"When Last I Spoke To Carol"
(Morrissey/Alain Whyte)

 

These words are transcribed without permission the way they appear in the "Years Of Refusal" album. There are no variations between the printed lyrics and what Morrissey actually sings in the studio version.

When last I spoke to Carol I said:
"I can't pretend it gets easier." 1
          she said:
"I've hung on, I have edged along this narrow ledge 2
since the day I was born in 1975."
When last I spoke to Carol I said:
"I can't pretend I feel love for you."
          she said:
"I've hammered a smile across this pasty face of mine 3
since the day I was born in 1975."
When I said goodbye to Carol
black earth upon the casket fell
she had faded to
something I always knew 4
to the rescue
nobody ever comes.

 

1 On the first leg of the 2009 Tour Of Refusal Morrissey sometimes sang "I can't pretend life gets easier". This was done more commonly on that tour's second and third legs and on the second leg of the Swords tour, but not so much on the first leg of the latter tour.

2 On the 2009 Tour Of Refusal and Swords Tour Morrissey usually sang "along life's narrow ledge".

3 On the 2009 Tour Of Refusal and Swords Tour Morrissey often sang "across this ugly face of mine" (or "ugly mug" or "ugly mush") .

4 On the 2009 Tour Of Refusal and Swords Tour, Morrissey often sang "something I still know" or "one thing I still know".