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Morphine — In Spite Of Me
Album: Cure For Pain
Avg rating:
7.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1867









Released: 1993
Length: 2:30
Plays (last 30 days): 1
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last night I told a stranger all about you
they smiled patienty with disbelief
I always knew you would succeed
no matter what you tried
and I know you did it all
in spite of me

still I'm proud to have known you
for the short time that I did
proud to have been a step up on your way
proud to be a part of your illustrious career
and I know you did it all
in spite of me
in spite of me

late last night
I saw you in my living room
you seemed so close but yet so cool
for a long time I thought that you'd be coming back to me
those kind of thoughts can be so cruel
so cruel

and I know you did it all
in spite of me
in spite of me
Comments (200)add comment
This one is on my personal list of the best songs ever.
Posted 2 months ago by StranoMostro    [ Reply ]
This song played on RP as I meandered back home to an empty house during the early months of a divorce. No rumbling of kids, no laughter, no chaos. The vocals, echo and hushed tone, seemed to mirror my environs.
I felt like that last pill in the bottle; alone, rattling around searching for something to bounce off of. 
I love the song for still bringing those emotions screaming to the forefront 17 years later. 
The power of music and a tip of the hat to RP for staying the course.
Posted 2 months ago by SkyWhip    [ Reply ]
Great lyrics.   
Posted 5 months ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
God, I love this song. Perfection.
Posted 5 months ago by RPnate1    [ Reply ]
 jwynn80 wrote:

This is the song that introduced me to Morphine, from the movie "Spanking the Monkey". Disturbing movie theme but boy, little did I know how much I would love this band. 



Whoa, I just read this comment for the first time, and then this song was followed up by "Shock The Monkey" ! I'd call out Bill Gs' brilliance on that but they're both part of My Favorites feed. Quite the coincidence
Posted 2 years ago by NeuroJoe    [ Reply ]
 mgfitz wrote:

The guitar reminds me of Zeppelin's Battle of Evermore.... I like it.




Probably a mandolin you are being reminded of, but hey, I got what you meant.
Posted 2 years ago by ExpatLarry    [ Reply ]
 arserocket wrote:

 Now that you mention it, I can see that - horse hair cod piece too, false nose and a top hat (wait! I'm lookin in the mirror)



Posted 2 years ago by cosmicjoe54    [ Reply ]
Exquisite.
Posted 2 years ago by aliencat    [ Reply ]
amazing album
Posted 2 years ago by xcranky_yankee    [ Reply ]
This is so Leonard Cohenish...really, I thought it was him 
Posted 2 years ago by rrowdies    [ Reply ]
Inflation, job losses, vaccine mandates, record crime, government corruption, sky high misery index.

More Morphine please!!
Posted 3 years ago by bagadonutz    [ Reply ]
whould not have thought this was Morphine, maybe it is the lack of a sax and the addition of the mandolin.
Posted 3 years ago by eyke    [ Reply ]
Pair this one with Radiohead's Thinking About You for your next breakup mixtape. ;)
Posted 3 years ago by ziggytrix    [ Reply ]
 stf9 wrote:

sentimental tripe to these ears


Tripe is sentimental?!
Posted 3 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
Scary, but sweet... Dark, sad, but makes we wanna go do something beautiful for this world... Ahhh, Morphine, such a great name for such a great band with a very unique sound.
Posted 3 years ago by ExploitingChaos    [ Reply ]
 mgfitz wrote:
The guitar reminds me of Zeppelin's Battle of Evermore.... I like it.
 
I was thinking Going to California.
Posted 3 years ago by flyboy    [ Reply ]
 mgfitz wrote:
The guitar reminds me of Zeppelin's Battle of Evermore.... I like it.
 
