The Smiths

[helldanger1]

Half A Person
The Smiths

Call me morbid, call me pale
I've spent six years on your trail
Six long years
On your trail
Call me morbid, call me pale
I've spent six years on your trail
Six full years of my life on your trail
And if you have five seconds to spare
Then I'll tell you the story of my life:

Sixteen, clumsy and shy
I went to London and I
I booked myself in at the Y....W.C.A
I said: "I like it here - can I stay?
I like it here - can I stay?
And, do you have a vacancy
For a Back-scrubber?"

She was left behind, and sour
And she wrote to me equally dour
She said: "In the days when you were
hopelessly poor
I just liked you more..."
And if you have five seconds to spare
Then I'll tell you the story of my life:

Sixteen, clumsy and shy
I went to London and I
I booked myself in at the Y....W.C.A
I said: "I like it here - can I stay?
I like it here - can I stay?
And, do you have a vacancy
For a Back-scrubber?"

Call me morbid, call me pale
I've spent too long on your trail
Far too long
Chasing your tail
And if you have five seconds to spare
Then I'll tell you the story of my life

Sixteen, clumsy and shy
That's the story of my life
Sixteen, clumsy and shy
The story of my life
That's the story of my life
That's the story of my life
That's the story of my life
The story of my life

 

[helldanger1]

Hand In Glove
The Smiths

Hand in glove
The sun shines out of our behinds
No, it's not like any other love
This one is different - because it's us

Hand in glove
We can go wherever we please
And everything depends upon
How near you stand to me

And if the people stare
Then the people stare
Oh, I really don't know
And I really don't care
(Kiss My Shades)

Hand in glove
The Good People laugh
Yes, we may be hidden by rags
But we've something they'll never have

Hand in glove
The sun shines out of our behinds
Yes, we may be hidden by rags
But we've something they'll never have

And if the people stare
Then the people stare
Oh, I really don't know
And I really don't care
(Kiss My Shades)

So, hand in glove I stake my claim
I'll fight to the last breath
If they dare touch a hair on your head
I'll fight to the last breath

For the Good Life is out there somewhere
So stay on my arm, you little charmer
But I know my luck too well
Yes, I know my luck too well
And I'll probably never see you again
I'll probably never see you again
I'll probably never see you again
I'll probably never see you again...

 

[helldanger1]

Handsome Devil
The Smiths

All the streets are crammed with things
Eager to be held
I know what hands are for
And I'd like to help myself
You ask me the time
But I sense something more
And I would like to give
What I think you're asking for
You handsome devil
Oh, you handsome devil

Let me get my hands
On your mammary glands
And let me get your head
On the conjugal bed
I say, I say, I say

I crack the whip
And you skip
But you deserve it
You deserve it, deserve it, deserve it

A boy in the bush
Is worth two in the hand
I think I can help you get through your exams
Oh, you handsome devil

Oh, let me get my hands
On your mammary glands
And let me get your head
On the conjugal bed
I say, I say, I say

I crack the whip
And you skip
But you deserve it
You deserve it, deserve it, deserve it
And when we're in your scholarly room
Who will swallow whom ?
When we're in your scholarly room
Who will swallow whom ?
You handsome devil

Oh, let me get my hands
On your mammary glands
And let me get your head
On the conjugal bed
I say, I say, I say

There's more to life than books, you know
But not much more
Oh, there's more to life than books, you know
But not much more, not much more
Oh, you handsome devil
Oh, you handsome devil
OH!

 

[helldanger1]

Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now
The Smiths

I was happy in the haze of a drunken hour
But heaven knows I'm miserable now
I was looking for a job,
And then I found a job
And heaven knows I'm miserable now
In my life
Why do I give valuable time
To people who don't care
If I live or die?

Two lovers entwined pass me by
And heaven knows I'm miserable now
I was looking for a job,
And then I found a job
And heaven knows I'm miserable now
In my life
Oh, why do I give valuable time
To people who don't care
If I live or die?

