The whispering
May hurt you
But the printed word might kill you

The whispering
May hurt you
But the printed word might kill you

So don't let the blue
The blue eyes fool you
They're just gelignite
Loaded and aiming right between your eyes
CD's and T-shirts, promos and God knows
You know I couldn't last
Someone please take me home

The teenagers
Who love you
They will wake up, yawn and kill you

The teenagers
Who love you
They will wake up, yawn and kill you

So don't let the blue
The blue eyes fool you
They're just gelignite
Loaded and aiming right between your eyes
CD's and T-shirts, promos and God knows
You know I couldn't last
Someone please take me home

There's a cash register ringing and
It weighs so heavy on my back
Someone please take me home

The critics who
Can't break you
They somehow help to make you

The critics who
Can't break you
Unwittingly they make you

So don't let the good days
Of the gold discs
Creep up and mug you
With evil legal eagles
You know I couldn't last
Accountants rampant
You know I couldn't last
Every -ist and every -ism
Thrown my way to stay

And the Northern leeches go on
Removing, removing, removing

Then in the end
Your royalties bring you luxuries
Your royalties bring you luxuries
Oh but

The squalor of the mind
The squalor of the mind
The squalor of the mind
The squalor of the mind


Lyrics submitted by Brandnizzle2k4

You Know I Couldn't Last Lyrics as written by Alain Gordon Whyte Steven Morrissey

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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You Know I Couldn't Last song meanings
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11 Comments

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    General Comment

    I think this song goes some way to answering Paint A Vulgar picture too - where he bemoans labels re-releasing albums and cashing in on merchandise etc. I don't know how many times I've seen people writing reviews on Amazon quote from that song questioning his integrity and here he's saying 'look, you knew I couldn't keep it up' in the end he wants to maintain the standard of living he's grown accustomed to, even if that means selling some of his more youthful ideals. Also, initially The Smiths were very anti-music video (promos) but since going solo he's made quite a lot of them. The -ist and -ism relates (amongst other things) to accusations of racism in the UK music press. Great song from a remarkably uncompromised artist, despite what he says in this song.

    thepowercuton June 09, 2011   Link

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