The common instrument you're hearing is a Mandolin.  Featured in both songs.
Posted 3 years ago by Queue    [ Reply ]
Not the best track off this really solid disc, but still worth an 8 from me. Buena, Head with wings, title track are just killer tunes. Man these guys were  good.
Posted 3 years ago by bluematrix    [ Reply ]
Obvious Ten !!!!!!!!!!
Posted 4 years ago by Matt_Maurer    [ Reply ]
love it.  i thought it was tom waites.   great tune
Posted 4 years ago by MargoMallen    [ Reply ]
ich liebe diesen Song
Posted 4 years ago by yeshetarchin    [ Reply ]
Dude sounds like he's whispering. Why whisper? And is it me, or does every movie lately have to have a lot of whisper dialogue interrupted periodically by super loud explosions? Oh, and hey! Get off my lawn! ;) 
Posted 4 years ago by Mugro    [ Reply ]
This is how Leonard Cohen would sound if he could sing.
Posted 4 years ago by dublanica    [ Reply ]
The guitar reminds me of Zeppelin's Battle of Evermore.... I like it.
Posted 4 years ago by mgfitz    [ Reply ]
This is the song that introduced me to Morphine, from the movie "Spanking the Monkey". Disturbing movie theme but boy, little did I know how much I would love this band. 
Posted 4 years ago by jwynn80    [ Reply ]
great band....although, my least favorite track
Posted 5 years ago by Wonderloaf    [ Reply ]
 dtown40 wrote:
Somehow when I listen to this song, I imagine a guy wearing a raincoat with nothing else on while he is singing this.  Just a little creepy to me.  
 
 Now that you mention it, I can see that - horse hair cod piece too, false nose and a top hat (wait! I'm lookin in the mirror)
Posted 5 years ago by arserocket    [ Reply ]
Somehow when I listen to this song, I imagine a guy wearing a raincoat with nothing else on while he is singing this.  Just a little creepy to me.  
Posted 5 years ago by dtown40    [ Reply ]
 sfyi2001 wrote:


                                        This got me. Like very much. {#Neutral}



 
{#Yes}
Posted 7 years ago by arserocket    [ Reply ]
 countyman wrote:
Love Morphine and the Sandman.

 

{#Yes} {#Yes} {#Yes} {#Yes}
Posted 7 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]


                                        This got me. Like very much. {#Neutral}




Posted 7 years ago by sfyi2001    [ Reply ]
Even if only sounds like Cohen ..... PSD!
Posted 7 years ago by old_shep    [ Reply ]
 On_The_Beach wrote:
Morphine without the moaning sax; I like it!

 
Just shows how we have different tastes. I gave it a 6 because it DOESN'T have the moaning sax.

{#Cheesygrin}
Posted 7 years ago by Ulises    [ Reply ]
 countyman wrote:
Love Morphine and the Sandman.

 
with you
Posted 7 years ago by arserocket    [ Reply ]
Love Morphine and the Sandman.
Posted 8 years ago by countyman    [ Reply ]
Is that Jimmy Page on guitar?
Posted 8 years ago by deepwoodskev    [ Reply ]
Leonard Cohen like!
Posted 8 years ago by rjewyo    [ Reply ]
 winotron wrote:
Always loved this band.  Beautiful guitar work on this one.

 
That's about the only redeeming part. Not the Morphine I need.
Posted 8 years ago by passsion8    [ Reply ]
Morphine without the moaning sax; I like it!
Posted 8 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
Each artist has his own path, some try to be like others, many of these are new songs to me.  I just enjoy the variety and sophistication on this station,  I don't have to put things in categories of like and don't. I really miss this when I"m at my vacation home, but that's a place for mediation.  I've had friends over who are amazed at this station but I tell them it's internet and their equipment don't handle it they  give a blank look.
Posted 9 years ago by mudman8    [ Reply ]
too much like Leonard Cohen. There is a form of energy and the voice is more pleasant but it is still not enough to make it an enjoyable song to me... 4. 
Posted 9 years ago by ChrisVIII    [ Reply ]
 Foot wrote:

Not sure I agree with that but definitely think Cure For Pain was the best album they ever made.

 
Agreed!
Posted 9 years ago by whomhow    [ Reply ]
 ckcotton wrote:
Think this is the best song they ever did

 
Not sure I agree with that but definitely think Cure For Pain was the best album they ever made.
Posted 9 years ago by Foot    [ Reply ]
 k1j2cat wrote:
Mark reminds me of Leonard Cohen in this song. Beautiful. 
My thoughts as well.  Kind of channeling LC, but of course this is Sandman's song.
Posted 10 years ago by ScottN    [ Reply ]
 rdo wrote:
I was listening closely to the lyrics and I noticed he is singing about an ex who is now a celeb.  Is this based on a real experience? 

...i've long wondered who it's about...

...great song in whatever case; heartfelt quiet pathos...


