"Sweet And Tender Hooligan"
(Morrissey/Marr)

 

These words are transcribed without permission the way they appear in the "Louder Than Bombs" album. Additions to the printed lyrics are in darker text while omissions are striken out.

he was a sweet and tender hooligan
hooligan
and he said that he'll never, never do it again
and of course he won't (not until the next time)
1
he was a sweet and tender hooligan
hooligan
and he swore that he'd he'll never, never do it again 2
and of course he won't (not until the next time) 1
poor old man
he had an "accident" with a three bar fire 3
but that's OK
because he wasn't very happy anyway
poor woman 4
strangled in her very own bed as she read
but that's OK
because she was old and she would have died anyway
DON'T BLAME
this sweet and tender hooligan
hooligan
because he'll never, never, never, never, never, never do it again
(at least not until the next time)
So jury you've heard every word
but so before you decide
would you look into those "Mother-me" eyes 5
I love life you for you my love, you my love
you my love, you my love
So jury you've heard every word
but before you decide
would you look into those "Mother-me" eyes
I love you for you my love, you my love
I love you just for you my love, my love
don't blame
the sweet and tender hooligan
hooligan
who claims that because he'll never never do it again and
"In the midst of life we are in debt ETC" 6
the sweet and tender hooligan
hooligan
because he'll never never do it again and

"In the midst of life we are in debt ETC"
ETC! ETC! ETC! ETC!
IN THE MIDST OF LIFE WE ARE IN DEBT ETC!
ETC! ETC! ETC! ETC!
IN THE MIDST OF LIFE WE ARE IN DEBT ETC!
ETC! ETC! ETC! ETC!
ETC! ETC!
ETC! ETC! ETC! ETC!
IN THE MIDST OF LIFE WE ARE IN DEBT ETC!

 

1 In early demos of this song Morrissey sang "and of course he won't at least not until the next time".

2 In early demos of this song Morrissey sang "and he said that he'll never never do it again".

3 In early demos of this song Morrissey sang "with a three ring fire".

4 In early demos of this song Morrissey sang "poor old girl".

5 In early demos of this song Morrissey sang "look into those "cuddle-me" eyes".

6 In early demos of this song Morrissey sang "in the midst of life we are in death" for every occurrence of this line.