The Hand That Rocks The Cradle

Cover art

THE SMITHS Song
Name	The Hand That Rocks The Cradle
Album/Single	The Smiths
Length	4:38
Recorded	Autumn 1983
Writer	Morrissey/Marr
Producer	John Porter

Information

• A monitor mix of this song appears on The Smiths – Unreleased Demos & Instrumentals bootleg LP.

Lyrics

Please don't cry

For the ghost and the storm outside Will not invade this sacred shrine Nor infiltrate your mind

My life down I shall lie If the bogey-man should try To play tricks on your sacred mind To tease, torment and tantalize

Wavering shadows loom A piano plays in an empty room There'll be blood on the cleaver tonight And when darkness lifts and the room is bright I'll still be by your side for you are all that matters And I'll love you till the day I die There never need be longing in your eyes As long as the hand that rocks the cradle is mine

Ceiling shadows shimmy by And when the wardrobe towers like a beast of prey There's sadness in your beautiful eyes Your untouched, unsoiled, wondrous eyes

My life down I shall lie Should restless spirits try To play tricks on your sacred mind I once had a child and it saved my life I never even asked his name I just looked into his wondrous eyes And said "never never never again"

And all too soon I did return Just like a moth to a flame So rattle my bones all over the stones I'm only a beggar-man whom nobody owns See how words as old as sin Fit me like a glove I'm here and here I'll stay Together we lie, together we pray There never need be longing in your eyes As long as the hand that rocks the cradle is mine As long as the hand that rocks the cradle is mine, mine

Climb upon my knee, sonny boy Oh, though you're only three, sonny boy You're mine And your mother she just never knew As long as there's love As long as there's love I did my best for her I did my best for her As long as there's love As long as there's love I did my best for her I did my best for her Mine... Mine...