There Is a Light That Never Goes Out – English Lyrics

• By: The Smiths
• Album: The Queen Is Dead

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a linguistic journey with The Smiths' enduring classic, "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out." This song is a masterclass in evocative storytelling and poetic lyricism, offering learners a unique window into English vocabulary related to emotion, relationships, and existential longing. Morrissey's distinctive vocal delivery and Marr's intricate guitar work create an atmosphere rich in nuance, allowing listeners to connect deeply with the song's bittersweet themes and explore idiomatic expressions in context. Its timeless narrative and relatable emotions make it an engaging and memorable piece for language acquisition.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
tonight /təˈnaɪt/ A1	noun - the night that is coming or the night of the present day
music /ˈmjuːzɪk/ A1	noun - vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) combined in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion
people /ˈpiːpl/ A1	noun - human beings in general or considered collectively
young /jʌŋ/ A1	adjective - having lived or existed for only a short time
alive /əˈlaɪv/ A2	adjective - living, not dead
car /kɑːr/ A1	noun - a road vehicle, typically with four wheels, powered by an internal combustion engine or electric motor and able to carry a small number of people.
home /hoʊm/ A1	noun - the place where one lives permanently, especially as a member of a family or household.
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death.
drop /drɒp/ A2	verb - let or allow (something) to fall or hang loosely
welcome /ˈwɛlkəm/ A2	adjective - gladly received
bus /bʌs/ A1	noun - a large motor vehicle carrying passengers by road, typically one serving the public on a fixed route and for a fare.
crashes /kræʃ/ B1	verb - (of a vehicle) collide violently with an obstacle or another vehicle
die /daɪ/ A1	verb - stop living
heavenly /ˈhɛvnli/ B2	adjective - resembling heaven; delightful
truck /trʌk/ A1	noun - a large, heavy motor vehicle used for transporting goods, materials, or troops.
kills /kɪlz/ A2	verb - cause the death of (a person, animal, or plant).
pleasure /ˈplɛʒər/ B1	noun - a feeling of happy satisfaction and enjoyment
privilege /ˈprɪvəlɪdʒ/ B2	noun - a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group of people.
light /laɪt/ A1	noun - the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible.
darkened /ˈdɑːrkənd/ B1	adjective - made dark or darker.
fear /fɪər/ A2	noun - an unpleasant emotion caused by the perception of danger, real or imagined
gripped /ɡrɪpt/ B2	verb - to hold very tightly
chance /tʃæns/ A2	noun - a possibility of something happening

Key Grammar Structures

• Take me out tonight

  ➔ Imperative mood

  ➔ The sentence uses the imperative mood to make a request or give a command. "Take" is the verb in its base form, indicating a direct instruction.

• Where there's music and there's people

  ➔ Existential "there is/are"

  ➔ This uses the existential "there is/are" construction to indicate the existence of something. "There's" is a contraction of "there is".

• I never, never want to go home

  ➔ Adverb of frequency, repetition for emphasis

  ➔ The word "never" is an adverb of frequency. The repetition emphasizes the speaker's strong desire to avoid going home.

• Because I haven't got one

  ➔ Present perfect tense with "have got"

  ➔ "Haven't got" is a common (especially in British English) way of saying "don't have" or "do not have". It is the negative form of "have got", which expresses possession or obligation in the present.

• And if a double-decker bus crashes into us

  ➔ First conditional (hypothetical)

  ➔ This uses the first conditional structure (if + present simple, will/would + base form) to talk about a possible situation in the future and its likely result. The "if" clause describes the condition, and the main clause describes the result.

• To die by your side is such a heavenly way to die

  ➔ Infinitive phrase as subject; use of "such a" before adjective + noun

  ➔ The infinitive phrase "to die by your side" acts as the subject of the sentence. "Such a" is used for emphasis before the adjective "heavenly" and noun "way."

• Well, the pleasure, the privilege is mine

  ➔ Subject-verb agreement with singular subject (pleasure/privilege)

  ➔ Even though two nouns (pleasure, privilege) are listed, they are treated as a single concept, making the subject singular and therefore requiring the singular verb "is".

• There is a light and it never goes out

  ➔ Present Simple Tense to express a general truth

  ➔ The present simple tense is used to describe a state or an action that is always true, or happens regularly. In this case, it suggests that this "light" (metaphorical or literal) is something constant and unwavering.