How Could You Want Him (When You Know You Could Have Me) Lyrics

I'm quite contented to take my chances
Against the Guildensterns and Rosencrantses
It's a matter of Cain and Abel
And I can feel your knee underneath the table

He doesn't dangle by the seraphim
He only wants a pretty face by him so
How could you want him when you know you could have me

See the pigeons peck and peck to pay the dues
They peck a little extra to re-sole their shoes
He's with the pigeons pecking crumbs
I'm on my death bed bleeding with the cherubim

He doesn't dangle by the seraphim
He only wants a pretty face by him so
How could you want him when you know you could have me

Ferocious angels send us falling stars
But I know just how dangerous your wishes are
Ferocious angels watch me come and go
But I'm not too smart to go barging off of roof tops though
No

Sit out September on a windowsill
Cause you can't drink wine from a two dollar bill
Saint Christopher lives on the end of the quill
Leave him a diamond in your last will

He doesn't dangle by the seraphim
He only wants a pretty face by him so
How could you want him when you know you could have me

How could you want him when you know you could have me
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Cover art for How Could You Want Him (When You Know You Could Have Me) lyrics by Spin Doctors

I can guarantee you that there is not one single guy out there who hasn't thought the words of this song at least once.

I know I have certainly felt this way.

Cover art for How Could You Want Him (When You Know You Could Have Me) lyrics by Spin Doctors

A universal theme: I'd SWEAR you were meant to be with me. Why on earth are you with that person instead?

I really love all the religious imagery woven into the lyrics -- angels, seraphim, cherubim, St. Christopher. It almost implies a spiritual connection between the narrator and the object of his affection -- one that he doesn't think she shares with her actual partner.

There are a million torch songs with a smarmy martyr complex, a la "I want my beloved to be happy." There are a million worse ones, whining "How come you only want jerks when I'm such a Nice Guy?" This one actually strikes the balance somehow, and lets us believe that there's some actual love lost -- that this broken heart is actually worth regretting.

My Interpretation
 
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