These words are transcribed without permission the way they appear in the "You Are The Quarry" album. Additions to the printed lyrics are in darker text while omissions are striken out.

You must be wondering how
the boy next door turned out
have a care / but don't stare - because he's still there ¹
lamenting:
    "Policewomen, policemen, silly women,
    taxmen - uniformed whores
    they who wish to hurt you ²
    work within the law
    this world is full / so full of crashing bores
    and I must be one
    cos no one ever turns to me to say
    'take me in your arms
    take me in your arms / and love me' "
You must be wondering how
the boy next door turned out
have a care / and say a prayer - because he's still there ³
lamenting:
    "policewomen, policemen, silly women,
    taxmen - uniformed whores
    educated criminals
    work within the law ⁴
    this world is full / so full of crashing bores
    and I must be one
    cos no one ever turns to me to say
    'take me in your arms
    take me in your arms / and love me
    and love me' "
What really lies
beyond the constraints of my mind?
could it be the sea?
with Fate mooning back at me?
no, it's just more lock-jawed pop-stars
thicker than pig-shit / nothing to convey
so scared to show intelligence
it might smear their lovely career
this world - I am afraid
is designed for crashing bores
I am not one / I am not one
you don't understand
you don't understand / and yet you can
take me in your arms and love me / love me
and love me
take me in your arms and love me
love me / love me
take me in your arms and love me
take me in your arms and love me
would you do, would you do / what you should do

 

² On the first leg of the 2009 Tour Of Refusal Morrissey sometimes sang "they who wish to crush you". On that tour's second and third legs as well as on the Swords Tour later that year, the change was standard.

³ In a few very early live performances from 2002 before the song was recorded Morrissey sang "but don't stare" instead of "and say a prayer". In 2008 on the Greatest Hits tour Morrissey often slightly extended the line to "say a quick prayer 'cause he's still there". This became standard on the 2009 Tour Of Refusal and Swords Tour.

⁴ On the American leg of the 2002 tour when this song was done live for the first time Morrissey sang "educated criminals represent the law". For the subsequent European/Australian leg he adopted "educated criminals work within the law", which is what he would record for the definitive studio version of the song.