This Night Has Opened My Eyes [Peel Session]
The Smiths · Louder Than The Bombs [1987]
In a river the color of lead
Immerse the baby's head
Wrap her up in the News Of The World
Dump her on a doorstep, girl
This night has opened my eyes
And I will never sleep again
You kicked and cried like a bullied child
A grown man of twenty-five
Oh, he said he'd cure your ills
But he didn't and he never will
Oh, save your life
Because you've only got one
The dream has gone
But the baby is real
Oh, you did a good thing
She could have been a poet
Or, she could have been a fool
Oh, you did a bad thing
And I'm not happy
And I'm not sad
A shoeless child on a swing
Reminds you of your own again
She took away your troubles
Oh, but then again
She left pain
So, please save your life
Because you've only got one
The dream has gone
But the baby is real
Oh, you did a good thing
She could have been a poet
Or, she could have been a fool
Oh, you did a bad thing
And I'm not happy
And I'm not sad
Oh ...
And I'm not happy
And I'm not sad
Oh ...
And I'm not happy
And I'm not sad
Immerse the baby's head
Wrap her up in the News Of The World
Dump her on a doorstep, girl
This night has opened my eyes
And I will never sleep again
You kicked and cried like a bullied child
A grown man of twenty-five
Oh, he said he'd cure your ills
But he didn't and he never will
Oh, save your life
Because you've only got one
The dream has gone
But the baby is real
Oh, you did a good thing
She could have been a poet
Or, she could have been a fool
Oh, you did a bad thing
And I'm not happy
And I'm not sad
A shoeless child on a swing
Reminds you of your own again
She took away your troubles
Oh, but then again
She left pain
So, please save your life
Because you've only got one
The dream has gone
But the baby is real
Oh, you did a good thing
She could have been a poet
Or, she could have been a fool
Oh, you did a bad thing
And I'm not happy
And I'm not sad
Oh ...
And I'm not happy
And I'm not sad
Oh ...
And I'm not happy
And I'm not sad
This Night Has Opened My Eyes [Peel Session]
Recorded during a BBC Radio 1 session with John Peel, this track exemplifies The Smiths' unique blend of jangle-pop and post-punk energy. Released on the 1987 compilation Louder Than The Bombs, the song features Morrissey's distinctive vocal delivery and Johnny Marr's intricate guitar work, characteristic of the band's mid-career output. The recording captures the raw, unpolished aesthetic of Peel sessions, offering a glimpse into the band's live performance dynamic. As a staple of their discography, it remains a defining piece of 1980s British indie music, showcasing the interplay between Morrissey's literary lyrics and Marr's melodic sensibility without relying on studio perfection.