The Smiths – I Keep Mine Hidden

"I Keep Mine Hidden" as written by Johnny Marr and Steven Patrick Morrissey....
Hate, love and war
Force emotions to the fore
But not for me, of course
Of course
I keep mine hidden
Oh...

I keep mine hidden
But it's so easy for you
Because you let yours flail
Into public view
Oh, oh...

Yellow and green
A stumbling block
I'm a twenty-digit combination to unlock
With a past where to be 'touched'
Meant to be 'mental'

Ooh, I keep mine hidden
The lies are so easy for you
Because you let yours slide
Into public view
Oh...

Use your loaf!


Lyrics submitted by Midxcore

"I Keep Mine Hidden" as written by Johnny Marr Steven Morrissey

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

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I Keep Mine Hidden song meanings
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7 Comments

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  • +1
    General CommentYellow and green are two colours that express characteristics in a person. Yellow is cowardice and green is envy; inexperience, or it could be both.

    They are astumbling block because these characteristics are what prevents the person in the song from opening up to anyone. This is why he keeps his hidden.
    dirtyveston June 08, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General CommentThis song has to be the catchiest Smiths song. Also, it has the best lines; I love the ones "With a past where to be touched meant to be mental" and "I'm a twenty digit combination to unlock".

    I feel it would kind of be a waste of money to buy the only album it is on (I think it is the only album...) Sweet and Tender Hooligan. I have half of the four songs already (from my first CDs, "The Sound of the Smiths"), and I do not really like song covers, which the other is (Cilla Black cover, Work Is a Four Letter Word).

    If anyone knows another album where I can get this song, REPLY REPLY REPLY!!!
    Thnx
    PaintAVulgarPicon April 08, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI Keep Mine Hidden was the last song The Smiths recorded together. It's a cute little music hall ditty, whistling and all, with a few interesting lyrical "riddles", such as the significance of "yellow and green", which probably refers to a pair of pants (!) Morrissey owned in his youth.
    draizetrainon December 12, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentIn the book "Songs That Saved Your Life", it says that this song is about Morrissey comparing his way of expressing emotions with Johnny Marr. Although it seems as though it could be about celibacy.
    Shadowmelodyon December 18, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Commenti think its about keeping stuff hidden like feelings "Duh" - the send verse "yellow and green" i think refers to the line in shakespeare "yellow and green melancoly" which a character uses 2 describe the way shes feelin 2 a man she loves but never tells him- jst a fort
    AKARebelon March 02, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentSo few comments for this, which I think is a great song. Seems that the singer is noting how private he is, especially with his emotions compared with someone who willingly lets them flow out for all to see.
    Havok181on April 11, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General CommentOkay, I found it on the single "Girlfriend in a Coma". Any others?
    PaintAVulgarPicon April 11, 2010   Link
    • 2 Replies

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