I Want The One I Can't Have – English Lyrics

• By: The Smiths
• Album: Meat Is Murder

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the heart of 1980s British indie with The Smiths' 'I Want The One I Can't Have.' This song is a perfect entry point into the poetic and often melancholic world of Morrissey's lyrics, offering a poignant look at themes of longing and desire. By exploring the clever wordplay and emotional depth of the lyrics, you can gain a unique insight into the English language as crafted by one of its most distinctive modern wordsmiths. The song's blend of upbeat music and somber themes makes it a truly special and enduring piece of music.

[English]

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

But 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

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
mentality /menˈtælɪti/ C1	noun - the characteristic way of thinking of a person or group
biology /baɪˈɒlədʒi/ B2	noun - the scientific study of living organisms
decide /dɪˈsaɪd/ B1	verb - to make a choice or come to a conclusion about something
catch /kætʃ/ B1	verb - to capture or seize something verb - to understand something
want /wɒnt/ A1	verb - to desire or wish for something
have /hæv/ A1	verb - to possess or own
drive /draɪv/ B1	verb - to operate a vehicle verb - to cause or motivate something to happen
mad /mæd/ A2	adjective - angry or upset adjective - insane or mentally ill
face /feɪs/ A1	noun - the front part of a person's head
stalwart /ˈstɔːlwɔːt/ C1	adjective - loyal, reliable, and strongly built
riches /ˈrɪtʃɪz/ B2	noun - wealth; abundant valuable possessions
poor /pɔːr/ A2	adjective - having little money or resources
tough /tʌf/ B2	adjective - strong and durable; difficult to deal with
kid /kɪd/ A1	noun - a child; a young person
swallow /ˈswɒləʊ/ B1	verb - to cause or allow something to pass down the throat
nail /neɪl/ A2	noun - a small metal spike used for fastening
prisoner /ˈprɪzənər/ B1	noun - a person confined in prison or captivity
policeman /ˈpɒlsɪmən/ B1	noun - a member of the police force; law‑enforcement officer
impress /ɪmˈpres/ B2	verb - to make a strong, favorable impact on someone
write /raɪt/ A1	verb - to form letters, words, or symbols on a surface

Key Grammar Structures

• On the day that your mentality decides to try to catch up with your biology

  ➔ Relative Clause

  ➔ The phrase "that your mentality decides to try to catch up with your biology" is a relative clause modifying "the day." It provides additional information about the specific day being referred to.

• Come 'round 'cause I want the one I can't have

  ➔ Contraction and Causative Conjunction

  ➔ `'round` is a contraction of "around," and `'cause` is a contraction of "because." The causative conjunction `'cause` links the reason for the action.

• It's all over, all over, all over my face

  ➔ Repetition for Emphasis

  ➔ The phrase "all over" is repeated three times to emphasize the intensity of the emotion being expressed.

• A double bed and a stalwart lover for sure

  ➔ Coordination of Nouns

  ➔ The nouns "double bed" and "stalwart lover" are coordinated using the conjunction "and" to list items of equal importance.

• These are the riches of the poor

  ➔ Subject-Verb Agreement

  ➔ The plural subject "These" agrees with the plural verb "are," following standard subject-verb agreement rules.

• He killed a policeman when he was thirteen

  ➔ Past Simple Tense with Time Clause

  ➔ The past simple tense "killed" is used to describe a completed action, and the time clause "when he was thirteen" specifies when the action occurred.