Viva hate är en bra platta, och därför krävs det en bra låt för att vara ett så kallat genomsnittligt albumspår...Break up the family är en sådan. Den liknar Maudlin Street såtillvida att melodin kanske inte är den starkaste, det är inga trackslåtar direkt, men texterna är desto starkare. Morrissey berättar i Melody Maker 12/3 1988:
"The song 'Break up the family' is strongly linked with Suedehead and Maudlin Street, that whole period in 1972, when I was 12, 13. 'Break up' is about a string of friends I had who were very intense people and at that age, when your friends talk about the slim separation between life and death - and you set that against the fact that this period of your youth is supposed to be the most playful and reckless - well, if you utilised that period in a very intense way, well, that feeling never really leaves you."
The strange logic in your clumsiest line (it stayed, it stayed)
It stayed emblazoned on my mind (you say)
You say: Break up the family and let's begin to live our lives
I want to see all my friends tonight
It wasn't youth, it wasn't life: born old, sadly wise
Resigned, well we were to ending our lives
(Oh...), I'm so glad to grow older, to move away from those awful times
(Oh), I want to see all my friends tonight
Yes, you found love, but you weren't at peace with your life (life)
Home late, full of hate, despise the ties that bind
I'm so glad to grow older, to move away from those younger years
I'm in love for the first time, and I don't feel bad
Let me see all my old friends
Let me put my arms around them
(Oooh...), cause I really do love them
Now does that sound mad?
Captain of games, solid framed, I stood on the touchline
Hailstones, driven home, in a car
No brakes? I don't mind!
I'm so glad to grow older, to move away from those darker years
(Oh), I'm in love for the first time, and I don't feel bad
So wish me luck my friends, goodbye
So wish me luck again, goodbye
Wish me luck my friends, goodbye
Aaah...wish me luck, my friends, goodbye
Aaah...
Aaah...
Aaah...
Aaah...