Hailing from New Hampshire in the northeastern United States, singer-songwriter Bill Morrissey wrote about everyday life on the fringes, both geographical--e.g., fading mill towns, railyards, prisons--and interpersonal--e.g., instant infatuation with an unknown woman at a bar. He sometimes didn't so much sing as croak, but his understated, weathered voice blended well with the unsentimental, toughened characters in many of his songs. It just fits. His songs ranged from slow and contemplative ("Off-White," "Man From Out of Town," "Hang Me, Oh Hang Me") to midtempo and keenly observant ("Barstow," "Long Gone,") and occasionally whimsical ("Live Free or Die," "Party at the U.N."). His songs' characters and lyrics favor hard-won realism over sentimentality, casting a wary eye on the past as they negotiate a mostly uncertain present. Recommended for fans of keenly observational, almost literary contemporary "folk" music.
You'll Never Get To Heaven
Bill Morrissey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And it's just a waste of time when there's no one there
It's just a little fever, don't you worry
It'll keep you warm in the cool night and
You'll never get to Heaven if that dog keeps howling
And it's not at a man or a cat or the Moon
Save your breath and just keep walkingThe Sun will be rising sometime soon
All your friends are down, long gone out of town
You were the only one crazy enough to stay
Except for maybe, and that howling dog makes three
What you wanna go to Heaven for anyway?
You'll never get to Heaven if you don't stop drinking
It's a little too late to make that list
This time of night nobody's laughing
And it gets so quiet you can hear a kiss
All your friends are down, long gone out of town
You were the only one crazy enough to stay
Except for maybe, and that howling dog makes three
What you wanna go to Heaven for anyway?
You'll never get to Heaven 'til the season's over
And nothing but the husk and the hole remain
Where that fever breaks you will get colder
'Til you're the same temperature as the rain
The song "You'll Never Get to Heaven" by Bill Morrissey is a commentary on the human condition and the futile desire for perfection. The lyrics critique various aspects of human behavior that may prevent one from reaching the ultimate destination of Heaven. The first verse deals with the idea of talking too much and wasting one's time when there is no one there. The second verse highlights the annoyance of a howling dog that interrupts the peace one might find on a solitary walk. The third verse cautions against excessive drinking, which is only detrimental to one's ability to enjoy the quiet stillness of the night. The final verse is a reminder that death is the ultimate equalizer, and in the end, we are all just a husk and a hole.
One could interpret the song as a reminder to focus on the present moment and appreciate the simple things in life. The desire for perfection and the constant pursuit of happiness often lead us astray from enjoying what we have in front of us. The song suggests that there are moments of peace and contentment to be found if one can let go of the need for constant stimulation and distraction.
Interestingly, the song's title and refrain are a reference to the 1960s hit song "You'll Never Get to Heaven (If You Break My Heart)" by Dionne Warwick, which has an opposite message about the need for love and connection to reach Heaven. The contrast between the two songs adds an additional layer of meaning to Morrissey's lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
You'll never get to Heaven if you don't stop talking
If you keep talking non-stop, you won't reach Heaven.
And it's just a waste of time when there's no one there
Talking without anyone to listen is pointless.
It's just a little fever, don't you worry
The feeling or desire you have is temporary and not serious.
It'll keep you warm in the cool night and
Although it's temporary, it can provide comfort when it's cold outside.
You'll never get to Heaven if that dog keeps howling
The constant noise of the dog can prevent you from reaching Heaven.
And it's not at a man or a cat or the Moon
The dog's howling isn't directed towards anyone or anything in particular.
Save your breath and just keep walking
Ignore the dog and continue on your journey.
The Sun will be rising sometime soon
Eventually, things will get better.
All your friends are down, long gone out of town
All the people you know have left the area.
You were the only one crazy enough to stay
You chose to stay despite everyone else's departure.
Except for maybe, and that howling dog makes three
The dog is the only other one who stayed.
What you wanna go to Heaven for anyway?
Why bother going to Heaven in the first place?
You'll never get to Heaven if you don't stop drinking
Excessive alcohol consumption can prevent you from getting to Heaven.
It's a little too late to make that list
It's too late to make a plan or resolution to stop drinking.
This time of night nobody's laughing
Late at night, it's quiet and somber.
And it gets so quiet you can hear a kiss
The silence is so intense that you can hear very subtle sounds.
You'll never get to Heaven 'til the season's over
You won't achieve your goal until the current situation passes.
And nothing but the husk and the hole remain
All that will be left is emptiness and void.
Where that fever breaks you will get colder
When your temporary desire dissipates, you will feel worse.
Til you're the same temperature as the rain
You will feel as miserable as the rain.
Writer(s): Bill Morrissey
Contributed by Aaliyah K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ilovehifi
The really good songs like this, very few people know. Falls on me repeatedly.
@ilovehifi
Die richtig guten Songs, wie diesen hier, kennen nur sehr wenige Menschen. Fällt mir immer wieder auf.
@geirdahlskas7865
Cool cool from a great great artist r.i.p.