Posted 10 years ago by mandolin    [ Reply ]
Love that song!
Posted 10 years ago by pixelpush    [ Reply ]
Mark reminds me of Leonard Cohen in this song. Beautiful.
Posted 10 years ago by k1j2cat    [ Reply ]
 vit wrote:
I'll probably be playing this song for my daughter in about 15 years (if she hasn't killed me yet).

 
Not dead yet?

You should parlay your post into a reality show or a youtube channel...like this one. Will vit survive another year?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdtD19tXX30 :

Screenshot from YouTube show:  


Final thought: just because Mark Sandman decided to murmur the lyrics to this song doesn't mean that he was honoring, copying or imitating Leonard Cohen. 



Posted 10 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
Sorry, but there is only one Leonard Cohen (my Montréal homie)--even if a mandolin is colouring the tune.
Posted 11 years ago by ThePoose    [ Reply ]
No sax for a change. What a relief.
Posted 11 years ago by justin4kick    [ Reply ]
Always loved this band.  Beautiful guitar work on this one.
Posted 11 years ago by winotron    [ Reply ]
Lou Barlow followed by this....I've died and gone to heaven!
Posted 12 years ago by linz_bobinz    [ Reply ]
Think this is the best song they ever did
Posted 12 years ago by ckcotton    [ Reply ]
I think I like the Greg Laslow version, it's a little more upbeat.
Posted 12 years ago by jim1964    [ Reply ]
 Larry_Rosenow wrote:
Just heard this song for the first time.  I too, had to check to see if it was Leonard Coen.  Glad to hear another similar voice on a great song.  
 
Cohen. Leonard Cohen.
Just sayin'. :o))
Posted 12 years ago by meinthecorner    [ Reply ]
 stf9 wrote:
sentimental tripe to these ears
 

Then you need new ears bro. 
Posted 12 years ago by rdo    [ Reply ]
sentimental tripe to these ears
Posted 12 years ago by stf9    [ Reply ]
 lkovathana wrote:
Oh yeah when William Shatner does this he's mocked ... how is this musical? 
 
How is this not "musical"? 
Posted 12 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
 sdn wrote:
A Morphine song without sax?
unpossible
 

It's good to think outside the sax once in a while. Although I am a sax-a-holic.


Posted 12 years ago by Dahlia_Gumbo    [ Reply ]
I can't believe I gave this a "2" last time.  I must have been on Morphine.  It's definitely a -1.
Posted 12 years ago by lkovathana    [ Reply ]
 lkovathana wrote:
Oh yeah when William Shatner does this he's mocked ... how is this musical? 
 
Your argument contains a logical fallacy.  William Shatner is mocked for everything he does.
Posted 12 years ago by Byronape    [ Reply ]
 xkolibuul wrote:
Morphine goes celibate?  In this case, the absence of sax is a plus.  I like this tune.  
 
I agree.
Posted 12 years ago by Ears_of_Stone    [ Reply ]
Oh yeah when William Shatner does this he's mocked ... how is this musical? 
Posted 12 years ago by lkovathana    [ Reply ]
 hencini wrote:
9—>10

This might be one of the five greatest songs of all time.   
 
it's in my top 500.....

Posted 12 years ago by boober    [ Reply ]
Just heard this song for the first time.  I too, had to check to see if it was Leonard Coen.  Glad to hear another similar voice on a great song.  
Posted 12 years ago by Larry_Rosenow    [ Reply ]
 fredriley wrote:

If I've told you once, I've told you a million times: don't exaggerate.

  This song is sooo freaking good for the ears, and heart, and soul, I must beg to differ with you on this point.
Posted 12 years ago by rdo    [ Reply ]
 No question one of their peak moments....
Posted 12 years ago by aspicer    [ Reply ]
I like this and a lot of morphine.
Posted 12 years ago by Dahlia_Gumbo    [ Reply ]
 hencini wrote:
9—>10

This might be one of the five greatest songs of all time.   
 
If I've told you once, I've told you a million times: don't exaggerate.

Posted 12 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]

Diggin' the mandolin...


Posted 13 years ago by drictor    [ Reply ]
 ThePoose wrote:
Channelling Leonard Cohen...
 

Yup, that was my first thought when I first heard the vocal - I had to get up and check my streaming player display to see if it was Leonard.


