The song
“There Is a Light That Never Goes Out” and the elevator scene
The Smiths released “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out” on The Queen Is Dead in 1986. Two decades later, a film used it as the password between two people in an elevator.
The song
The track is one of The Smiths’ most recognizable songs: a bright, chiming guitar line under a lyric about devotion and escape. It is the kind of song that rewards recognition, which is exactly what the scene needs.
The lyric in the scene
Summer sings “To die by your side, such a heavenly way to die.” In the film it is playful, but it also signals the intensity Tom is already projecting onto her.
Why the song fits
The scene is about being seen. The song is about wanting to disappear with someone. The mismatch between the two is the joke, and the reason the moment stays in people’s heads.
The trend
The two-photo AI template keeps the song and the line, and swaps the two people. The result is a miniature version of the film’s fantasy, cast with your own faces.
Make the scene with your photos
Two photos, 18 seconds, about 30 minutes. Failed runs are refunded.
Make the scene with your photosFAQ
What album is the song on?
The Queen Is Dead, released in 1986.
What does the lyric mean?
It is a dramatic declaration of devotion: dying beside someone would be a heavenly way to go.
Is the song in the film?
Yes. It is the song Tom is listening to in the elevator scene.
Keep reading
- The I Love The Smiths elevator sceneA line-by-line breakdown of the I Love The Smiths elevator scene: the setup, the dialogue, the song, and why it became a video trend.
- The 500 Days of Summer elevator sceneThe 500 Days of Summer elevator scene: what happens on Day 4, the exact dialogue, the Smiths song, and where the scene sits in the film.
- The “I love the Smiths” quoteThe exact I Love The Smiths dialogue from (500) Days of Summer, including Summer’s repeat line, the lyric she sings, and the common misquotes.