I Want the One I Can't Have

This is a song that contains some of my favourite lyrics written by Morrissey. "I Want The I Can’t Have" is (in my opinion) a severly unappreciated and under-rated song because of it’s placing between the wild "Rusholme Ruffians" and the also lyrically demanding "What She Said" on the album "Meat Is Murder".

The "Mentality-Biology" couplet refers to the protaginists mind (mentality) being compared to his body (biology). His mind is suffering these attractions to this "One he can’t have" However, his pyshical state (being male) suggests that he should be attracted to those of the opposite sex. The "Catching up" that his mentality has to make to his biology is proving that he longs for his mind to work in the way his body SHOULD work. This could also be interpreted as our protaginist being denied a man who he believes to be gay, but in the closet. "On the days that your mentality, decides to try to catch up with your biology, come round" Our protaganist believes that homosexuality is a biological state as well as a mental one.

The lines "I want the one I can’t have" are rather self explanatory, yet I believe, incredibly effective. This implies that the "One" is indeed straight and this causes our protaganist a great amount of grief. "And its driving me mad". The fact that its "written all over my (his) face" portrays that he is finding it hard to hide his affections for the "One". The repition of the "all over" implies that its intensity is gaining in time.

The "Double bed" represents sex and the ability to display his affection. If something/someone is "Stalwart" then he/she/it is Loyal, dependable and sturdy. The reference of a "Stalwart lover" therefore is suggesting a near-perfect companion in which to lay with in the "double bed". These terms are described as "the riches of the poor" which implies that it is something that money cannot buy.

The verse which talks of "A tough kid" is a description of the "One" through the eyes of our protaganist. This is a verse in which Morrissey’s influences and taste in men becomes evident. The description of a "Tough kid who sometimes swallowed nails" is a reference to director Howard Sachler’s description of James Dean as a "tough kid who sometimes sleeps on nails". The change of words from "sleeps" to "swallows" seems to be a reference to oral sex. Describing the "One" as a "tough kid" suggests that he is a loveable ruffian, (much to both Morrissy’s and our protaganist’s taste). "Raised on prisoner’s aids" is yet another "Tough kid" trait to which the "One" is custom to. The fact that the "One" supposedly "Killed a policeman when he was 13" suggests that he may be dangerous, which is immiedatly followed up by "and somehow that really impressed me". This shows that our protaganist is sexually aroused by thuggish and brutish acts in "somehow (somekind)" of way. Therefore the love he holds for the "One" appears to be an entirely primal and instinctual love/lust.

"And if you ever need self validation, then meet me in the alley by the railway station". This final statement seems to be a plea to the "One" urging him to come out of the closet and find himself. This can be interpreted in different ways. This plea could be a sound piece of advise that our protaganist is giving to the "One" in order for them to comence their gay relestionship. Or it could be our protaganist fruitlessly clinging onto the hopes of his clearly straight wannabe lover being his way inclined. The use of an "alley by the railway station" represents 2 things. Firstly, it represents the taste of both our protaganist and the "One" because of our protaganists love of dirty, badboy ruffians and probably the "One’s" favourite haunt of the streets, (his backyard/scene). It can also represent the dirty and corrupt road that is homosexuality because it goes against society’s perception of "natural" (Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve).

I think the double entendre you're looking for is 'all over his face.'

"A double-bed and a stalwart lover, for sure these are the riches of the poor" This is one of my favourite Morrisey lyrics and i think it means that for people who dont have much they feel privileged to have someone in their life they love and treasure, with the double bein a symbol of where one makes love.

I just realized...."A tough kid who sometimes swallows nails "....a double entendre, perhaps?

More input: I think the guy in the song (apparently one of the tough-boyish sorts that Morrissey seems to have a weakness for) is a closeted homosexual and in denial. The narrator insists that when he is finally ready to admit it ("the day that your mentality catches up with your biology"), that, well...the line"if you ever need self-validation, just meet me in the alley by the railway station" kinda says it all.

"Health, Health, the blessing of the Rich, the Riches of the Poor"

-From Edith Sitwell's "The English Eccentrics"

"A tough kid who sometimes sleeps on nails."

Director Howard Sachler's description of James Dean.

"We all want the things we can't have."

Samantha Eggar in The Collector.

I can really relate to this song 'cause I want the one I cant have. And everyone knows about it... "it's written all over my face". Haha.

I love this part:

On the day that your mentality catches up with your biology And if you ever need self-validation just meet me in the alley by the railway-station it's written all over my face

To sum it up, he's basically saying: when you start acting your age and you need a little somethin-somethin', come find me and I'll give it to you, CAUSE I WANT YOU BAD!! lol.

I don't really think the song is about a Lolita type deal. I just think it's about someone who's grown up, physically, but just refuses to act their age. They're immature, obnoxious, lazy, maybe... but he wants them oh-so-bad. But he can't have them. Maybe its a case where his head is trying to keep his heart in line; he knows in his head, that hooking up with someone immature will put a damper on where he is in his life, but his heart is screaming "come on, go for it. THEY'RE HOT!"

Just my perspective. It's a bit different from everyone elses, and probably wrong. But that's what I got from this song.

"Oh FUCK the homosexuality." The irony.

I don't think it matters if it's about homosexuality or not. I think this person in the song wants someone he can't have because of this persons age. "On the day that your mentality catches up with your biology" << this could go both ways. Either he wants this person but he/she is immature.OR he could want someone who is too young for him. She/he is mentally able to have a relationship with him but due to her/his age they would have to meet "in the alley by the railway-station." Because meeting in a public place would not look good.

It could have to do with homosexuality, but this is what I got from it.

I'm probably wrong. But the thing with The Smiths music is that one can listen to they're music and apply the meaning of the song to their own lives. That is why I love the fact that their songs are so vague.

Perhaps the dichotomy between the mentality and biology is implying that the person is too callow (mentality) for their age (biology) and the protagonist is simply waiting for the person this is directed to to act his age. Perhaps the "one he can't have" isn't up to par with the protagonist's intellect/maturity level despite the external appearance; there's a mental disconnection. Maybe the lyric's juxtaposition of mentality and biology is not attempting to induce another, countless homosexual interpretation.