MORRISSEY lyrics of the week

Another lyricist for whom I could have chosen any one of numerous songs. I picked 'Late Night, Maudlin Street' for its poetic qualities. On paper, you'd never know that this was even a song at all.


The last night on Maudlin Street
Goodbye house, goodbye stairs
I was born here
And I was raised here, and
...I took some stick here.
Love at first sight
may sound trite
But it's true, you know
I could list the detail
of everything you ever wore or said
or how you stood the day.
As we spend the last night
on Maudlin Street
"Goodbye house, forever!"
I never stole a happy hour
around here,
where the world's ugliest boy
became what you see
Here I am - the ugliest man!
Oh, the last night on Maudlin Street
Truly I do love you
Oh, truly I do love you.
When I sleep
with that picture of you framed beside my bed
Oh, it's childish and it's silly
but I think it's you in my room, by the bed
(...yes, I told you it was silly...).
And I know
I took strange pills
but I never meant to hurt you
Oh, truly I do love you.
Came home late one night,
everyone had gone to bed
But, you know
No-one stays up for you
I had sixteen stitches
all around my head.
Oh, the last bus I missed to Maudlin Street
So he drove me home in the Van
Complaining, "Women only like me for my mind..."
Don't leave your torch behind
A powercut ahead; 1972, you know.
And so we crept through the park
No, I cannot steal a pair of jeans off a clothesline
for you.
But you ... without clothes
Oh, I could not keep a straight face
Me without clothes ?
Well, a nation turns its back and gags...
I'm packed
I am moving house
A half-life disappears today
With "every hand waves me on"
(secretly wishing me gone)
Well, I will be soon
Oh, I will be soon...
There were bad times on Maudlin Street
They took you away in a police car
"Inspector - don't you know?
"Don't you care?
"Don't you know - about Love?"
Your gran died
and your mother died
on Maudlin Street.
In pain, and ashamed
with never time to say
those special things ... oh
I took the key from Maudlin Street
Well, it's only bricks and mortar!
Oh, oh, truly I love you
wherever you are...
Wherever you are
I hope you're singing now
Oh, I hope you're singing now...