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"The Hand That Rocks The Cradle"
(Morrissey/Marr)
These words are transcribed without permission the way they appear in the Smiths' debut album. Additions to the printed lyrics are in darker text while omissions are striken out.
Please don't cry
for the ghost and the storm outside
will not invade this sacred shrine
nor infiltrate your mind
my life down I shall lie
if the bogey-man should try
to play tricks on your sacred mind
to tease, torment and tantalise
wavering shadows loom
a piano plays in an empty room
there'll be blood on the cleaver tonight
and when darkness lifts and the room is bright
I'll still be by your side
for you are all that matters
and I'll love you till the day I die
there never need be longing in your eyes
as long as the hand that rocks the cradle is mine
ceiling shadows shimmy by
and when the wardrobe towers like a beast of prey
there's sadness in your beautiful eyes
you're untouched, unsoiled, wonderous eyes
my life down I shall lie
should restless spirits try
to play tricks on your sacred mind
I once had a child, and it saved my life
but whom I never even gave a name I never even asked his name
I just looked into his wonderous eyes
and said "never never never again"
and all too soon I did return
just like a moth to a flame
so rattle my bones all over the stones
because I'm only a beggar-man whom nobody owns
see how words as old as sin
fit me like a glove
I'm here and here I'll stay
together we lie, together we pray
there never need be longing in your eyes
as long as the hand that rocks the cradle is mine
as long as the hand that rocks the cradle is mine, mine
Climb upon my knee sonny boy
oh though you're only three sonny boy
you're mine
and your mother she just never knew 1
as long as there's love
as long as there's love
I did my best for her
I did my best for her
as long as there's love
as long as there's love
I did my best for her
I did my best for her
mine... mine...
1 In very early performances of this song, this line was sung as "Your mother she need never know". The following lines were then absent from the song.
Quotes
Where did a song like 'Hand That Rocks The Cradle' come from?
"Well, that comes from a relationship I had that didn't really involve romance. So if we're talking about romance, well, I don't really know that much about it. But in other things, I'm quite capable of making an observation."
- Morrissey, Melody Maker, 16 March 1985
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