Posted 13 years ago by steady_steve    [ Reply ]
9—>10

This might be one of the five greatest songs of all time.   
Posted 13 years ago by hencini    [ Reply ]
Morphine goes celibate?  In this case, the absence of sax is a plus.  I like this tune.  
Posted 13 years ago by xkolibuul    [ Reply ]
I'll probably be playing this song for my daughter in about 15 years (if she hasn't killed me yet).
Posted 13 years ago by vit    [ Reply ]
Amazing song.  Sandman was brilliant. 
Posted 13 years ago by hencini    [ Reply ]
 ick wrote:
Morphine seems to lose something when a mandolin is added... now where is the beloved 2 string subsonic bass and that slutty sax?
 
well....on the album this track was perfectly making sense imo - it was a nicely calm break AND (sort of) the intro to thursday. which is is with "the beloved 2 string subsonic bass and that slutty sax" :-)

Posted 13 years ago by Nadine    [ Reply ]
 rdo wrote:
I was listening closely to the lyrics and I noticed he is singing about an ex who is now a celeb.  Is this based on a real experience? 
 
He was never very forthcoming with interviewers about his personal life.

Posted 14 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
 vandal wrote:

blasphemer. . . when the tribunal of music gods judge you, and rest assured you will be judged, they will condemn you to a room where Kenny G wails from their octophonic sound system 24/7 at 120 dB. . .

"annoying sax" indeed. . .

{#Snooty}
 
{#Roflol}

Posted 14 years ago by Bleyfusz    [ Reply ]
Morphine seems to lose something when a mandolin is added... now where is the beloved 2 string subsonic bass and that slutty sax?
Posted 14 years ago by ick    [ Reply ]
 ThePoose wrote:
Channelling Leonard Cohen...
 
Indeed!

Posted 14 years ago by helgigermany    [ Reply ]
For me, this is not better than the Jack Johnson tune!
Posted 14 years ago by helgigermany    [ Reply ]
Channelling Leonard Cohen...
Posted 14 years ago by ThePoose    [ Reply ]
 boober wrote:
C'mon Fred..."dull as ditchwater"?
The KC jury gives it a 8

 
I'm not big on Morphine myself but I really like this one. 8

Posted 14 years ago by phlattop    [ Reply ]
 fredriley wrote:

Vice versa, I'm afraid - this is dull as ditchwater. Duller, as at least ditchwater has life in it. Bring back the honking baritone sax! 2 from the Nottingham jury.

  C'mon Fred..."dull as ditchwater"?
The KC jury gives it a 8

Posted 14 years ago by boober    [ Reply ]
This is the perfect example of a Morphine song I don't listen to by choice.
Posted 14 years ago by camatcba    [ Reply ]
 OCDHG wrote:
Wow ... without that annoying sax, they are pretty listenable.
 
Vice versa, I'm afraid - this is dull as ditchwater. Duller, as at least ditchwater has life in it. Bring back the honking baritone sax! 2 from the Nottingham jury.

Posted 14 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
OCDHG wrote:
Wow ... without that annoying sax, they are pretty listenable.
cuisine-challenged bridge substructure symbiont. Cordially, your friendly local pot smoking socially conscious conservative.

Posted 14 years ago by Businessgypsy    [ Reply ]
A Morphine song without sax?
unpossible
Posted 14 years ago by sdn    [ Reply ]
 OCDHG wrote:
Wow ... without that annoying sax, they are pretty listenable.
 
blasphemer. . . when the tribunal of music gods judge you, and rest assured you will be judged, they will condemn you to a room where Kenny G wails from their octophonic sound system 24/7 at 120 dB. . .

"annoying sax" indeed. . .

{#Snooty}


Posted 14 years ago by vandal    [ Reply ]
So I took my chances on a big jet plane, never let em tell you that they're all-hall-all-the same
Posted 14 years ago by CaptTofu    [ Reply ]
nice song from a great album
Posted 14 years ago by rp1125    [ Reply ]

7 {#Arrow} 8

Posted 14 years ago by vandal    [ Reply ]
I was listening closely to the lyrics and I noticed he is singing about an ex who is now a celeb.  Is this based on a real experience? 
Posted 14 years ago by rdo    [ Reply ]
sexy-
Posted 14 years ago by buzmaggie    [ Reply ]
 OCDHG wrote:
Wow ... without that annoying sax, they are pretty listenable.
 
Annoying sax?............ Are you serious?

