This succinct phrase embodies Morrissey's characteristic blend of wit, rebellion, and self-awareness. The term "born again atheist" is a paradoxical twist on the religious phrase "born again," which traditionally signifies a spiritual rebirth into faith. By pairing it with "atheist," Morrissey provocatively rejects religious belief while simultaneously embracing a kind of personal renewal or transformation—but one rooted in skepticism rather than faith.
The second phrase, "practicing troublemaker," emphasizes a deliberate and ongoing commitment to challenge norms and provoke thought. The word "practicing" suggests that being a troublemaker is not accidental but a conscious, almost skilled, role Morrissey adopts. This reflects his public persona as a provocative artist who frequently questions societal conventions and stirs controversy.
Altogether, the quote reveals Morrissey's complex identity: a person who has undergone a conscious ideological shift and actively embraces disruption as a way of life. It encapsulates themes of defiance, irony, and self-fashioned identity that are central to his work.
“I'm tired again, I've tried again, and now my heart is full.And I just can't explain...so I won't even try to.”
“Again, I lay awake, and I cried because of waste.”
“Even now - in the final hour of my life -I'm falling in love again.”
“It may all end tomorrow, or it could go on forever (in which case I'm doomed).”
“Boot the grime of this world in the crotch dear.”
“Some girls are bigger than others.”