What she asked of me
At the end of the day
Caligula would have blushed
"You've been in the house
Too long", she said
And I naturally fled
In my life why do I smile
At people who I'd much rather
Kick in the eye?

I was happy in the haze of a drunken hour
But heaven knows I'm miserable now
"You've been in the house
Too long", she said
And I naturally fled
In my life
Why do I give valuable time
To people who don't care
If I live or die?

 

[helldanger1]

How Soon Is Now?
The Smiths

I am the son
And the heir
Of a shyness that is criminally vulgar
I am the son and heir
Of nothing in particular

You shut your mouth
How can you say
I go about things the wrong way ?
I am human and i need to be loved
Just like everybody else does

I am the son
And the heir
Of a shyness that is criminally vulgar
I am the son and heir
Oh, of nothing in particular

You shut your mouth
How can you say
I go about things the wrong way ?
I am human and i need to be loved
Just like everybody else does

There's a club, if you'd like to go
You could meet somebody who really loves you
So you go, and you stand on your own
And you leave on your own
And you go home, and you cry
And you want to die

When you say it's gonna happen "now"
Well, when exactly do you mean ?
See, i've already waited too long
And all my hope is gone

You shut your mouth
How can you say
I go about things the wrong way ?
I am human and i need to be loved
Just like everybody else does

 

[helldanger1]

I Don't Owe You Anything
The Smiths

Bought on stolen wine
A nod was the first step
You knew very well
What was coming next

Bought on stolen wine
A nod was the first step
You knew very well
What was coming next

Did I really walk all this way
Just to hear you say :
"Oh, I don't want to go out tonight"?
"Oh, I don't want to go out tonight"
Oh, but you will
For you must

I don't owe you anything, no
But you owe me something
Repay me now

You should never go to them
Let them come to you
Just like I do
Just like I do

You should not go to them
Let them come to you
Just like I do
Just like I do

Did I really walk all this way
Just to hear you say :
"Oh, I don't want to go out tonight"?
"Oh, I don't want to go out tonight"
But you will
For you must

I don't owe you anything, no
But you owe me something
Repay me now

Too freely on your lips
Words prematurely sad
Oh, but I know what will make you smile tonight
Life is never kind
Life is never kind
Oh, but I know what will make you smile tonight

 

[helldanger1]

I Keep Mine Hidden
The Smiths

Hate, love and war
Force emotions to the fore
But not for me, of course
Of course
I keep mine hidden

I keep mine hidden
But it's so easy for you
Because you let yours flail
Into public view

Yellow and green
A stumbling block
I'm a twenty-digit combination to unlock
With a past where to be 'touched'
Meant to be 'mental'

I keep mine hidden
But life is so easy for you
Because you let yours slide
Into public view

Use your loaf!

 

[helldanger1]

I Know It's Over
The Smiths

Oh Mother, I can feel
The soil falling over my head
And as I climb into an empty bed
Oh well... Enough said
I know it's over - still I cling
I don't know where else I can go
Oh...

Oh Mother, I can feel
The soil falling over my head
See, the sea wants to take me
The knife wants to slit me
Do you think you can help me ?
Sad veiled bride, please be happy
Handsome groom, give her room
Loud, loutish lover, treat her kindly
(although she needs you
More than she loves you)

And I know it's over - still I cling
I don't know where else I can go
(Over and over and over and over
Over and over...)
I know it's over

And it never really began
But in my heart it was so real
And you even spoke to me, and said:
"If you're so funny
Then why are you on your own tonight?
And if you're so clever
Then why are you on your own tonight?
If you're so very entertaining
Then why are you on your own tonight?
If you're so very good-looking
Why do you sleep alone tonight?
I know...
Because tonight is
Just like any other night
That's why you're on your own tonight
With your triumphs and your charms
While they're in each other's arms..."

