Stretch Out and Wait

This song is about persuasive, uncomfortable seduction. There are two versions of this song, this version is later and the extra lyrics add some meat (sorry Morrissey) to the bones.

"All the lies that you make up What's at the back of your mind?"

Is the least ambiguous of all the Smiths lyrics.
Knowing someone has an ulterior motive as they are spinning you bullshit about how great they are.

"Oh, your face I can see And it's desperately kind But what's at the back of your mind?"

Again, speaks for itself but alludes to the fact that the attention might be reciprocated..

"Two icy-cold hands conducting the way"

I believe is the feel of someones cold hands on your own skin

"It's the Eskimo blood in my veins"

is open to interpretation, but sounds a little like conversation as in keeping with the rest of the song.

"Amid concrete and clay And general decay"

The "other" version of this song refers to "On the High Rise Estate, Whats at the back of your mind?" So this is the setting, the gnarly urban backdrop, a disheveled flat.

" Nature must still find a way"

Life goes on, people have natural sexual urges.

"So ignore all the codes of the day Let your juvenile impulses sway This way and that way This way, that way"

This is being implored to question sexuality. The notion of " ignoring codes" is to kick back at convention. The "juvenile" reference defines the age of the protagonist and suggests the seducer is somewhat older.

"God, how sex implores you To let yourself lose yourself"

The fiercely strong urge to satiate ones sexual urges. And at that apex you have the chorus and....

"Stretch out and wait" Suggests a complicit climb down, a backing off by the seducer.

"As we lie, you say : Will the world end in the night time? (I really don't know) Or will the world end in the day time? (I really don't know) And is there any point ever having children? Oh, I don't know All I do know is we're here and it's now"

This was penned when most young people in urban areas in Britan (and presumably across Europe, both East and West and in the US) were convinced that nuclear war was inevitable. You questioned the "point" of lots of things. So much UK popular culture at that time reflected that fear. {PLEASE watch "When The Wind Blows" by Raymond Briggs - it's on youtube} From comedy shows to "What If" documentaries but it was music, the language of British youth that this fear was most visible.

"There is no debate, no debate, no debate How can you consciously contemplate When there's no debate, no debate?"

Clearly, how can you make up your mind about something without challenging it - again a nudge toward questioning one own sexuality.