10 Radio Friendly Songs About Dying
2. The Smiths - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
There was a time - a simpler, better time - when Morrissey wasn’t such a bastard, and you could listen to songs like this from The Smiths without feeling internally conflicted for days afterwards.
It’s a shame too, because still to this day, there are very few lyricists who have been able to capture the futile misery of blind, unreciprocated affection as perfectly as the bequiffed frontman. Even those that have - I’m looking at you Fred MacPherson from Spector - haven’t achieved anywhere near the same amount of notoriety or acclaim.
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out is a bit of an odd entry on this list because, truth be told, it’s not specifically about death. Through his rambling, verbose verses, Morrissey appears to be addressing a romantic interest directly, almost pleading with them to notice him and spend time with him.
Being the melodramatic sod he is, however, Moz has to take things one step further, and starts crowing on about how it would be a privilege to get hit by a double decker bus with his other half. It might be dark, but it’s so over the top that it borders on the comedic, and is a prime example of the sardonic wit that marked The Smiths out above their peers.