Morrissey Named the Greatest Lyricist in British Pop History

Let the debate begin. Morrissey is the greatest lyricist in the history of British popular music, according to a new book by Scottish academic Dr. Gavin Hopps. In 'Morrissey: The Pageant of His Bleeding Heart,' Hopps compares the singer to literary giants like Philip Larkin and Oscar Wilde.

Moz, who gave us all such lyrical classics as 'Bengali in Platforms,' 'Barbarism Begins at Home,' 'Shoplifters of the World Unite and Take Over' and countless others with and without the Smiths, is heralded for his use of different writing techniques.

Hopps' book focuses on the singer's approaches to subjects like love and alienation. Dr. Hopps, who has previously scribed a number of papers on pop music and poetry, also draws parallels between Morrissey's lyrics and several comedy legends. That last point surely makes sense to anyone who has ever heard 'Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others' and 'The Headmaster Ritual.'