The one I love
Is standing near
The one I love
Is everywhere
I can woo you
I can amuse you
But there is nothing I can do to make you mine
Black cloud, black cloud

The one I love
Roosts in the mind
Can snap this spell
Or increase hell
I can chase you
And I can catch you
But there is nothing I can do to make you mine
Black cloud, black cloud
Oh, black cloud
Oh, black cloud

I play the game
Of favorites now
I can I must
I will I do
I can please you
Or I can freeze you out
But there is nothing I can do to make you mine
Black cloud, black cloud, black cloud
I can choke myself to please you
And I can sink much lower than usual
But there's nothing I can do
To make you mine

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Morrissey's song Black Cloud may seem simple at first glance, but they are quite complex and layered upon closer examination. The song is essentially about unrequited love and the pain and frustration that comes with it. The lyrics convey the singer's deep desire for the person they love, who is always present in their mind, but no matter what they do, they cannot seem to make that person theirs. The repeated phrase "black cloud" is a metaphor for the singer's gloom and sorrow over their unattainable love interest.

The opening lines of the song suggest that the person the singer loves is physically close, yet it seems that they are still out of reach. The lines "I can woo you / I can amuse you / But there is nothing I can do to make you mine" show that the singer has tried all sorts of tactics to win their love, to no avail. The second verse suggests that the person the singer loves resides primarily in their mind, and the lines "I can chase you / And I can catch you / But there is nothing I can do to make you mine" show that even when the singer thinks they have caught their love interest, they remain out of their grasp. The third verse implies that the singer has resorted to playing games to try and win their love, but even then, "there is nothing I can do to make you mine."

Overall, Morrissey's Black Cloud is a heartbreaking and relatable song about the pain of unrequited love, and the desperation that comes with it.

Line by Line Meaning

The one I love Is standing near
The person I love is physically close to me.

The one I love Is everywhere
The person I love is constantly on my mind and feels present even when they're not around.

I can woo you I can amuse you But there is nothing I can do to make you mine
I can try to impress and entertain you, but ultimately I cannot make you love me or choose me.

Black cloud, black cloud
This repeated phrase represents the dark, hopeless feeling of being unable to attain the love I desire.

The one I love Roosts in the mind Can snap this spell Or increase hell
My love for this person is mental and emotional, and their actions and decisions can either break my infatuation or intensify my suffering.

I can chase you And I can catch you But there is nothing I can do to make you mine
I can pursue you and even win your attention, but I cannot force you to return my love or choose to be with me.

Oh, black cloud Oh, black cloud
This repeated phrase emphasizes the persistent, inescapable feeling of despair and powerlessness in the face of unrequited love.

I play the game Of favorites now I can I must I will I do
I feel like I'm trying to win a competition for your affections, and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to gain your attention and affection.

I can please you Or I can freeze you out But there is nothing I can do to make you mine
I can either try to make you like me by being accommodating and attentive, or I can reject you and ignore you, but none of these actions will actually make you love me back.

Black cloud, black cloud, black cloud
This repeated phrase reinforces the idea that my hopelessness and pain will continue, and that I am stuck in this unhappy situation.

I can choke myself to please you And I can sink much lower than usual But there's nothing I can do To make you mine
I am so desperate to win your love that I would sacrifice my own well-being and integrity, but ultimately none of these extreme efforts will change the fact that you don't feel the same way about me.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVEN MORRISSEY, MARTIN JAMES BOORER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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