Irish Blood, English Heart

2004 single by Morrissey

"Irish Blood, English Heart" is a song by British singer Morrissey, released as the lead single to his seventh studio album You Are the Quarry. His first new song in seven years, it was released on 12 April 2004 in the United States and on 10 May 2004 in the United Kingdom. The song, described as "the most unambiguously political of his career to date", touches upon Morrissey's identity as the son of Irish immigrants living in England. Driven by the hype of Morrissey's comeback, it became his highest charting single in the United Kingdom (alongside 2006's "You Have Killed Me"), reaching number three on the UK Singles Chart. It is also his highest charting single in Sweden, peaking at number four, and it reached number seven in Canada and the top 20 in Ireland and Norway.

"Irish Blood, English Heart" is one of the oldest written songs on You Are the Quarry. Morrissey first revealed its existence in a 1999 interview with The Irish Times, introducing it as the likely title track to his next album. He first performed the song live in 2002, referring to the title as "the components that make up my tubby little body."

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref. (Reference)United States12 April 2004Hot adult contemporary, Adult album alternative, triple A radioAttackUnited Kingdom10 May 20047 inch vinyl, CD

An edited version eventually became one of the songs on the EA Sports video game FIFA Football 2005s soundtrack. The game's version does not include the line "And spit upon the name Oliver Cromwell/And denounce this royal line that still salutes him. And will salute him, forever"; instead, after the verse "I've been dreaming of a time when/The English are sick to death of Labour and Tories", the song reverts to the line that begins "To be standing by the flag not feeling shameful/Racist or partial".