This Night Has Opened My Eyes
The. Smiths Lyrics
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Immerse the baby's head
Wrap her up in the news of the world
Dump her on a doorstep, girl
This night has opened my eyes
And I will never sleep again
You kicked and cried like a bullied child
Oh, he said he'd cure your ills
But he didn't and he never will
Oh, save your life
Because you've only got one
The dream has gone but the baby is real
Oh, you did a good thing
She could have been a poet or she could have been a fool
Oh, you did a bad thing
And I'm not happy and I'm not sad
A shoeless child on a swing
Reminds you of your own again
She took away your troubles
Oh, but then again
She left pain
Oh, please save your life
Because you've only got one
The dream has gone but the baby is real
Oh, you did a good thing
She could have been a poet or she could have been a fool
Oh, you did a bad thing
And I'm not happy and I'm not sad
Oh la la la, ooh la la
And I'm not happy and I'm not sad
Oh la la la, ooh la la
And I'm not happy and I'm not sad
The Smiths' "This Night Has Opened My Eyes" is a bleak song that tells the story of an unwanted child abandoned by her mother. The opening lines, "In a river the color of lead, immerse the baby's head, wrap her up in the news of the world, dump her on a doorstep, girl," are a harrowing image of a mother's abandonment of her infant. The river’s description as being the “color of lead” suggests its toxicity and pollution, foreshadowing the theme of death that runs throughout the song. The baby is cradled in the newspaper— perhaps symbolic of the twisted way this news of the world has come to define the child's fate.
The song explores the consequences of the mother's actions on the child. The chorus, "Oh, save your life because you've only got one, the dream has gone but the baby is real, oh, you did a good thing," acknowledges that the child is alive and that her physical survival is what's important, but the dream of a life full of hope and potential is gone, seemingly the result of the mother's actions. The song also highlights the mother's guilt and regret, with the lines "She could have been a poet or she could have been a fool, oh, you did a bad thing, and I'm not happy, and I'm not sad." It's a disturbing song with a vividly painted story of abandonment and survival.
Line by Line Meaning
In a river the color of lead
The river was dull and murky.
Immerse the baby's head
Drown the little baby.
Wrap her up in the news of the world
Cover her in the media's negativity.
Dump her on a doorstep, girl
Leave her as an unwanted child.
This night has opened my eyes
This experience has led to a new perspective.
And I will never sleep again
This realization will have a lasting impact.
You kicked and cried like a bullied child
Your behavior was similar to that of a victim of bullying.
A grown man of twenty five
Despite your age, you still have unresolved emotional issues.
Oh, he said he'd cure your ills
Someone had promised to fix your problems.
But he didn't and he never will
That person did not deliver on their promise and never will.
Oh, save your life
Value your life.
Because you've only got one
You have a limited time here on earth.
The dream has gone but the baby is real
While dreams may fade, the child is a reality.
Oh, you did a good thing
Despite the circumstances, you made a positive choice.
She could have been a poet or she could have been a fool
The child's future could take many paths.
Oh, you did a bad thing
The action taken was not ideal.
And I'm not happy and I'm not sad
The situation is neutral.
A shoeless child on a swing
An image that evokes memories or emotions.
Reminds you of your own again
Brings your own past experiences to mind.
She took away your troubles
The child brought you comfort or happiness.
Oh, but then again
However, there were negative consequences to the actions taken.
She left pain
The situation ultimately resulted in pain.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Johnny Marr, Steven Patrick Morrissey
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@marsric6061
Lyrics:
In a river the color of lead
Immerse the baby's head
Wrap her up in the News Of The World
Dump her on a doorstep, girl
This night has opened my eyes
And I will never sleep again
You kicked and cried like a bullied child
A grown man of twenty-five
Oh, he said he'd cure your ills
But he didn't and he never will
Oh, save your life
Because you've only got one
The dream has gone
But the baby is real
Oh, you did a good thing
She could have been a poet
Or, she could have been a fool
Oh, you did a bad thing
And I'm not happy
And I'm not sad
A shoeless child on a swing
Reminds you of your own again
She took away your troubles
Oh, but then again
She left pain
So, please save your life
Because you've only got one
The dream has gone
But the baby is real
Oh, you did a good thing
She could have been a poet
Or, she could have been a fool
Oh, you did a bad thing
And I'm not happy
And I'm not sad
Oh...
And I'm not happy
And I'm not sad
Oh...
And I'm not happy
And I'm not sad
@lucias.13
In a river the colour of lead
Immerse a baby's head
Wrap her up in the News Of The World
Dump her on a doorstep, girl
This night has opened my eyes
And I will never sleep again
You kicked and cried like a bullied child
A grown man of twenty-five
He said he'd cure your ills
But he didn't and he never will
So, save your life
Because you've only got one
The dream has gone
But the baby is real
Oh you did a good thing
She could have been a poet
Or, she could have been a fool
Oh you did a bad thing
And I'm not happy
And I'm not sad
A shoeless child on a swing
Reminds you of your own again
She took away your troubles
Oh but then again she left pain
So please save your life
Because you've only got one
The dream has gone
But the baby is real
Oh you did a good thing
She could have been a poet
Or, she could have been a fool
Oh you did a bad thing
And I'm not happy
And I'm not sad
@angga8444
Loneliness is a universal language and the smiths spoke it more fluently than others.
@co3980
miserably beaufiful. Could be worse, could have dated an axe-murderer!
@amanisofia2701
This may be the best you tube comment I’ve seen in awhile. I had to google it to make sure it wasn’t plagiarized. My god that is great sentiment. You @angga are a wordsmith my friend.
@hippiecheezburger5457
You ever gotten used to being so lonely and then something good comes like a new love and you got to take your chances, it’ll either be great or you’ll just be shattered once again, depression is so bad. It’s so weird how you just want to feel nothing after a while because you’re emotions are out of control
@jimnewcombe7584
Well said.
@sofiana580
Angga El. Maestro
@jugdementday1
When i was 17 my uncle asked me what music i liked. I said ,"I like guitars that sing!" He said, " Ahhh...give the Smiths a whirl! " 30 years later every kind of band has come and gone but im still loving the Smiths as much as when i first heard them.
@ariellav5034
idky but thats beautiful
@k6681
i can relate to this sm, i feel that their lyrics are just overall so beautiful
@orbit5311
Same with me! They’ve been my favorite band for a long time