He Can't Marry Her - Paul Heaton, Jacqui Abbott

Couple came into the bar

They were close, but clearly not together

You could see from not so far

He’d stood by her through every kind of weather

They sat down, they bought a drink

They didn’t give the eye to any other

But for everyone to think

They were just a sister and a brother

You can’t marry her

'Cause she’s gonna be somebody else’s wife

But still smile with her

And you’ll be smiling for the rest of your life

He can’t marry her (He can’t marry her)

'Cause she’ll always be somebody else’s dame

He can’t even ask (He can’t even ask)

He could never live with that amount of shame

He can’t say to her (Say to her, say to her)

That he loves her more than any of his own

But just look at him (Look at him, look at him)

He’ll be with her, or forever he’s alone

And as they idly chatted

He laughed at every single word she spoke

But she never noticed anything

Like she hadn’t when his feeble heart had broke

After they had finished up

Hugged each other, left to separate cars

The man who served them all their drinks

Leant to me, and passed me a cigar

Oh, we’ll light this up

For the love he has is just the same as ours

It’s unwarranted

And it’s based upon the moon and all the stars

He can’t marry her (He can’t marry her)

'Cause she’ll always be somebody else’s dame

He can’t even ask (He can’t even ask)

He could never live with that amount of shame

He can’t say to her (Say to her, say to her)

That he loves her more than any of his own

But just look at him (Look at him, look at him)

He’ll be with her, or forever he’s alone

So that man, he turned his back

Walked away to take another chance

Like so many, couldn’t risk

Any declination to a dance

Oh, but he’ll dance with her

In his mirror in his bedroom till he dies

And he’ll cry for her

Till there aren’t any tears left in his eyes

He can’t marry her (He can’t marry her)

'Cause she’ll always be somebody else’s dame

He can’t even ask (He can’t even ask)

He could never live with that amount of shame

He can’t say to her (Say to her, say to her)

That he loves her more than any of his own

But just look at him (Look at him, look at him)

He’ll be with her, or forever he’s alone