Wor(l)d of Morrissey
  We're back! Welcome to the world of Morrissey's lyrics.

This site and all of the work made to keep it updated during the last 25 years are dedicated to my beloved friend MaCa65 who suddenly left this lonely planet
and me without words. Throughout the short stretch of time that we have been given to spend together as close friends, we shared many things,
thoughts, passions and some bits of Life. Back in 1983, together we discovered a band called The Smiths and together since then, we followed Morrissey's career
as one of the most influential and inspiring singer/artist/poet of our age. Maca65 has always been a strong supporter since when I first launched WoM,
so this is and will always be entirely for you, my friend. -- David

Home
News
Lyrics
Lyrics Updates
Who's Who
Literary Treasure Hunt
LTH Form
Links
Contact
Copyleft
Full-Text Lyrics Search
Albums
[b-sides]
[covers]
[singles]
[unreleased]
Beethoven Was Deaf
Bona Drag
Greatest Hits
Hatful Of Hollow
I Am Not A Dog On A Chain
Kill Uncle
Live At Earls Court
Louder Than Bombs
Low In High School
Maladjusted
Meat Is Murder
My Early Burglary Years
Rank
Rare Tracks
Ringleader Of The Tormentors
Southpaw Grammar
Southpaw Grammar (LE)
Strangeways, Here We Come
Swords
The Queen Is Dead
The Smiths
The World Won't Listen
Vauxhall And I
Viva Hate
Without Music The World Dies
World Of Morrissey
World Peace Is None Of Your Business
Years Of Refusal
You Are The Quarry
Your Arsenal


© 2003-2024
David LM
Sweet And Tender Hooligan

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

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

Poor old man
He had an "accident" with a three bar fire1
But that's OK
Because he wasn't very happy anyway
A poor woman2
Strangled in her very own bed as she read
But that's OK
Because she was old and she would have died anyway
DON'T BLAME
This sweet and tender hooligan
Because he'll never, never.. never do it again
(Not until the next time)

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
You, my love
You, my love

Jury, you've heard every word
But before you decide
Would you look into those Mother-me eyes3
I love you for you, my love
You, my love
I love you just for you, my love

Don't blame
This sweet and tender hooligan
Because he'll never, never do it again
And "In the midst of life we are in debt ETC4"

Forget the hooligan
Because he'll never, never do it again
And "In the midst of life we are in debt ETC"

ETC ETC ETC ETC
"IN THE MIDST OF LIFE WE ARE IN DEBT ETC"

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

ETC ETC ETC ETC
"IN THE MIDST OF LIFE WE ARE IN DEBT ETC"



Yet another song which did not receive the grace of a proper studio version, unfairly in this case.
An excellently raucous Marr adds weight to Morrissey's ironic lyrics.

The lyrics suggest a vivid portrait of a young murderer who tries to defend himself and appeals to judicial clemency. On the trails of "I Want The One I Can't Have" and "The Queen Is Dead", Morrissey depicts one of his favourite topic, both in The Smiths and solo compositions: juvenile crime.

1 three bar fire: a household appliance used to warm rooms. Originally it was a 'three ring fire' to cause the old man accident.

2 poor woman: originally the lyrics reported a strangled 'poor girl'.

3 mother-me eyes: in the early demos it was 'cuddle-me eyes'.

4 in the midst of life we are in debt: Morrissey recites from the standard church burial service. In the early demos Morrissey sang 'in the midst of life we are in death'.



Album: Louder Than Bombs
Year of Publication: 1988
Lyrics: Morrissey
Music: Johnny Marr

last update: 02.11.2024

Do you have additions and/or corrections about the lyrics or comments?
Please send them in! or
Write on the Message Board of these lyrics! or
Read the Message Board about these lyrics!
Dolce e tenero teppista

Era un dolce e tenero teppista
E diceva che non l'avrebbe mai, non l'avrebbe fatto mai più
E naturalmente non lo farà
(Non fino alla prossima volta)

Era un dolce e tenero teppista
E giurava che non l'avrebbe mai, non l'avrebbe fatto mai più
E naturalmente non lo farà
(Non fino alla prossima volta)

Povero vecchio,
Ebbe un "incidente" con una stufetta elettrica
Ma va bene
Perché non era molto felice comunque
Una povera donna
Strangolata nel suo stesso letto mentre leggeva
Ma va bene
Perché era vecchia e sarebbe morta comunque
Non incolpate
Questo dolce e tenero teppista
Perché lui non lo farà, mai, mai più
(Non fino alla prossima volta)

Giurati, voi avete dunque udito ogni parola
Ma prima che decidiate
Guardate in quegli occhi imploranti
Io ti amo per te, amor mio
Per te, amor mio
Per te, amor mio
Per te, amor mio

Giurati, voi avete dunque udito ogni parola
Ma prima che decidiate
Guardate in quegli occhi imploranti
Io ti amo per te, amor mio
Per te, amor mio
Ti amo solo per te, amor mio

Non incolpate
Questo dolce e tenero teppista
Perché lui non lo farà, mai, mai più
E "Nel mezzo della nostra vita, siamo debitori ecc."

Dimenticatevi del dolce e tenero teppista
Perché lui non lo farà, mai, mai più
E "Nel mezzo della nostra vita, siamo debitori ecc."

Eccetera... Eccetera...  Eccetera...  Eccetera...
"Nel mezzo della nostra vita, siamo debitori ecc."

"Mi libererete e basta?
Mi troverete, mi libererete, mi troverete?
Mi libererete, mi libererete, mi libererete,
mi libererete, mi libererete?
Giuria, mi libererete?
Mi troverete, mi libererete, mi troverete?
Mi troverete, mi troverete, mi troverete,
mi troverete, mi troverete?"

Eccetera... Eccetera...  Eccetera...  Eccetera...
"Nel mezzo della nostra vita, siamo debitori ecc."


Un'altra canzone che non ha ricevuto il dono di un'adeguata versione da studio, ingiustamente in questo caso. Un rauco Marr aggiunge peso alle parole ironiche di Morrissey.

Il testo suggerisce il ritratto vivido di un giovane assassino che cerca di difendersi in tribunale appellandosi alla clemenza della giuria. Nel solco di "I Want The One I Can't Have" e "The Queen Is Dead", Morrissey dipinge uno dei suoi temi preferiti, nei testi degli Smiths come in quelli della carriera solistica: il crimine giovanile.

1 three bar fire: una stufetta elettrica, elettrodomestico molto comune usato per riscaldare stanze e ambienti. Così chiamato perché può erogare tre livelli di calore. Inizialmente era un 'three ring fire' a causare l'incidente all'uomo anziano.

2 poor woman: in origine il testo riportava lo strangolamento di una 'poor girl'/'povera ragazza'.

3 mother-me eyes: nelle prime versioni demo il verso conteneva 'cuddle-me eyes' (pressappoco: occhi bisognosi d'affetto).

4 in the midst of life we are in debt: Morrissey recita dal servizio funebre standard della chiesa. Nelle prime versioni Morrissey cantava 'in the midst of life we are in death'.


Album: Louder Than Bombs
Anno di pubblicazione: 1988
Testo: Morrissey
Musica: Johnny Marr

ultimo agg.: 02.11.2024

Avete correzioni alla traduzione, aggiunte al commento e alle note?
Allora scrivete! oppure
Scrivete sul Message Board di questo testo! oppure
Leggete i commenti degli altri visitatori su questo testo!