The Smiths signed to the independent label Rough Trade Records in 1983 and released their first album, The Smiths, in 1984. They based their songs on the songwriting partnership of Morrissey and Marr. Their focus on a guitar, bass, and drum sound and a fusion of 1960s rock and post-punk was a rejection of the synth-pop sound that was predominant at the time. Several Smiths singles reached the top 20 of the UK Singles Chart, and all their studio albums reached the top five of the UK Albums Chart, including the number-one album Meat Is Murder (1985). They achieved mainstream success in Europe with The Queen Is Dead (1986) and Strangeways, Here We Come (1987), both of which entered the top 20 of the European Albums Chart.
Internal tensions led to the Smiths' breakup in 1987, followed by public lawsuits over royalties. Their live album Rank (1988) reached the top 10 in Europe. Since the band's dissolution, the members have refused offers to reunite and have all separately stated that the band is finished and will never reunite.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Smiths
Studio albums
The Smiths (1984)
Meat Is Murder (1985)
The Queen Is Dead (1986)
Strangeways, Here We Come (1987)
03. I Want The One I Can't Have
The Smiths Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Decides to try to catch up with your biology
Come round ...
'Cause I want the one I can't have
And it's driving me mad
It's all over, all over, all over my face
Catches up with your biology
I want the one I can't have
And it's driving me mad
It's all over, all over, all over my face
A double bed
And a stalwart lover for sure
These are the riches of the poor
A double bed
And a stalwart lover for sure
These are the riches of the poor
And I want the one I can't have
And it's driving me mad
It's all over, all over my face
A tough kid who sometimes swallows nails
Raised on Prisoner's Aid
He killed a policeman when he was
Thirteen
And somehow that really impressed
Me
And it's written all over my face
Oh, these are the riches of the poor
These are the riches of the poor
I want the one I can't have
And it's driving me mad
It's written all over my face
On the day that your mentality
Catches up with your biology
And if you ever need self-validation
Just meet me in the alley by the
Railway station
It's all over my face
Oh...
In “I Want The One I Can’t Have,” The Smiths' Morrissey expresses his unrequited desire for someone he cannot have. The lyrics suggest that his physical desires do not align with his mental or emotional needs. The song portrays him as tortured by his longing for someone who is out of reach, and he can't overcome his feelings. The song’s opening lines allude to the saying “mind over matter” by saying “the day that your mentality catches up with your biology,” indicating that his physical desire for someone is not good enough for him. Morrissey also sings about a “tough kid” who defies authority, which suggests an admiration for someone's rebellious spirit. Still, it is unclear whether this character is real or a figment of Morrissey's imagination.
In the last verse, Morrissey suggests that if you ever need self-validation, meet him in the alley by the railway station. He asserts his own physical desires, indicating that he is willing to give in to his desires to get the validation he needs, even if it is just for a moment. The song's final lines reveal that his unfulfilled longing is noticeable to others, as it is "all over, all over, all over my face."
Line by Line Meaning
On the day that your mentality Decides to try to catch up with your biology
When you finally make an effort to align your thoughts with biological instincts.
Come round ...
Come here, be with me.
'Cause I want the one I can't have And it's driving me mad It's all over, all over, all over my face
I desire the unattainable and it's consuming me, impossible to hide my emotions.
A double bed And a stalwart lover for sure These are the riches of the poor
A bed to share and a reliable partner are valuable treasures, especially for those with modest means.
And I want the one I can't have And it's driving me mad It's all over, all over, all over my face
My yearning for what I can't have is driving me crazy and it's written all over my face.
A tough kid who sometimes swallows nails Raised on Prisoner's Aid He killed a policeman when he was Thirteen And somehow that really impressed Me And it's written all over my face
I'm impressed by a hardened young man who faced adversity and committed a heinous crime at a young age, unaware it's affecting how I feel and how I present myself.
Oh, these are the riches of the poor These are the riches of the poor
The simple pleasures, like love and companionship, are worth more than superficial wealth.
And if you ever need self-validation Just meet me in the alley by the Railway station It's all over my face Oh...
If you ever want someone to reassure you, come see me in a hidden place by the railroad, but don't forget my feelings are obvious.
On the day that your mentality Catches up with your biology
When you finally align your thoughts with biological instincts.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STEVEN MORRISSEY, JOHNNY MARR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@danielaclaro5368
On the day that your mentality
Decides to try to catch up with your biology
Come round ...
'Cause I want the one I can't have
And it's driving me mad
It's all over, all over, all over my face
On the day that your mentality
Catches up with your biology
I want the one I can't have
And it's driving me mad
It's all over, all over, all over my face
A double bed
And a stalwart lover for sure
These are the riches of the poor
A double bed
And a stalwart lover for sure
These are the riches of the poor
And I want the one I can't have
And it's driving me mad
It's all over, all over my face
A tough kid who sometimes swallows nails
Raised on Prisoner's Aid
He killed a policeman when he was
Thirteen
And somehow that really impressed
Me
And it's written all over my face
Oh, these are the riches of the poor
These are the riches of the poor
I want the one I can't have
And it's driving me mad
It's written all over my face
On the day that your mentality
Catches up with your biology
And if you ever need self-validation
Just meet me in the alley by the
Railway station
It's all over my face
Oh...
@MrJibsIV
I love how there's a Smith's song I can relate to for every possible way that a loving relationship will never work out for me.
@kajijko2645
Same here. This song makes me love sick for the one I can't have
@donpeace894
Ditto
@jizanthapus3099
he really covers all the bases huh
@YasminePomerantz
@@kajijko2645 be happy you have someone
@TheMrTJWhite
Come on man,.have some faith in yourself
@kevinhall2829
Seriously how can a band be this good.
@donpeace894
It's not possible
@caymancurrell1597
There are few band who's entire catalogues are celebrated. The Smiths are one of the few.
@VaporwaveMusic1998
ik right!