Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me
The Smiths Lyrics

The lyrics to The Smiths' Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me speak to the human desire for affection, and the repeated experience of seeking it out only to be disappointed by yet another false alarm. Morrissey's lyrics often deal with themes of loneliness and unfulfilled desire, and this song is no exception. The dream sequence in the first verse represents a fleeting moment of hope and happiness, only to be quickly followed by the realization that the dream will not become reality. The second verse suggests a craving for physical touch and intimacy, but again, it is only a temporary escape from the reality of being alone.

The chorus of the song is particularly poignant: "Tell me how long before the last one? And tell me how long before the right one?" Here, Morrissey is grappling with the fear that he may never find true love, and wondering how many more disappointments he will have to endure before he finally meets the person who will love him in return. The final lines of the song repeat the phrase "the story is old but it goes on" – a nod to the age-old trope of unrequited love, which has been written about countless times before, but remains a universal human experience.

Overall, Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me is a powerful expression of the loneliness, longing and frustration that can come with seeking out love and companionship, only to be met with disappointment after disappointment. Morrissey's unique ability to capture these emotions in his lyrics has made him one of the most celebrated songwriters of his generation.