"These Things Take Time"
(Morrissey/Marr)

These lyrics are transcribed in light blue as they appear in the "Hatful Of Hollow" 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.

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the sacred wunderkind
you took me behind a dis-used railway line
and said "I know a place where we can go
where we are not known"
and then you gave me something that I won't forget too soon
but I can't believe that you'd ever care
and this is why you'll never care
but these things take time
and I know that I'm
the most inept
that ever stepped

I'm spellbound, but a woman divides
and the hills are alive with celibate cries
but you know where you came from, you know where
you're going and you know where you belong
you said I was ill, and you were not wrong ¹
but I can't believe that you'd ever care
and so, you never cared ²
but these things take time
and I know that I'm
the most inept
that ever stepped

Oh the alcoholic afternoons
when we sat in your room
they meant more to me
than any, than any living thing on earth
they had more worth
than any living thing on earth
on earth
on earth

vivid and in your prime
you will leave me behind
you will leave me behind

 

² In the Jensen session found on "Hatful Of Hollow", Morrissey sang this line as "and this is why you will never care", as he did in early live versions of the song.

Note:
In early demos of the song, Morrissey sang "I'm saved I'm saved, you took my hand" at the end of the first verse. He also sang the slightly alternate "you said I was useless, and you were not wrong".