This song must have been written at some point in 1994. An instrumental was recorded in December 1994 at Miraval Studios in France, with Boz Boorer (guitar), Alain Whyte (guitar), Johnny Bridgwood (bass) and Woodie Taylor (drums), but no Morrissey.

It came together at rehearsals in January 1995 at Abbey Road studios in London, with Spencer Cobrin replacing Woodie Taylor at the drums. The song was recorded with producer Steve Lillywhite at Hook End Manor the following March-April alongside most of the rest of the "Southpaw Grammar" album.

album version {3:48}

• "Southpaw Grammar" album, original edition

• "Southpaw Grammar" album, redesigned edition [remastered 2009]

Jimmy Kimmel Live 5 February 2009 [tv]

This performance is part of a 5-song set recorded by Morrissey for this programme. Unfortunately, only "Something Is Squeezing My Skull" and the first few seconds of "Mama Lay Softly On The Riverbed" were broadcast and are circulated on video and audio bootlegs. The three other songs, including this one, remain unseen (except by those who attended the taping).

The song has been performed live 39 times by Morrissey, all on the 2009 Tour Of Refusal, so almost 14 years after being released. It was done regularly at the beginning of that tour, then more sporadically in the latter half.

live BBC Radio Theatre 11 February 2009 {3:53}

• "Something Is Squeezing My Skull" cd-single #2

instrumental Miraval demo {3:27}

Has yet to leak on the internet

vocal Miraval demo {3:41}

Supposedly taken from a record company cd-r of a scrapped reissue of "Southpaw Grammar", this has not yet leaked on bootlegs.

acoustic Miraval studio outtake {3:13}

Taken from a record company cd-r of a scrapped reissue of "Southpaw Grammar", this has not yet leaked on bootlegs.