Joseph Arthur (born September 28, 1971) is an American contemporary singer-… Read Full Bio ↴Joseph Arthur (born September 28, 1971) is an American contemporary singer-songwriter from Akron, Ohio. He is known for his melodic compositions combined with swirling choruses. He was discovered by Peter Gabriel in the mid-'90s and signed to Gabriel's Real World label in 1996. Arthur's first album, Big City Secrets, was released in 1997 to critical acclaim.

In 2006, Arthur's song "In the Sun" was covered by Michael Stipe (of R.E.M.) and Coldplay singer Chris Martin. Released for a Hurricane Katrina Relief program, the EP includes six versions of the cover, one of which has Arthur himself singing with Stipe.

Arthur established his own record label, Lonely Astronaut Records, in 2006, and released two studio albums, Let's Just Be (2007) and Temporary People (2008) with backing band The Lonely Astronauts. Arthur subsequently returned to performing and recording as a solo artist, releasing The Graduation Ceremony in 2011 and the double album, Redemption City in 2012.

Arthur is also an acclaimed painter and designer. His artwork has graced the sleeves of his entire discography; the sleeve design for his 1999 album entitled Vacancy was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Recording Package.

There's A Light That Never Goes Out
Joseph Arthur Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Take me out tonight
Where theres music and theres people
Who are young and alive

Driving in your car
I never, never want to go home
Because I havent got one anymore

Take me out tonight
Because I want to see people
And I want to see light

Driving in your car
Oh, please dont drop me home
Because its not my home, its their home
And Im welcome no more

And if a double-decker bus
Crashes into us
To die by your side
Is such a heavenly way to die

And if a ten-ton truck
Kills the both of us
To die by your side
Well, the pleasure, the privilege is mine

Take me out tonight
Oh, take me anywhere
I dont care, I dont care, I dont care

And in the darkened underpass
I thought, oh God, my chance has come at last
But then a strange fear gripped me and I just couldnt ask

Take me out tonight
Oh, take me anywhere
I dont care, I dont care, I dont care

Driving in your car
I never, never want to go home
Because I havent got one
I havent got one
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

And if a double-decker bus
Crashes into us
To die by your side
Is such a heavenly way to die

And if a ten-ton truck
Kills the both of us, so what
To die by your side
Well, the pleasure, the privilege is mine

Oh, there is a light, never goes out
There is a light, never goes out

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Joseph Arthur's song "There's A Light That Never Goes Out" convey a longing for connection, companionship, and escape from a lonely existence. The singer pleads to be taken out to a place with music and lively people. He is desperate to feel alive, and the thought of going back to his empty home is unbearable. The singer suggests getting in the car, despite not having a destination in mind, and the thrill of not knowing where they're going only adds to the experience.

The second half of the song takes a bit of a turn as the singer begins to consider the possibility of death. He imagines a scenario where a double-decker bus crashes into them, and to "die by your side, is such a heavenly way to die." The line is repeated and emphasized, driving home the point that the singer is deeply in love with whoever is driving the car. The song's final verse highlights the singer's continued desire to escape, with the slight twist of expressing interest in someone but never mustering the courage to ask them out. The line, "oh, there is a light that never goes out," is repeated, perhaps representing the hope for that connection and escape that the singer longs for.

Overall, the lyrics of "There's A Light That Never Goes Out" are fairly straightforward but convey a sense of longing and desperation that is both relatable and compelling.

Line by Line Meaning

Take me out tonight
I want to go out tonight

Where theres music and theres people
I want to go somewhere where there is music and people

Who are young and alive
I want to be with people who are young and full of life

Driving in your car
Riding in the car with you

I never, never want to go home
I never want to go back to my home

Because I havent got one anymore
Because I don't have a home anymore

Oh, please dont drop me home
Please don't take me back to that place - it's not my home anymore

Because its not my home, its their home
Because someone else owns that place now

And Im welcome no more
And I no longer feel welcome there

And if a double-decker bus
And if we were in a terrible accident

Crashes into us
And a bus crashes into us

To die by your side
To die with you

Is such a heavenly way to die
Would be a beautiful way to die

And if a ten-ton truck
And if we were in a terrible accident

Kills the both of us
And a truck kills both of us

Well, the pleasure, the privilege is mine
I would be honored to die with you

Oh, take me anywhere
Take me to any place

I dont care, I dont care, I dont care
I don't care where we go, I just want to be with you

And in the darkened underpass
And in the shadowy tunnel

I thought, oh God, my chance has come at last
I thought this might be my chance

But then a strange fear gripped me and I just couldnt ask
But I got scared and couldn't ask

I havent got one
I don't have a home

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

There is a light, never goes out
There is a hope that never fades

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Integrity Music, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Steven Morrissey, Johnny Marr

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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