The Smiths signed to the independent label Rough Trade Records in 1983 and released their first album, The Smiths, in 1984. They based their songs on the songwriting partnership of Morrissey and Marr. Their focus on a guitar, bass, and drum sound and a fusion of 1960s rock and post-punk was a rejection of the synth-pop sound that was predominant at the time. Several Smiths singles reached the top 20 of the UK Singles Chart, and all their studio albums reached the top five of the UK Albums Chart, including the number-one album Meat Is Murder (1985). They achieved mainstream success in Europe with The Queen Is Dead (1986) and Strangeways, Here We Come (1987), both of which entered the top 20 of the European Albums Chart.
Internal tensions led to the Smiths' breakup in 1987, followed by public lawsuits over royalties. Their live album Rank (1988) reached the top 10 in Europe. Since the band's dissolution, the members have refused offers to reunite and have all separately stated that the band is finished and will never reunite.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Smiths
Studio albums
The Smiths (1984)
Meat Is Murder (1985)
The Queen Is Dead (1986)
Strangeways, Here We Come (1987)
17. last night i dreamnt that somebody loved me
The Smiths Lyrics
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That somebody loved me
No hope, no harm
Just another false alarm
Last night I felt
Real arms around me
No hope, no harm
So, tell me how long
Before the last one?
And tell me how long
Before the right one?
The story is old - I know
But it goes on
The story is old - I know
But it goes on
Oh, goes on
And on
Oh, goes on
And on
The Smiths' Last Night I Dreamed That Somebody Loved Me is a melancholic song about longing for love and the disappointment that sometimes follows. The lyrics convey the dream-like quality of a fleeting moment of happiness, followed by the reality of waking up to an empty bed. The song uses repetition to emphasise the feeling of hopelessness and resignation that characterises the singer's outlook. The phrase "no hope, no harm" is repeated throughout the song, underscoring the sense of disillusionment and despondency.
The song is seen by many as one of The Smiths' saddest songs, with Morrissey's signature emo crooning delivering lyrics that cut deep. The use of the phrase "just another false alarm" suggests a sense of weariness and disappointment, as if the singer has experienced this feeling before and knows it will happen again. The repeated question, "tell me how long before the right one?" echoes the anxieties that many people feel about finding their soulmate, and the uncertainty that can come with relationships.
Despite its melancholic tone, the song also has a sense of resilience to it. The phrase "the story is old - I know, but it goes on" suggests a sense of acceptance of life's ups and downs, and a determination to keep moving forward. The song ends with the repetition of "oh, goes on and on", again underscoring the cyclical nature of life and the inevitability of disappointment and heartache.
Line by Line Meaning
Last night I dreamt
The singer had a dream last night
That somebody loved me
In the dream, the singer was loved by someone
No hope, no harm
The singer's dream only brought temporary comfort and no harm
Just another false alarm
The dream was not a prediction of reality and did not come true
Last night I felt
In the dream, the artist experienced a physical sensation
Real arms around me
The singer felt the warmth and comfort of someone's embrace
So, tell me how long
The singer is asking a question
Before the last one?
How much time has passed since their last relationship?
And tell me how long
The artist is asking another question
Before the right one?
When will they find a meaningful relationship?
The story is old - I know
The singer acknowledges that stories of love and heartbreak are familiar and often repeated
But it goes on
Despite knowing the story, it still continues to happen
Oh, goes on
The singer expresses a sense of weariness about the ongoing nature of this cycle
And on
The cycle of love and heartbreak continues without end
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STEVEN MORRISSEY, JOHNNY MARR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind