My next featured song by The Smiths again comes courtesy of my younger daughter, Fiona. ‘This Night Has Opened My Eyes’ was recorded in September of 1983 for a BBC Radio program hosted by John Peel. Several songs from that appearance were released on compilation albums.
This is a good example of my daughters’ interest in The Smiths leading to a better appreciation and understanding of the band by me.
I always assumed this song was about a woman having an abortion, or at least contemplating having one. The lyrics fit that interpretation quite well.
But in researching the song for today’s blog post, I learned it is a rather faithful retelling of the play A Taste of Honey, the 1958 debut work by Shelagh Delaney. Written when she was just 19, the play touches on a host of social issues (though abortion is not among them).
Morrissey names A Taste of Honey as one of the principal inspirations in his writing, and in ‘This Night Has Opened My Eyes’ he makes that connection explicit.
Like yesterday’s track, this song is mournful and dreamy. Fiona has always shared my taste for the melancholy, and so far her Smiths selections have leaned toward that end of the band’s discography. We’ll see if that trend continues.
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
[Chorus 1]
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
[Verse 2]
A shoeless child on a swing
Reminds you of your own again
She took away your troubles
Oh, but then again
She left pain
[Chorus 2]
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
[Outro]
Oh, la-la
Oh
Oh, la-la
And I’m not happy
And I’m not sad
Oh, la-la
Oh
Oh, la-la
And I’m not happy
And I’m not sad
Meet Me In Montauk 
“Oh please, save your life/ Because you’ve only got one” !!! So beautiful! Another favorite of mine, nice to see Fiona and I overlapping so much. I originally thought this song was about someone giving up a child and always thinking about what could have been and where they might be now. Interesting to hear about that play, definitely adding it to my reading list!
I too would be interested to hear another side to the Smiths other than melancholy, though, as long Morrissey is singing, I doubt I will like those much better.
Interesting to me is that I remember the song A Taste of Honey by Herb Alpert and just read that it was inspired by the play and that a film was also made inspired by the play with the same title.
Unlike my father and my sister, I really hadn’t thought this song was about a child in any way. All I could focus on was the riveting hook created by Andy Rourke’s bass line and Johnny Marr’s guitar. I stand by my choices and claim this to be on of my all time favorite songs. I will say, my choices will probably not be getting any less melancholic. Sorry Dana!
What a silky bassline. Love the way that on these past two tracks the bassline and guitar flares play with each other so well. This one has a nice groove to it!