Upon the sand, upon the bay
"There is a quick and easy way" you say
Before you illustrate
I'd rather state
I'm not the man you think I am
I'm not the man you think I am

And sorrow's native son
He will not smile for anyone
And pretty girls make graves

Ooh-ooh-oh-ooh, ooh-ooh-oh-ooh-ooh

End of the pier, end of the bay
You tug my arm, and say
"Give in to lust, give up to lust
Oh, heaven knows we'll soon be dust"
Oh, I'm not the man you think I am
I'm not the man you think I am

And sorrow's native son
He will not rise for anyone
And pretty girls make graves
(Oh, really?)

Ooh-ooh-oh-ooh, ooh-ooh-oh-ooh-ooh

I could have been wild and I could have been free
But nature played this trick on me
She wants it now
And she will not wait
But she's too rough
And I'm too delicate
Then, on the sand
Another man, he takes her hand
A smile lights up her stupid face
And well, it would
I lost my faith in womanhood
I lost my faith in womanhood
I lost my faith

Ooh-ooh-oh-ooh, ooh-ooh-oh-ooh-ooh
Hand in glove
The sun shines out of our behinds
Ooh-oh, ooh-oh


Lyrics submitted by weezerific:cutlery

Pretty Girls Make Graves Lyrics as written by Johnny Marr Steven Morrissey

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

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Pretty Girls Make Graves song meanings
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  • +8
    General Comment

    Yes, you're right, "Pretty girls make graves" is a quote from the Dharma Bums. In the book, the philosophy behind it is that "pretty girls" lead to lust, which in turn leads to birth, which in turn leads to suffering and then, inevitably, death, or "graves".

    Based on this, the character sees celibacy as the only way of breaking the cycle, if you like. Therefore, I don't think the trick that nature played is that the narrator is gay, as some people have said. I think the trick Morrissey is reffering to is actually lust, something which seems to lead to pleasure, but is actually the cause of all suffering.

    Shadeson July 24, 2006   Link

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