It's so easy to laugh
It's so easy to hate
It takes strength to be gentle and kind
(Over, over, over, over)
It's so easy to laugh
It's so easy to hate
It takes guts to be gentle and kind
(Over, over)

Love is Natural and Real
But not for you, my love
Not tonight, my love
Love is Natural and Real
But not for such as you and I,
My love

Oh Mother, I can feel
The soil falling over my head
Oh Mother, I can feel
The soil falling over my head
Oh Mother, I can feel
The soil falling over my head
Oh Mother, I can feel
The soil falling over my ...

 

[helldanger1]

I Started Something I Couldn't Finish
The Smiths

The lanes were silent
There was nothing, no one, nothing around for miles
I doused our friendly venture
With a hard-faced
Three-word gesture

I started something
I forced you to a zone
And you were clearly
Never meant to go
Hair brushed and parted
Typical me, typical me
Typical me
I started something
...And now I'm not too sure

I grabbed you by the guilded beams
Uh, that's what tradition means
And I doused another venture
With a gesture
That was... absolutely vile

I started something
I forced you to a zone
And you were clearly
Never meant to go
Hair brushed and parted
Typical me, typical me
Typical me
I started something
...And now I'm not too sure

I grabbed you by the guilded beams
Uh, that's what tradition means
And now eighteen months' hard labour
Seems... fair enough

I started something
And I forced you to a zone
And you were clearly
Never meant to go
Hair brushed and parted
Typical me, typical me
Typical me
I started something
And now I'm not too sure

I started something
I started something
Typical me, typical me
Typical me, typical me
Typical me, typical me
Typical me
I started something
And now I'm not too sure

 

[helldanger1]

I Want The One I Can't Have
The Smiths

On the day that your mentality
Decides to try to catch up with your biology
Come round ...
'Cause I want the one I can't have
And it's driving me mad
It's all over, all over, all over my face

On the day that your mentality
Catches up with your biology
I want the one I can't have
And it's driving me mad
It's all over, all over, all over my face

A double bed
And a stalwart lover for sure
These are the riches of the poor
A double bed
And a stalwart lover for sure
These are the riches of the poor

And I want the one I can't have
And it's driving me mad
It's all over, all over my face

A tough kid who sometimes swallows nails
Raised on Prisoner's Aid
He killed a policeman when he was thirteen
And somehow that really impressed me
And it's written all over my face

Oh, these are the riches of the poor
These are the riches of the poor

I want the one I can't have
And it's driving me mad
It's written all over my face

On the day that your mentality
Catches up with your biology
And if you ever need self-validation
Just meet me in the alley by the
Railway station
It's all over my face
Oh...

 

[helldanger1]

I Won't Share You
The Smiths

I won't share you
I won't share you
With the drive and ambition
The zeal I feel
This is my time
The note I wrote as she read, she said
Has the Perrier gone straight to my head
Or is life sick and cruel, instead?
"YES!"
No-no-no-no-no-no
No-no-no-no-no-no

I won't share you
I won't share you
With the drive and the dreams inside
This is my time
Life tends to come and go
That's OK as long as you know
Life tends to come and go
As long as you know
Know know know know
Know know know know know

I won't share you
I won't share you
With the drive and the dreams inside
This is my time

I want the freedom and I want the guile
I want the freedom and the guile
Oh, Life tends to come and go
As long as you know
Know know know know
Know know know know
I won't share you
I won't share you
I'll see you somewhere
I'll see you sometime...

