These words are transcribed without permission the way they appear in the "Vauxhall & I" album. Additions to the printed lyrics are in darker text while omissions are striken out.

And when you slam
down the hammer
can you see it in your heart? ¹
All of the rumours
keeping me grounded ²
I never said, I never said that they were
completely unfounded
so when you slam
down the hammer
can you see it in your heart?
can you delve so low?
and when you're standing
on my fingers
can you see it in your heart?
and when you try
to break my spirit
it won't work ³
because there's nothing left to break
anymore
All of the rumours
keeping me grounded
I never said, I never said that they were
completely unfounded
You won't sleep ⁴
until the earth that wants me
finally has me
oh you've done it now
You won't rest ⁴
until the hearse that becomes me
finally takes me
oh you've done it now
And You won't smile
until my loving mouth ⁵
is shut good and proper
FOREVER
All of the rumours
keeping me grounded ¹
I never said, I never said that they were
completely unfounded
and all those lies
written lies, twisted lies
well, they weren't lies
they weren't lies
they weren't lies
I never said, I never said
I could have mentioned your name
I could have dragged you in
guilt by implication
by association
I've always been true to you
in my own strange way
I've always been true to you
in my own sick way
I'll always stay true to you

 

² In live performances of this song on the 1995 Boxers and Outside tours Morrissey often changed this line to "all of the rumours leaving me grounded". He also did it on some rare occasions on the 1997 Maladjusted tour and the 1999-2000 Oye Esteban tour.

³ In live performances of this song on the 1995 and 1997 tours Morrissey changed this line to "when you try to break my spirit, it just won't happen". On the Oye Esteban tour he often did the latter, but also the slight variations "it's never gonna happen" or "it won't happen". In 2002 he alternated between "it won't happen", "it just won't happen" and "it's never gonna happen".

⁴ Early on the 1997 Maladjusted tour Morrissey sometimes reversed the "You won't rest" and "You won't sleep" lines, or sang "You won't rest" both times. In 2002 he occasionally reversed the two lines, perhaps distractedly.

⁵ In live performances of this song on the 1995 Boxers tour Morrissey changed this line to "until my ugly mouth is shut good and proper". He also did this very few times on the 1997 Maladjusted tour. On the Oye Esteban and 2002 tours the standard form was "until this ugly mouth gets shut good and proper". On the Oye Esteban tour and sometimes in 2002 he followed the latter line with a shout of "Yes!" instead of "...forever".

Note: According to a Jonny Bridgwood (bass player on the "Vauxhall & I" album on which this song was first released) interview by Johnny Rogan, the opening sound of this song is not a chainsaw, or a motorcycle, but a drill, 'played' by engineer Danton Supple. However, producer Steve Lillywhite said that the sound was that of a chainsaw.

Quotes

Morrissey, Les Inrockuptibles magazine, 1995:
Q: In the song Speedway, you say you believe in loyalty, which can sound a bit paradoxical to someone who spends his time fighting with everybody.
M: I believe in my loyalty which is as developed as possible. What must be looked at is the others' loyalty towards me.
Q: Though when we listen to you, the loyalty you offer to others is quite particularly "strange".
M: My loyalty is strange because I'm strange (smile) ...
Q: In the next line, you bluntly sing "In my own sick way..."
M: Because I'm sick! I'm deeply ill! I should introduce you to my doctor ... I'm sick, I'm sick, I'm sick! I'm thirty-sick!