"I Want The One I Can't Have"
(Morrissey/Marr)

 

These lyrics are transcribed in light blue as they appear in the "Meat Is Murder" album and are reproduced here without permission. Variations between the printed lyrics and what is sung by Morrissey are indicated in darker text for additions and omissions are deleted.

On the day that your mentality
decides to try to
catches up with your biology
come 'round 1

Cause I want the one I can't have
and it's driving me mad 2
it's written all over, all over, all over my face

(repeat)
On the day that your mentality
catches up with your biology

I want the one I can't have
and it's driving me mad
it's all over all over all over my face

A double-bed
and a stalwart lover, for sure
these are the riches of the poor

A double-bed
and a stalwart lover, for sure
these are the riches of the poor

(refrain)
And I want the one I can't have
and it's driving me mad 2
it's all over all over my face

a tough kid who sometimes swallows nails
raised on Prisoner's Aid
he killed a policeman when he was thirteen
and somehow that really impressed me
it's written all over my face 3

these are the riches of the poor
these are the riches of the poor

I want the one I can't have
and it's driving me mad 2
it's written all over my face

On the day that your mentality
catches up with your biology

And if you ever need self-validation
just meet me in the alley by the railway-station
it's written all over my face

 

Note: In early demos of this song, the 'tough kid' "killed his mother when he was thirteen" instead of killing a policeman.

1 On the 2002 tour Morrissey often sang "please, come 'round".

2 On the 2002 tour Morrissey sometimes added emphasis by singing "Jesus! it's driving me mad look! it's (written) all over my face"

3 On the 2002 tour Morrissey sometimes sang "look! it's all over my face"