"The Never Played Symphonies"
(Morrissey/Alain Whyte)

 

These words are transcribed without permission the way they appear in the "Swords" album (the way they are transcribed in the Deluxe Edition of the "You Are The Quarry" album is less accurate). Additions to the printed lyrics are in darker text while omissions are striken out.

Reflecting from my deathbed
I'm balancing life's riches
against the ditches
and the flat, grey years in between
all I can see are the never-laid
(that's the never-played symphonies)
I can't see those who tried to love me
or those who felt they understood me
and I can't see those who
very patiently
put up with me
all I can see are
the never-laid
(the never-played symphonies)
you were one
you meant to be one 1
and you jumped into my face
and laughed and kissed me on the cheek
and then were gone
forever? ... not quite
Black sky in the daytime
and I don't much mind dying
when there is nothing left 2
to care for anymore
just the never-laid
(the never-played symphonies)
you knew you were one
of course you knew you were one 3
and you slipped right through my fingers
no, not literally, but metaphorically
and now you're all I see
...as the light fades.
...as the light fades 4

 

1 On the You Are The Quarry tour Morrissey always changed this line to "you knew you were one".

2 On a few occasions on the You Are The Quarry tour Morrissey changed this line to "when there is no one left to care for".

3 On the You Are The Quarry tour Morrissey always changed this line to "of course you were one".

4 On a few occasions on the You Are The Quarry tour Morrissey followed this final line with "thank God the light fades".