The SmithsThere Is a Light That Never Goes Out (4:03)

On 12 albums see all

Buy at Amazon MP3 ($0.99) | Send Ringtones to Cell
More options
Save

Shouts: 1,195 shouts

Share this track:

About This Track

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 album The Queen Is Dead, but despite its popularity it was not released as a single until , 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 , which reached #11 in the UK singles chart. The song has been voted highly in numerous “best ever” song lists.

The song lyrically utilises a first-person narrative concerning yearning, anxiety, and implied romance. Morrissey assumes the role of a person who has, one could infer from the lyrics, been kicked out of home, so seeks solace and company in the form of the person the song addresses - the car’s driver.

Musically, the song begins with a staccato bridge similar to that heard on Hitch Hike by Marvin Gaye and There She Goes Again by The Velvet Underground, which recurs as a musical motif throughout the song. With synthesized strings, a balladesque arrangement and yearning lyrics, many listeners have viewed “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out” as a straightforward love song despite some ambiguity in the lyrics themselves.

Lyrics
Many of Morrissey’s lyrics are borrowed from other sources. In particular, the title of this song has been a source of wonder. One credible suggestion has been that the title is a paraphrase of what Hugh Latimer said to Nicholas Ridley as they were about to be burned at the stake as heretics during the reign of “Bloody Mary,” Queen Mary I of England:
Read more… Edit
Send Ringtones to Cell

Albums featuring this track

See all 12 albums

Shouts

Leave a comment. Log in to Last.fm or sign up (it’s free).
  • kissesneverdie wrote:
    Wednesday morning
    A great soundtrack to go along with a great movie. But come on, who cares how people got into the band? I think it's great more people are interested in The Smiths. More people to know of the importance and significance of the band :D

    Leave kissesneverdie a shout

  • futchadoc wrote:
    Monday morning
    (500) Days of Summer Greatest soundtrack ever [2] I agree completely!!

    Leave futchadoc a shout

  • renatoalberto wrote:
    Sunday evening
    unique sounds!

    Leave renatoalberto a shout

  • TinoJorge wrote:
    Saturday evening
    (500) Days of Summer Greatest soundtrack ever

    Leave TinoJorge a shout

  • iceblinkbaby wrote:
    Friday evening
    epic, this song is epic!

    Leave iceblinkbaby a shout

  • aos16ie wrote:
    Friday evening
    if you're complaining about how people got into this band, you are a complete douchebag fucktard. [3] I heard this song at my uncle's wedding in mid 2008 and saw 500 Days Of Summer when it came out in late 2009, but I'm not a "bigger" fan of this band than anyone who discovered them through a soundtrack. fuck your logic, hipsters.

    Leave aos16ie a shout

  • RbrtsWax88 wrote:
    last week
    I love music. I am quick to turn people on to new tunes. But never did I think someone a f......... for not knowing a band. Oh wait, I did, WHEN I WAS 5 yrs old! Grow up!

    Leave RbrtsWax88 a shout

  • Clarissa_AV wrote:
    last week
    i want this to be my wedding song

    Leave Clarissa_AV a shout

  • rehlopes wrote:
    last week
    ...¬¬ if you came here by "500 days of summer", you are a complete wannabe fucktard (2)

    Leave rehlopes a shout

  • thesweetmisery wrote:
    last week
    when this song starts, suddenly, you feel your loneliness strongly.

    Leave thesweetmisery a shout

  • 5c0rp10n wrote:
    last week
    Soon everybody will listen to the smiths, evading the meaning, effort and dedication of its letters of Moz and Marr, everyone will hear and feel it like a "pop band" like beatles but The smiths they aren't. most people are stupid, listening all the same shit from the radio and T.V. they don't see beyond it.... sorry for my bad english but it's my pov

    Leave 5c0rp10n a shout

  • MissLydia wrote:
    last month
    It doesn't matter how people got into The Smiths - the point is, they got into them. Good for them. They can hear some damn good music for a change.

    Leave MissLydia a shout

  • Henry0604 wrote:
    last month
    Seeing Morrissey sing this live was a special moment in my life. Not ashamed to say there were tears in my eyes.

    Leave Henry0604 a shout

  • jdpop13 wrote:
    last month
    (500) Days of Summer <3<3 Greatest soundtrack ever I love that black shirt too with the ripples that JG-L wears where can i get one??

    Leave jdpop13 a shout

  • SnowyGnome wrote:
    last month
    Why the fuck does it matter that people found out about this song and The Smiths in general from 500 Days of Summer? It's not like The Smiths were some super obscure band and you were the only person who knew of them. They were and are still very popular among listeners, and now they're slightly more popular. Get over it. Any true fan would be happy that more people are being exposed to the greatness that is The Smiths anyway you fucking posers.

    Leave SnowyGnome a shout

  • tmyatsenko wrote:
    last month
    это самая лучшая песня на земле [2]

    Leave tmyatsenko a shout

  • Szpila_13 wrote:
    last month
    GREAT song !

    Leave Szpila_13 a shout

  • miceek wrote:
    last month
    that bass ♥

    Leave miceek a shout

  • vickles_ wrote:
    last month
    <333

    Leave vickles_ a shout

  • a-d-t-r wrote:
    last month
    just because this was on 500 days of summer doesn't mean it has anything to do with the actual song... like shut up about the movie

    Leave a-d-t-r a shout

See all 1,195 shouts

Track Stats

4,960,961 Scrobbles 537,091 Listeners

Recent Listening Trend

Listening Now

Top Listeners

See more

Recent Activity

Related Journals

See more