Continuing my look at The Smiths through the selections of my two daughters, we arrive at Sophia’s third pick, ‘Never Had No One Ever’ from the band’s 1986 classic The Queen is Dead.
The Queen is Dead is my favorite Smiths album and among my top five or ten albums of all-time. It doesn’t have a weak song, or even a weak moment. However, if there is an underdog on this album it’s today’s Song of the Day, and I’m thrilled that Sophia has chosen it.
‘Never Had No One Ever’ plays right after ‘I Know It’s Over,’ a song widely considered one of the band’s very best, and has a similar sweeping quality and mournful tone. That leads some fans to dismiss this track as a pale imitation.
Far from it. This is a simpler and more devastating song. Morrissey writes about wandering the streets of his hometown as a young man, feeling out of place and completely alone. How many young people (including my 20 year-old self and my daughter three decades later) have found solace in these words set to this music?
One of the reasons The Smiths still resonate 40 years after their brief recording period is that they give voice to these universal but too often unspoken emotions.
When you walk without ease
On these
Streets where you were raised
I had a really bad dream
It lasted 20 years, 7 months, and 27 days
[Chorus]
And I never, ever oh
Had no one ever
[Verse 2]
Now I’m outside your house
I’m alone
And I’m outside your house
I hate to intrude
Oh, alone, I’m alone, I’m alone, I’m alone
I’m alone
I’m alone
[Chorus]
And I never, never, oh, had no one ever
I never had no one ever
I never had no, no one ever
Had no one ever
Never, no
Oh
Meet Me In Montauk 
It’s wonderful that you, Sophia and others have been able to find solace and connection with songs like this.
I an a BIG fan of “The Queen is Dead.” Like my father, I don’t think there is one bad song on that album. Although I don’t listen to this one too often, I love the haunting whistles and utter dread of the song. “I know it’s Over” still takes the top spot on this album for me but this is another great pick from my sister!
Imo, “The Queen is Dead” is The Smiths’ magnum opus. Ironically, this song is the one I listen the least.
To me, this is a Halloween song that I listen to when I’m in a spooky mood. Although the lyrics are very sad, the vibes aren’t sad to me for some reason. Although I do agree that The Smiths can always put words to my sad feelings. ♥️