5 Morrissey Lyrics That Still Haunt Us

It is no surprise that Morrissey is known for his powerful and often melancholic lyrics. We have compiled a list of five Smiths-era Morrissey lyrics that continue to resonate deeply. Here are some of his most impactful works.

1. "I Know It's Over" (1986)

""Oh mother, I can feel the soil falling over my head."

Featured on The Queen Is Dead, this ballad evolves from a quiet reflection on unrequited love into existential panic. The narrator questions how their humour, intellect and looks have led to isolation, culminating in a powerful climax that likens romantic rejection to being buried alive.

2. "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" (1986)

"And if a double-decker bus crashes into us, to die by your side is such a heavenly way to die."

Also from The Queen Is Dead, this track blends dark humour and macabre romanticism, making it one of the most enduring indie anthems of the 1980s.

3. "Asleep" (1985)

"Sing me to sleep, I'm tired and I, I want to go to bed."

Originally released as the B-side to "The Boy with the Thorn in His Side", this sparse, piano-led lullaby uniquely conveys a sense of quiet exhaustion within the band's catalogue.

4. "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want" (1984)

"Haven't had a dream in a long time..."

First released as the B-side of "William, It Was Really Nothing" and later included on Hatful of Hollow, this brief acoustic track distils years of disappointment into a single heartfelt plea. The line "haven't had a dream in a long time" is enough to prompt reflection.

5. "How Soon Is Now?" (1984)

"So you go and you stand on your own, and you leave on your own, and you go home, and you cry and you want to die."

Built on Johnny Marr’s iconic tremolo guitar riff, this classic captures the painful social anxiety and loneliness that can accompany a difficult night out.

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Read about:

• The story behind The Smiths’ most heartbreaking ballad

• Will The Smiths Ever Reunite? Inside the Morrissey and Marr Feud

• Ellis Douglas
  Editor, BritRock Heaven