Introduction

The Smiths are known for their melancholic and introspective lyrics, and “This Night Has Opened My Eyes” is no exception. Released in 1984 as a B-side to the single “William, It Was Really Nothing,” the song has become a fan favorite and a staple in the band’s discography. In this SEO article, we will explore the meaning behind the lyrics of “This Night Has Opened My Eyes.”

Verse 1

The song starts with the lines:

In a river the color of lead
immaculate morning
the mood was full of love

These lines set the scene for the rest of the song. The river’s color symbolizes the bleakness and hopelessness of the narrator’s life, while the “immaculate morning” represents a new beginning. The mood of love is ironic, as the narrator is actually feeling quite the opposite.

Chorus

The chorus goes:

This night has opened my eyes
and I will never sleep again
you have to laugh
or you’ll cry yourself to death

The night in question is a metaphor for a moment of clarity or realization. The narrator has come to a realization that has changed their perspective on life forever. The line “I will never sleep again” suggests that the narrator will never be able to go back to their old way of thinking. The last line is a coping mechanism, as the narrator acknowledges the sadness and pain in their life but chooses to find humor in it instead of letting it consume them.

Verse 2

The second verse goes:

On a hillside desolate
country was burning
in the distance
the wooden spoon of nothingness stirred

The hillside represents the narrator’s isolation and loneliness. The burning country could be a metaphor for the chaos and destruction in the world, or it could be a reference to the narrator’s personal life falling apart. The “wooden spoon of nothingness” is a powerful image that suggests the futility and emptiness of the narrator’s existence.

Conclusion

“This Night Has Opened My Eyes” is a haunting and introspective song that explores themes of loneliness, despair, and the search for meaning in life. The lyrics are open to interpretation, but they paint a vivid picture of a person struggling to find their place in the world. The song’s message is ultimately one of hope, as the narrator chooses to find humor in their pain and embrace the clarity that has come from their moment of realization.