by The Smiths
✨ Narrative of Difficult Decisions in Youth
"The Smiths" have never shied away from creating songs with profound, complex narratives. Their song "This Night Has Opened My Eyes," is no different. This song narrates the tale of a doomed young woman who must make a difficult decision regarding her newborn child and her own existence.
✨ Unmasking the Emotional Conflict and Dilemmas in Life
The story recounted in this hit by The Smiths is inspired by Shelagh Delaney's play 'A Taste Of Honey', which revolves around key themes like love, betrayal, teenage pregnancy, and abandonment. Through this song's lyrics, we bear witness to the protagonist's struggle - being forced into motherhood at an early age due to societal norms that she finds constricting.
Her emotional conflict is evident: On one hand she identifies herself as a victim – feeling betrayed and let down not just by her deceitful lover but also by the society that has enforced rigid roles upon her; on other hand it’s about the baby – innocent yet serving as an emblem of everything gone wrong.
She contemplates abandoning her child (as suggested in lines such as 'Immerse the baby's head...Dump her on doorstep girl') only to immediately regret these thoughts ('the dream has gone but the baby is real').
There are undertones of missed opportunities too; there was potential for both mother and child -- 'she could have been a poet or she could have been fool'- conveying life’s unpredictability and fragility during those precarious times.
Though seemingly bleak throughout most part, ultimately it’s not all despair signaled through choruses oscillating between ‘you did good thing’ & ‘you did bad thing’, suggesting dilemma faced in making choice between what society perceives right & individual considerations.
Repeated phrases “I am not happy”, “I am not sad” capture conflicted feelings experienced-layers of confusion, guilt interlaced with momentary reliefs when perceived selfishness battles selflessness.
✨ Learning to Navigate Society's Expectations and Personal Desires
- It's an invitation to realize that we will often find ourselves in dilemmas where societal expectations and individual desires conflict.
- Sometimes, there are no absolute right or wrong decisions; only what seems best at the given moment.
- We must learn to navigate through such uncertainties without surrendering unreservedly to societal pressures. There is a need for discourse, understanding and perhaps even reform aligning with current realities.
- Every major decision can have profound implications, affecting not just us but innocent lives involved too.
✨ A Stirring Tale of Despair, Dilemma, and Emotional Depth
"This Night Has Opened My Eyes" orchestrates a poignant tale of despair and dilemma faced by women during challenging circumstances. The Smiths skilfully touch upon these serious themes through their potent narrative-style songwriting capabilities - striking chords deeply within listeners offering them insights wrapped around unique layers of emotional depth.
Meanings of other songs by The Smiths:
- Meanings in "Cemetry Gates" by The Smiths
- Meanings Behind 'Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now' by The Smiths
- Meanings behind "Reel Around The Fountain" by The Smiths
- Meanings from "What Difference Does It Make?" by The Smiths
- Meanings from "Asleep" by The Smiths
- Meanings Behind "Vicar in a Tutu" by The Smiths
- Meanings Behind "This Charming Man" by The Smiths
- Meanings Behind "How Soon Is Now?" by The Smiths
- Meanings Behind "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" by The Smiths
- Meanings behind "Back to The Old House" by The Smiths