 

[helldanger1]

Is It Really So Strange?
The Smiths

I left the north
I travelled south
I found a tiny house
and I can't help the way I feel
Oh yes, you can kick me
And you can punch me
And you can break my face
But you won't change the way I feel
'Cause I love you

And is it really so strange ?
Oh, is it really so strange ?
Oh, is it really so, really so strange ?
I say no, you say yes
(and you will change your mind)

I left the south
I travelled north
I got confused - I killed a horse
I can't help the way I feel
Oh yes, you can punch me
And you can butt me
And you can break my spine
But you won't change the way I feel
'Cause i love you

And is it really so strange ?
Oh, is it really so strange ?
Oh, is it really so, really so strange ?
I say no, you say yes
(but you will change your mind)

I left the north again
I travelled south again
and I got confused - I killed a nun
I can't help the way I feel
I can't help the way I feel
I can't help the way I feel
(I lost my bag in Newport Pagnell)

Why is the last mile the hardest mile ?
My throat was dry, with the sun in my eyes
And I realised, I realised
I could never
I could never, never, never
Go back home again

 

[helldanger1]

Jeane
The Smiths

Jeane
The low-life has lost its appeal
And I'm tired of walking these streets
To a room with a cupboard bare

Jeane
I'm not sure what happiness means
But I look in your eyes
And I know
That it isn't there

We tried, we failed
We tried and we failed
We tried and we failed
We tried and we failed
We tried

Jeane
There's ice on the sink where we bathe
So how can you call this a home
When you know it's a grave ?

But you still hold a greedy grace
As you tidy the place
But it'll never be clean
Jeane

We tried, we failed
We tried and we failed
We tried and we failed
We tried and we failed
We tried
Cash on the nail
It's just a fairytale
And I don't believe in magic anymore
Jeane

But I think you know
I really think you know
I think you know the truth
Jeane

No heavenly choir
Not for me and not for you
Because I think that you know
I really think you know
I think you know the truth
Jeane

That we tried and we failed
That we tried and we failed
We tried and we failed
We tried and we failed
Oh
Jeane

 

[helldanger1]

Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me
The Smiths

Last night I dreamt
That somebody loved me
No hope, no harm
Just another false alarm

Last night I felt
Real arms around me
No hope, no harm
Just another false alarm

So, tell me how long
Before the last one?
And tell me how long
Before the right one?

The story is old - I know
But it goes on
The story is old - I know
But it goes on

 

[helldanger1]

London
The Smiths

Smoke
Lingers 'round your fingers
Train
Heave on - to Euston
Do you think you've made
The right decision this time?

You left
Your tired family grieving
And you think they're sad
Because you're leaving
But did you see Jealousy in the eyes
Of the ones who had to stay behind?
And do you think you've made
The right decision this time?

You left
Your girlfriend on the platform
With this really ragged notion that you'll return
But she knows
That when he goes
He really goes
And do you think you've made
The right decision this time?

 

[helldanger1]

Meat Is Murder
The Smiths

Heifer whines could be human cries
Closer comes the screaming knife
This beautiful creature must die
This beautiful creature must die
A death for no reason
And death for no reason is murder
And the flesh you so fancifully fry
Is not succulent, tasty or kind
It's death for no reason
And death for no reason is murder
And the calf that you carve with a smile
Is murder
And the turkey you festively slice
Is murder
Do you know how animals die ?

Kitchen aromas aren't very homely
It's not "comforting", cheery or kind
It's sizzling blood and the unholy stench
Of murder
It's not "natural", "normal" or kind
The flesh you so fancifully fry
The meat in your mouth
As you savour the flavour
Of murder
No, no, no, it's murder
No, no, no, it's murder
Oh... and who hears when animals cry ?

 

[helldanger1]

Miserable Lie
The Smiths

So, goodbye
Please stay with your own kind
And I'll stay with mine
There's something against us
It's not time
It's not time
So, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye

I know I need hardly say
How much I love your casual way
Oh, but please put your tongue away
A little higher and we're well away
The dark nights are drawing in
And your humor is as black as them
I look at yours, you laugh at mine
And "love" is just a miserable lie
You have destroyed my flower-like life
Not once - twice
You have corrupt my innocent mind
Not once - twice
I know the wind-swept mystical air
It means: I'd like to see your underwear
I recognize that mystical air
It means : I'd like to seize your underwear
What do we get for our trouble and pain ?
Just a rented room in Whalley Range
What do we get for our trouble and pain ?
... Whalley Range !
Into the depths of the criminal world
I followed her ...

