These words are transcribed without permission the way they appear in the "Hatful Of Hollow" album. Additions to the printed lyrics are in darker text while omissions are striken out.

In a river the colour of lead
emerse 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
he said he'd cure your ills
but he didn't and he never will
so, 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 ¹
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
and I'm not happy ²
and I'm not sad
and I'm not happy
and I'm not sad

 

² In at least one early live performance of this song Morrissey sang "And I'm never happy and I'm never sad.

Quotes

"I've never made any secret of the fact that at least 50 per cent of my reason for writing can be blamed on Shelagh Delaney who wrote 'A Taste Of Honey'. And 'This Night Has Opened My Eyes' is a Taste Of Honey song - putting the entire play to words."
- Morrissey, NME, 7 June 1986