Posted 14 years ago by Rhinofin    [ Reply ]
This song is so good it makes me want to bawl like a baby.{#Notworthy}


Posted 14 years ago by rdo    [ Reply ]
Yea, I have always like this one!
Posted 14 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
One of their better songs. If you haven't heard it before, I'd recommend checking out Greg Laswell's cover of this song. You can hear it on Amazon.com.
Posted 14 years ago by Danimal174    [ Reply ]
Wow ... without that annoying sax, they are pretty listenable.
Posted 14 years ago by DownHomeGirl    [ Reply ]
...does anyone know to whom in particular this song was written?..
Posted 14 years ago by mandolin    [ Reply ]
Learning to play the mandolin, so my ear caught this one. Hadn't heard it before. Looked up and saw Morphine on the read out from Winamp and thought WTF?

The mandolin player is Jimmy Ryan. I just had to know.
Posted 14 years ago by denbear    [ Reply ]
 socalhol wrote:

Yeah - Nick Drake "Pink Moon" - it reminded me of that song too!  Surprising sound from Morphine, quite different than their usual - I like this too.
 
This song was a nice change of pace on this album.   Presumably an intentional attempt to shake up the mood.      Good stuff!

Posted 15 years ago by bpkengor    [ Reply ]
 morgsy67 wrote:
I can easily imagine The Eels covering this song.
Great idea ... great song. 


Posted 15 years ago by WayUpNorth    [ Reply ]
 bugleboy624 wrote:
Reminds me of that one VW commercial.
 
Yeah - Nick Drake "Pink Moon" - it reminded me of that song too!  Surprising sound from Morphine, quite different than their usual - I like this too.


Posted 15 years ago by socalhol    [ Reply ]
I was going to say: "Is that a guest vocal by Leonard Cohen?"

 cathric wrote:
This always reminds me of Leonard Cohen in a way.
 


Posted 15 years ago by Phlegmaticman    [ Reply ]
Surprisingly nice tune from the opiate guys. Wish he hadn't attempted to sing, so that the melody could be enjoyed unimpeded by the rasping noise.
Posted 15 years ago by gekkosan    [ Reply ]
window wrote:


Actually, no - he didn't OD. (Reference material here and here.)
I find many people have to be corrected about that.


I wouldn't say that's definitive. There have been tons of folks who die young of a heart attack because they overdosed. There's a name that comes to mind today as a matter of fact that I ... just ... can't ... quite ... place.

Posted 15 years ago by vit    [ Reply ]
It's a nice change...I'm a sucker for mandolin.

Posted 15 years ago by kaybee    [ Reply ]

 . . . . wow . . . . Morphine? . . . . wow . . . . met them once in the mid 90's . . . sad to hear of their demise


Posted 15 years ago by wenatchee    [ Reply ]
Lovely song, beautiful lyrics and instrumentation. My favorite morphine song.

Posted 15 years ago by aristoteles    [ Reply ]
 cathric wrote:
This always reminds me of Leonard Cohen in a way.
 
Exactly!

Posted 15 years ago by von_Hayek    [ Reply ]
love it. morphine is so good.
Posted 15 years ago by fluffybum    [ Reply ]
This always reminds me of Leonard Cohen in a way.
Posted 15 years ago by cathric    [ Reply ]
 out_to_lunch wrote:


Stupid, he od'ed. what do you think the song is about?
 

Actually, no - he didn't OD.  (Reference material here and here.)
I find many people have to be corrected about that.
Posted 16 years ago by window    [ Reply ]
Reminds me of that one VW commercial.
Posted 16 years ago by bugleboy624    [ Reply ]
part of the soundtrack of the movie "Swing Vote" (although not on the distributed soundtrack) - terrific song, very good movie and the combo was most excellent
{#Cowboy}
 
Posted 16 years ago by k_trout    [ Reply ]
...my favorite morphine song ever...
Posted 16 years ago by mandolin    [ Reply ]
makes me think of someone I'm trying to forget. Bad day here....
Posted 16 years ago by out_to_lunch    [ Reply ]
Diggin' the mandolin.
Posted 16 years ago by mread    [ Reply ]
pacificbeth wrote:
it's not Morphine without the sax = mor phine sax, please or more fine sax, please
Stupid, he od'ed. what do you think the song is about?
Posted 16 years ago by out_to_lunch    [ Reply ]