I need advice, I need advice
I need advice, I need advice
Nobody ever looks at me twice
Nobody ever looks at me twice

I'm just a country-mile behind
The world
I'm just a country-mile behind
The whole world
Oh oh, oh ...
I'm just a country-mile behind
The world
I'm just a country-mile behind
The whole world
Oh oh, oh ...

So take me when you go
Oh oh, oh...
Take me when you go
Oh oh, oh ...
I need advice, I need advice

 

[helldanger1]

Never Had No One Ever
The Smiths

When you walk without ease
On these streets where you were raised
I had a really bad dream
It lasted 20 years, 7 months, and 27 days
(I'm alone and I never)
Never had no one ever

Now I'm outside your house
I'm alone
And I'm outside your house
I'd hate to intrude
I'm alone, I'm alone
I'm alone, I'm alone
I'm alone, I'm alone
And I never, never, had no one ever
I never had no one ever
I never had no
No one ever
Had no one ever
Never, never...

 

[helldanger1]

Nowhere Fast
The Smiths

I'd like to drop my trousers to the world
I am a man of means (of slender means)
Each household appliance
Is like a new science in my town
And if the day came when I felt a
Natural emotion
I'd get such a shock I'd probably jump
In the ocean
And when a train goes by
It's such a sad sound
It's such a sad thing

I'd like to drop my trousers to the Queen
Every sensible child will know what this means
The poor and the needy
Are selfish and greedy on her terms
And if the day came when I felt a
Natural emotion
I'd get such a shock I'd probably jump
In the ocean
And when a train goes by
It's such a sad sound
It's such a sad thing

And when I'm lying in my bed
I think about life
And I think about death
And neither one particularly appeals to me
And if the day came when I felt a
Natural emotion
I'd get such a shock I'd probably lie
In the middle of the street and die
I'd lie down and die
Oh, oh

 

[helldanger1]

Paint a Vulgar Picture
The Smiths

At the record company meeting
On their hands - a dead star
And oh, the plans they weave
And oh, the sickening greed

At the record company party
On their hands - a dead star
The sycophantic slags all say:
"I knew him first, and I knew him well"
Re-issue! Re-package! Re-package!
Re-evaluate the songs
Double-pack with a photograph
Extra Track (and a tacky badge)

A-list, playlist
"Please them, please them!"
"Please them!"
(sadly, THIS was your life)
But you could have said no
If you'd wanted to
You could have said no
If you'd wanted to

BPI, MTV, BBC
"Please them ! Please them!"
(sadly this was your life)
But you could have said no
If you'd wanted to
You could have walked away
...Couldn't you?

I touched you at the soundcheck
You had no real way of knowing
In my heart I begged
"Take me with you...
I don't care where you're going..."
But to you I was faceless
I was fawning, I was boring
Just a child from those ugly new houses
Who could never begin to know
Who could never really know
Oh...

Best of! Most of!
Satiate the need
Slip them into different sleeves!
Buy both, and feel deceived
Climber - new entry, re-entry

World tour! ("media whore")
"Please the Press in Belgium!"
(THIS was your life...)
And when it fails to recoup?
Well, maybe:
You just haven't earned it yet, baby

I walked a pace behind you at the soundcheck
You're just the same as I am
What makes most people feel happy
Leads us headlong into harm

So, in my bedroom
in those 'ugly new houses'
I danced my legs down to the knees
But me and my 'true love'
Will never meet again...

