
@pabulum28
July 20, 2026 at 12:50 am
Really great job on this; this song has been my absolute favorite "B-Side" of theirs all these years. I play bass every day and only do this one rarely so as not to play it out because its kind of contrary nature of adverse lyrics with relatively soothing music makes it special. Thanks for covering this one.
@gabrieljohntown
July 20, 2026 at 12:50 am
Death of a disco dancer and SMIYTTYHTOB are the best on that album
@SkinnyEatWorld95
July 20, 2026 at 12:50 am
Gotta love Morrisey and The Smiths❤
@SpocksRaisedEyebrow-e1c
July 20, 2026 at 12:50 am
Thank the gods for the eternally based grouch that is Morrissey — a breath of fetid air in a media world of wishy-washy fashionably right-on activists, cowards and frauds.
'I've never intended to be controversial, but it's very easy to be controversial in music because nobody ever is.' May Moz continue to express his spicy opinions in a west increasingly afraid to counter the approved narratives.
@SteveFrasier-s9i
July 20, 2026 at 12:50 am
@ 0:35
"might", not "may" — read what is written if you are going to call yourself Poetic.
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