"What Difference Does It Make?"
(Morrissey/Marr)

These lyrics are transcribed here twice, once for the album version available on the Smiths' debut album and again for the Peel session as found on "Hatful Of Hollow". This has proven necessary because the words are transcribed and sung differently. They are reproduced here without permission. Lyrics as they are printed are in light blue and variations between them and what is sung by Morrissey are indicated in darker text for additions and omissions are deleted.

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
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
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 ³
and I'm feeling very sick and ill today
but I'm still fond of you
Oh my sacred one ⁴

 

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
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
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 ³
and I'm feeling very sick and ill today
but I'm still fond of you
Oh my sacred one ⁴

 

¹ In early performances of the song, Morrissey sang this line as "I can surely rely on you" as on the Peel session of the song. Near the end of 1983, he changed the line once 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 Besides the two versions of this line given here (album version and Peel session), in very early performances of this song Morrissey simply sang line as "I'm so tired".

⁴ In a very early live performance, Morrissey sang this final line as "Oh my sacred mother!"