Detroit Lions Week 1 Song of the Game: ‘Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now’

Song of the Game is back. Each week, we’ll use a song to describe our feeling or the Lions’ performance from the previous game. At the end of the year, we’ll have a complete Spotify playlist telling the story of the Lions’ 2018 season. You can check out the 2017 playlist here, and our explanations for our choices here.

Detroit Lions vs. New York Jets Song of the Game: “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now” by The Smiths

I’m not a big fan of The Smiths. I respect the hell of out Morrisey for being one of the greatest songwriters in history and perfectly encapsulating what depression and heartbreak feel like, but during my vulnerable, floundering teenage years, I was led astray by the likes of Staind, Limp Bizkit and Korn. Had I been cognizant of Morrissey at the time, I probably would’ve loved him, but by the time I had been given a music history lesson, I no longer had the need for The Smith’s overbearing bleakness.

[Hat tip to Jerry Mallory for suggesting this song. I’m not that aware of The Smith’s catalogue, but I couldn’t turn away this choice from Jerry.]

Well, I thought I didn’t, at least. Monday night’s game was a punch in the gut I didn’t think this team was still capable of delivering. The first week of the season is supposed to be the pinnacle of happiness and optimism, and bringing in the era of a new head coach was supposed to bring an extra wave of good feelings. Thankfully, the schedule-makers placed the Jets to kick things off, minimizing any chance of a disaster to start the year.

Then everything unraveled in an instant, and now I’m miserable.

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

Quandre Diggs opened up Monday night with a glorious pick-six and suddenly all the negativity from the preseason was gone. I couldn’t help myself. I screamed out in the press box, even though rules very clearly state no cheering is allowed. I couldn’t help myself. I was happy in the haze of a drunken hour.

But that happiness didn’t last long, and soon emotions swayed to the other end of the spectrum. Everything that could go wrong, went wrong. Matthew Stafford turned into Mark Sanchez. Ezekiel Ansah and Darius Slay crumpled to the ground. The best special teams unit in 2017 channeled their inner Stan Kwan and became the worst set of players on the field.

As the dust was settling, I did something I haven’t done in a long, long time. I questioned my fandom. I questioned whether this was all worth it—to not only emotionally invest myself in the team, but to devote myself professionally to the Lions beat, even though I know exactly what I’m getting into. I spend nine months devoted to covering the Lions while nothing is happening, only for the team to finally take the field and destroy my hopes in an instant.

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

Of course, like any sadness or depression, it goes away after some time and some well-needed rest. Hopefully next week’s song is a little happier.