Lyrics Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott – He Can’t Marry Her

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

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