"It's Not Your Birthday Anymore"
(Morrissey/Alain Whyte)

 

These words are transcribed without permission the way they appear in Morrissey's "Years Of Refusal" album. There are no variations between the printed lyrics and what Morrissey actually sings in the studio version.

Your voice it might say 'no'
but the heart has a will of its own
your voice it might say 'no'
but the heart has a heart of its own
It's not your birthday anymore
there's no need to be kind to you
and the will to see you smile and belong has now gone 1
It's not your birthday anymore
did you really think we meant
all of those syrupy, sentimental things
          that we said?
It cannot be given
and so it must be taken
it cannot be given 2
and so it must be taken
All of the gifts that they gave can't compare in any way
to the love I am now giving to you right here right now
on the floor
all of the gifts that they gave can't compare in any way
to the love I am now giving to you right here right now
on the floor
It's not your birthday anymore
there's no need to be kind to you
and the will to see you smile and belong has now gone
It's not your birthday anymore
did you really think we meant
all of those syrupy, sentimental
      things that we said yesterday?

 

1 In the only ever live performance of this song, Morrissey changed this line to "the will to see you smile and belong has just gone".

2 In the only ever live performance of this song, Morrissey changed this line to "Since it cannot be given well then it must be taken".