Yeah, it's a tough one. I suppose we can imagine that his racist nativism formed in his decaying mind some considerable time after he'd written all the classic Smiths and early solo songs we love.

But just the possibility that somewhere in the back of young Morrissey's head there was the feeling that 'look how bleak my life is (but it would be better if they hadn't let all those brown people into my white country)' is disturbing.

And I used to see National Front Disco as a brilliant satire of the social inadequacy and frustration that can drive young men into the arms of radical racist organisations, in search of a sense of belonging and meaning.

Sadly, it would seem, that was not its intention.

Or it originally was, but he spent too long gazing into the abyss?