These words are transcribed without permission the way they appear in the debut album for the album version of the song, and the way they appear in "Hatful Of Hollow" for the Peel session version. This has proven necessary because the words are transcribed and sung differently. Additions to the printed lyrics are in darker text while omissions are striken out.

Original album version

All men have secrets and here is mine
so let it be known
for we have been through hell and high tide,
I think I can surely rely on you? ¹
and yet you start to recoil,
heavy words are so lightly thrown
but still I'd leap in front of a flying bullet for you

So, what difference does it make?
so, what difference does it make?
it makes none
but now you have gone
and you must be looking very old tonight

The devil will find work for idle hands to do
I stole and I lied, and why?
because you asked me to!
but now you make feel so ashamed
because I've only got two hands ²
well, but I'm still fond of you

So, what difference does it make?
so, what difference does it make?
it makes none
but now you have gone ³
and your prejudice won't keep you warm tonight

Oh the devil will find work for idle hands to do
I stole and then I lied just because you asked me to
but now you know the truth about me ⁴
you won't see me anymore
well, I'm still fond of you

So, but no more apologies
no more, no more apologies
I'm too tired
I'm too so sick and tired ⁵
and I'm feeling very sick and ill today
but I'm still fond of you
Oh my sacred one ⁶

 

All men have secrets and here is mine so let it be known
we have been through hell and high tide
I think I can surely rely on you ¹
and yet you start to recoil
heavy words are so lightly thrown
but still I'd leap in front of a flying bullet for you
so what difference does it make?
so what difference does it make?
it makes none, but now you have gone
and you must be looking very old tonight

The devil will find work for idle hands to do
I stole and I lied, and why? because you asked me to
but now you make feel so ashamed
because I've only got two hands ²
well, I'm still fond of you
so what difference does it make?
so what difference does it make?
it makes none, but now you have gone ³
and your prejudice won't keep you warm tonight

Oh the devil will find work for idle hands to do
I stole and then I lied just because you asked me to
but now you know the truth about me ⁴
you won't see me anymore
well, I'm still fond of you
but no more apologies
no more, no more apologies
I'm too tired, I'm so sick and very tired ⁵
and I'm feeling very sick and ill today
but I'm still fond of you
Oh my sacred one ⁶

 

¹ In early performances and rehearsals of the song, Morrissey sang this line as "I can surely rely on you" as on the Peel session. In one live performance near the end of 1983, he changed this line to "I can surely rely on me".

² On stage, when he started being bored with the song, Morrissey changed this line to "but now you make feel so ashamed / because I've only got two heads".

³ In an early rehearsal of this song which has leaked on the internet, Morrissey sings the original words "but you have gone".

⁴ In an early rehearsal of this song which has leaked on the internet, Morrissey repeated the earlier "but now you make feel so ashamed because I've only got two hands"

⁵ Besides the two versions of this line given here (album version and Peel session), in very early performances and rehearsals of this song Morrissey simply sang line as "I'm too tired, I'm so tired".

⁶ In a very early live performance as well as on an early rehearsal which has leaked on the internet, Morrissey sang this final line as "Oh my sacred mother!"