"There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" is a song by The Smiths, written by … Read Full Bio ↴"There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" is a song by The Smiths, written by Morrissey and Johnny Marr. It was originally featured on their 1986 album The Queen Is Dead, but despite its popularity it was not released as a single until 1992, after The Smiths split up. Morrissey re-released the song as a double A-side live single (with his cover of Patti Smith's Redondo Beach) in 2005, which reached #11 in the UK singles chart.

There Is a Light That Never Goes Out
The Smiths Lyrics

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Take me out tonight
Where there's music and there's people
And they're young and alive
Driving in your car
I never, never want to go home
Because I haven't got one anymore

Take me out tonight

Because I want to see people
And I want to see life
Driving in your car
Oh, please, don't drop me home
Because it's not my home, it's their home
And I'm 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
Take me anywhere, I don't care, I don't care, I don't 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 couldn't ask

Take me out tonight
Oh, take me anywhere, I don't care, I don't care, I don't care
Driving in your car
I never, never want to go home
Because I haven't got one, la-di-dum

Oh, I haven't got one
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
To die by your side
Well, the pleasure, the privilege is mine

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

Overall Meaning

The Smiths' song, "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out," is a testament to the power of love and the all-encompassing feeling of wanting to be with someone no matter what the consequence. The opening lines illustrate the singer's desire to escape their lonely existence and find companionship among other people who are "young and alive." Their longing for togetherness stems from not having a home of their own anymore – an underlying theme of isolation that permeates the song.

The refrain "To die by your side" is somewhat contradictory in that it's a statement of devotion to another person, yet it deals with the idea of dying. The singer, however, would rather die with someone they love than to live without them. The line "the pleasure, the privilege is mine" is a testament to the joy that being with someone who understands and shares your feelings can bring.

The bridge of the song, which takes place in a "darkened underpass," reveals the singer's hesitancy to ask their lover to be with them. This fear illustrates a real struggle that many people face when it comes to expressing their feelings to someone they care for. Despite this, the singer maintains their desire to be with their lover, and the chorus's repetition of "there is a light that never goes out" is a beacon of hope against life's many uncertainties, providing comfort and security.

Line by Line Meaning

Take me out tonight
I want to go out and experience life

Where there's music and there's people
I want to be where there is a lively atmosphere

And they're young and alive
I want to be around people who are full of life

Driving in your car
I want to go on an adventure with you

I never, never want to go home
I don't want to go back to my lonely life

Because I haven't got one
I don't have a home or a place to belong

Anymore
I'm lost and lonely

Oh, please don't drop me home
I don't want to go back to my empty house

Because it's not my home, it's their home
I feel like a stranger in my own home

And I'm welcome no more
No one welcomes me back home anymore

And if a double-decker bus
If something tragic were to happen

Crashes into us
And we were together

To die by your side
It would be a comforting and peaceful way to die

Is such a heavenly way to die
It would be a beautiful way to pass on

And if a ten ton truck
If we were to meet an unfortunate end

Kills the both of us
Together, in each other's company

Well, the pleasure, the privilege is mine
It would be an honor to die with you

Take me anywhere, I don't care
As long as I'm with you, I'm content with wherever we go

And in the darkened underpass
When we're alone in a secluded area

I thought, 'Oh God, my chance has come at last'
I thought that this could be the moment we finally get closer

But then a strange fear gripped me
But my anxiety and fear took over

And I just couldn't ask
And I couldn't bring myself to express my feelings

Oh, there is a light and it never goes out
There's a flicker of hope and love that will never fade away

There is a light and it never goes out
This feeling of hope and love never dies

There is a light and it never goes out
No matter how lost or lonely I feel, this light is always shining

There is a light and it never goes out
Hope and love will always be there, no matter what

There is a light and it never goes out
It's a feeling that never fades

There is a light and it never goes out
This light of hope and love will never diminish

There is a light and it never goes out
It's a reminder that there's always something to hold onto

There is a light and it never goes out
Love can never truly die

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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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