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

Oh Mother, I can feel the soil falling over my head ¹
and as I climb into an empty bed ²
Oh well. Enough said.
I know it's over - still I cling
I don't know where else I can go
Over...
Oh Mother, I can feel the soil falling over my head
see, the sea wants to take me
the knife wants to cut slit me ³
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, over, over, it's over, it's 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 ⁴
then why are you on your own tonight ⁴
if you're so terribly very good-looking ⁴
then why do you sleep alone tonight? ⁴
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 are 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 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 head
Oh Mother, I can feel the soil falling over my head

 

² In early versions of the song, Morrissey would climb into an "icy bed".

³ Live: "The knife wants to cut me".

⁴ These lines were skipped when the song was done live.

Quotes

"Morrissey's vocal on 'I Know It's Over' - I'll never forget when he did that. It's one of the highlights of my life. It was that good, that strong. Every line he was hinting at where he was going to go. I was thinking, 'Is he going to go there? Yes, he is!' It was just brilliant."
- Johnny Marr, Record Collector, November/December 1992