He was a sweet and tender hooligan, hooligan
He said that he'd never, never do it again
And of course he won't
Oh, not until the next time

He was a sweet and tender hooligan, hooligan
He swore that he'd never, never do it again
And of course he won't
Oh, not until the next time

Poor old man
He had an accident with a three-bar fire
But that's okay
Because he wasn't very happy anyway

Poor old woman
Strangled in her very own bed as she read
But that's okay
Because she was old and she would have died anyway

Don't blame the sweet and tender hooligan, hooligan
Because he'll never, never, never, never, never do it again
Not until the next time

Jury, you've heard every word, so before you decide
Would you look into those "mother me" eyes
I love you for you, my love, you, my love
You, my love, you, my love
Jury, you've heard every word, but before you decide
Would you look into those "mother me" eyes
I love you for you, my love, you, my love
I love you just for you, my love

Don't blame the sweet and tender hooligan, hooligan
Because he'll never, never do it again
And in the midst of life we are in death etcetera

Don't forget the hooligan, hooligan
Because he'll never, never do it again
And in the midst of life we are in death etcetera

Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera
In the midst of life we are in debt, etcetera
Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera
In the midst of life we are in debt, etcetera

Just will you free me?
Will you find me?
Will you free me?
Will you find me?
Will you free me, free me, free me, free me, free me?
Jury will you free me?
Will you find me?
Will you free me?
Will you find me?
How will you find me, find me, find me, find me, find me, find me, find me?

Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera
Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera
In the midst of life we are in debt, etcetera
Oh, oh


Lyrics submitted by weezerific:cutlery, edited by Mellow_Harsher

Sweet and Tender Hooligan Lyrics as written by Johnny Marr Steven Morrissey

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Sweet and Tender Hooligan song meanings
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24 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    This must be one of Morrissey's best ever vocals and the music never fails to speed up my heartbeat, especially the last minute or so. This song was brave in that it was more fashionable at the time (as now) to take the criminal's side rather than the victim...the sweet and tender hooligan would be more likely to be buying Smiths records than his aged prey. Definately in my Smiths top 5.

    Boss Manon July 19, 2005   Link

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