1
I decree today that life is simply taking and not giving
England is mine, it owes me a living
But ask me why, and I'll spit in your eye
Oh, ask me why, and I'll spit in your eye
But we cannot cling to the old dreams anymore
No, we cannot cling to those dreams
Does the body rule the mind
Or does the mind rule the body?
I dunno
Under the iron bridge we kissed
And although I ended up with sore lips
It just wasn't like the old days anymore
No, it wasn't like those days, am I still ill?
Oh
Am I still ill?
Oh
Does the body rule the mind
Or does the mind rule the body?
I dunno
Ask me why, and I'll die
Oh, ask me why, and I'll die
And if you must, go to work, tomorrow
Well, if I were you I wouldn't bother
For there are brighter sides to life
And I should know, because I've seen them, but not very often
Under the iron bridge we kissed
And although I ended up with sore lips
It just wasn't like the old days anymore
No, it wasn't like those days, am I still ill?
Oh
Am I still ill?
Oh
England is mine, it owes me a living
But ask me why, and I'll spit in your eye
Oh, ask me why, and I'll spit in your eye
But we cannot cling to the old dreams anymore
No, we cannot cling to those dreams
Does the body rule the mind
Or does the mind rule the body?
I dunno
Under the iron bridge we kissed
And although I ended up with sore lips
It just wasn't like the old days anymore
No, it wasn't like those days, am I still ill?
Oh
Am I still ill?
Oh
Does the body rule the mind
Or does the mind rule the body?
I dunno
Ask me why, and I'll die
Oh, ask me why, and I'll die
And if you must, go to work, tomorrow
Well, if I were you I wouldn't bother
For there are brighter sides to life
And I should know, because I've seen them, but not very often
Under the iron bridge we kissed
And although I ended up with sore lips
It just wasn't like the old days anymore
No, it wasn't like those days, am I still ill?
Oh
Am I still ill?
Oh
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I love The Smiths, and not a week goes by where I don't think about the lyrics "Des the body rule the mind/or does the mind rule the body/I don't know". And considering the vast amount of music I listen to, and all the lyrics I ponder over, that is an amazing thing and a testament to Moz's talent as a lyricist.