I Can Have Both

I think he's saying that love is blind, genderless, and that our society is delusional to think that we've got to torture ourselves into denying ourselves love because they're of the wrong gender? That if someone loves you, and you find yourselves loving them... well, love is love. orientation definitions are arbitrary, as we're all human and life's too short to be cramming ourselves into boxes. I think we're too rigid about love, too, and I'm not talking sexual love; think about how sexual tension really undermines communication between some people, just because they're of the opposite gender; most people believe they have to seek another person out for sex, or that to treat someone with love indicates you're sexually interested in them...There's not enough love in nonsexual relationships, people are cold to one another because they don't want to seem like they're flirting with a member of the same or opposite sex, for instance. It's like we commit ourselves to loving one person at a time and pushing everyone else away, reducing love to sex alone; we live in a sex obsessed society, and he's saying it's ridiculous to live like this. well, in this song, obviously, saying he can have both; but I think what I've summarized is the message he sends through a great deal of his music.
I can't believe how quickly I've written all of this. Beautiful song, I agree.

I would agree- I think that this is about bisexuality. In Morrissey's autobiography, he describes himself as being "humansexual" rather than homo or heterosexual.

bisexuality?

The shop is an abstract metaphor for a (perhaps purely sexual) relationship – entering it means entering a relationship. The treats resemble the positive qualities of said (perhaps imagined) person, and/or likely the "sexual treats" each sex comes with.

The protagonist asks himself whether he should just take what he wants. Should he just take whatever treats he desires, as in should he just (recklessly) have relationships and/or sex with anyone (of any sex)?

The entire song is filled with uncertainty regarding whether he actually may have both ("I'm trying to explain to the voice inside I can have both") , so much so that the protagonist tries to change it to certainty, by repetitively stating "I can have both". This saying becomes a sort of mantra for him, especially at the last stanza.

The uncertainty comes from the people around the protagonist "[w]ho've brainwashed the small shy boy inside" into believing he could not have both (sexes as potential partners).

Another aspect to the song is the fact the protagonist is not sure whether he should actively take the initiative and choose (one sex), or whether he should just wait for the person inside the shop to "entice" him and draw him in, meaning whether he should just let things happen and let others take the initiative to convince him of entering a relationship, or not. This inner conflict is not truly resolved, for the protagonist is "[s]miling through the window" – actually making a clear sign of interest – but "to the one who never serves you", someone who will not open the door and let him into the shop, their heart and/or body – at least not easily. This is the moment where the protagonist asks himself "[s]hould I take as I feel like it - well shall I, oh shall I? Or should I wait and hope to be dragged inside?" Again, making clear how unsure he is whether he should make the next obvious step and directly approach this person (who likely is of the same gender, given that homosexual relationships are discouraged by society), or let the other take the lead. This way, the protagonist would not have to choose, but let the other choose him.

So, in the end, it does not matter if he does not choose (a sex) or not – he can have both (sexes) anyways, and both can have him – depending on whoever intrigues and asks him inside their heart and/or body.

What? No-one has written anything about this song yet? It's so beautiful. What exactly can he have both of?

yourself*

and of course, I could be completely off the mark whee, I'm filling this whole page myself

I agree with what zooetrope said about life in general, but I think this song is about sexual love.

yeah, I think I got a bit carried away ^^;

This is one of my favorite moz songs. It always strikes a nerve in me. I do not however think its about sex. I really feel in his heart he is working class but the reality is that he no longer actually is. His success and his "making it" almost sometimes doesn't feel real. Looking at the "one who never serves you" is a past memory... But it still feels like a fact. Trying to explain to his now better situated self and the small shy boy that he deserves and can truly have exactly what he wants. That's what I think... But than again I am one of his poorer fans. I love you Morrissey!