At the record company meeting
On their hands - at last! - a dead star!
But they can never taint you in my eyes
No, they can never touch you now
No, they cannot hurt you, my darling
They cannot touch you now
But me and my 'true love'
Will never meet again

 

[helldanger1]

Panic
The Smiths

Panic on the streets of London
Panic on the streets of Birmingham
I wonder to myself
Could life ever be sane again
On the Leeds side-streets that you slip down
I wonder to myself
Hopes may rise on the Grasmeres
But honey pie, you're not safe here
So you run down
To the safety of the town
But there's panic on the streets of Carlisle
Dublin, Dundee, Humberside
I wonder to myself

Burn down the disco
Hang the blessed d.j.
Because the music that they constantly play
It says nothing to me about my life
Hang the blessed d.j.
Because the music they constantly play

On the Leeds side-streets that you slip down
On the provincial towns that you jog'round
Hang the d.j., hang the d.j., hang the d.j.
Hang the d.j., hang the d.j., hang the d.j.
Hang the d.j., hang the d.j., hang the d.j.
Hang the d.j., hang the d.j.
Hang the d.j., hang the d.j.

 

[helldanger1]

You've Got Everything Now
The Smiths

As merry as the days were long
I was right and you were wrong
Back at the old grey school
I would win and you would lose
But you've got everything now
You've got everything now
And what a terrible mess I've made of my life
Oh, what a mess I've made of my life
No, I've never had a job
Because I've never wanted one
I've seen you smile
But I've never really heard you laugh
So who is rich and who is poor?
I cannot say
You are your mother's only son
And you're a desperate one
But I don't want a lover
I just want to be seen
In the back of your car

A friendship sadly lost?
Well this is true and yet, it's false
But did I ever tell you, by the way?
I never did like your face
But you've got everything now
You've got everything now
And what a terrible mess I've made of my life
Oh, what a mess I've made of my life
No, I've never had a job
Because I'm too shy
I've seen you smile
But I've never really heard you laugh
So who is rich and who is poor?
I cannot say
You are your mother's only son
And you're a desperate one
But I don't want a lover
I just want to be tied
To the back of your car
To the back of your car
To the back of your car

 

[helldanger1]

You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby
The Smiths

If you're wondering why
All the love that you long for
Eludes you
And people are rude and cruel to you
I'll tell you why
I'll tell you why
I'll tell you why

You just haven't earned it yet, baby
You just haven't earned it, son
You just haven't earned it yet, baby
You must suffer and cry for a longer time
You just haven't earned it yet, baby
And I'm telling you now

If you're wondering why
When all I wanted from life
Was to be Famous
I have tried for so long
It's all gone wrong
I'll tell you why
I'll tell you why
I'll tell you why
But you wouldn't believe me

You just haven't earned it yet, baby
You just haven't earned it, son
You just haven't earned it yet, baby
You must suffer and cry for a longer time
You just haven't earned it yet, Baby
And I'm telling you now

I'll tell you why
I'll tell you why
Today I am remembering the time
When they pulled me back
And held me down
And looked me in the eyes and said
You just haven't earned it yet, baby
You just haven't earned it, my son
You just haven't earned it yet, baby
You must stay on your own for slightly longer
You just haven't earned it yet baby
And I'm telling you now

 

[helldanger1]

Work Is a Four-letter Word
The Smiths

Loving you is driving me crazy
People say that you were born lazy
'Cause you say that
Work is A four-fetter word

So change your life
There is so much I know
That you can do
Come and see ...
Wide-awake
And take all of this love
That is waiting for you

If you stay
I'll stay right beside you
And my love
May help to remind you
To forget that
Work is A four-fetter word

I don't need
A house that's a showplace
I just feel
That we're going no place
While you say that
Work is A four-fetter word

So change your life
There is so much I know
You can do
Come and see
Wide-awake
And take all of this love
That is waiting for you

 

[helldanger1]

Wonderful Woman
The Smiths

Here her head, she lay
Until she'd rise and say:
"I'm starved of mirth;
Let's go and trip a dwarf"

Oh, what to be done with her?
Oh, what to be done with her?
Oh...

Ice water for blood
With neither heart or spine
And then just
To pass time
"Let's go and rob the blind"

What to be done with her?
I ask myself
What to be said of her?
Oh...

But when she calls me
I do not walk, I run
Oh, when she calls
I do not walk, I run
Oh...