I was happy in the haze of a drunken hour
But heaven knows I'm miserable now

I was looking for a job, and then I found a job
And heaven knows I'm miserable now

In my life
Why do I give valuable time
To people who don't care if I live or die?

Two lovers entwined pass me by
And heaven knows I'm miserable now

I was looking for a job, and then I found a job
And heaven knows I'm miserable now

In my life
Oh, why do I give valuable time
To people who don't care if I live or die?

What she asked of me at the end of the day
Caligula would have blushed

"Oh, you've been in the house too long" she said
And I naturally fled

In my life
Why do I smile
At people who I'd much rather kick in the eye?

I was happy in the haze of a drunken hour
But heaven knows I'm miserable now

"Oh, you've been in the house too long" she said
And I naturally fled

In my life
Oh, why do I give valuable time
To people who don't care if I live or die?


Lyrics submitted by Idan

Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now Lyrics as written by Johnny Marr Steven Morrissey

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

59 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +9
    General Comment

    Sometimes we cannot reckon a song's meaning. When all of a sudden we go through a situation and we listen to a certain song we can understand it perfectly. We drink and get happy for a moment, when the effect of alcohol is over, the "happiness" goes away. So we start analysing our life to check what's wrong, in his case he thought he needed a job when he got it he realized it was not what he needed. It just made him more miserable. He just reaches the answer when he sees the "lovers passing him by". As he tries to get rid of his misery he gives his time to people who don't care and will NEVER care about him. He does it aiming to find someone who cares.

    Acesgirlon February 22, 2006   Link
  • +6
    General Comment

    Caligula is an emperor who killed his own men, practiced incest with his sisters and threw unnecessary parties. Show how Morrissey knows his history. Great line!

    LeonDoon March 24, 2008   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    This song rocks. It resonates with me for two reasons: One, yeah, it's catchy and Morrissey's voice, singing slightly behind the beat, complements the band's playing to perfecton. Two: despite the catchiness of the song, the lyrics themselves are very dark, bluesy, and common to our fickle condition.
    The song is almost schizophrenic in its nature: it sounds happy, yet the mood which the singer finds himself in is one of bitter agony. A bittersweet note indeed. What's great is that this is a song which one can listen to regardless of one's condition: happy or sad. What more can one ask for?

    ArtVandelayon August 31, 2006   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    the songs wrote about the people in Morrissey's life, he didnt like, but had to spend time with, his work colleagues and bosses etc... he says so in this interview about 8.25 youtube.com/watch

    jonnywardon June 04, 2007   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    What a great song. Somehow I always wind up listening to this song when I get some crappy job and then it hit's me, why am I giving my time to these automotons who don't care a whit about me? Kick them in the eye I will!

    Helixion June 12, 2002   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    I love this song, recently a I fell into a depression and this was the only song I could hear for a week. I don't know if it helped or it made me feel more depressed but It always makes me think about my life.

    NeonVeinson October 02, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Although my familiy doesn't like most of the music I listen to, this one struck a chord with all of them. Makes my dad laugh until he falls out of his chair.

    feinsteinon June 19, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    This song's title is a pun on the Sandie Shaw song from the late 60's entitled "Heaven Knows I'm Missing Him Now".

    suede_headon June 12, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Whenever I start to slip into a depression this song resonates through my mind. I've never heard anyone more accurately describe how it feels to be down or depressed. Or just thinking about all the things that you are unhappy with in your life. I listen to this a lot when I'm sad, and it doesn't make me cry, but it definitely regenerates the mood. Not sure if its a good or bad thing but regardless I love this song whether I'm happy or sad. When I'm happy this song makes me reflect on the times I was down, but not necessarily in a bad way. This song truly sounds how emotions feel.

    mixmytapeon May 07, 2014   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Haha, this song makes me want to get up and do a dance. The eye line is priceless!

    Misheson March 13, 2003   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Album art
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it. “I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.