Self Control
Raf Lyrics
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City life, painted girls
In the day nothing matters
It's the nighttime that flatters
In the night no control
Through the wall something breakin'
Wearin' white as you're walkin'
Down the streets of my soul
You take my self, you take my self control
You got me livin' only for the night
Before the morning comes the story's told
You take my self, you take my self control
Another night another day goes by
I never stop myself to wonder why
You're makin' me forget to play my role
You take my self you take my self control
I I live among the creatures of the night
I haven't got the will to try and fight
Against a new tomorrow
So I guess I'll just believe it that tomorrow never comes again
Night I'm livin' in a moment of a dream
I know that life is not as it would seem
I must believe in something
So I make myself believe it that this night will never go
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Oh the night is my world
City life, painted girls
In the day nothing matters
It's the nighttime that flatters
Oh the night is my world (you take my self, you take my self control)
City lights, painted girls (you got me livin' only for the night)
In the day nothing matters (before the morning comes the story's told)
It's the nighttime that flatters (you take my self, you take my self control)
I said I I live among the creatures of the night (you take my self, you take my self control)
I haven't got the will to try and fight (you take my self, you take my self control)
Against a new tomorrow (you take my self, you take my self control)
So I guess I just believe it that tomorrow never knows (you take my self, you take my self control)
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh (you take my self, you take my)
Oh oh oh (you take my self, you take my)
Oh oh oh (you take my self, you take my)
Oh oh oh (you take my self, you take my)
Oh oh oh (you take my self, you take my self control)
Oh oh oh (you take my self, you take my self control)
Oh oh oh (you take my self, you take my self control)
Oh oh oh (you take my self, you take my self control)
Oh oh oh (you take my self, you take my self control)
Oh oh oh (you take my self, you take my self control)
Oh oh oh (you take my self, you take my self control)
The lyrics of Raf's "Self Control" describe the singer's fascination with the night, particularly the city life that comes to life under its cover. He is drawn to the "painted girls" and the freedom that comes with the darkness. The lyrics convey a sense of losing oneself in the moment, of letting go of control and surrendering to the night. As the singer's self-control slips away, he becomes captivated by a person who takes control of his life, leaving him living only for the night.
The lyrics also touch on the singer's reluctance to face the reality of a new day. He lives among the creatures of the night, lacking the will to fight against a new tomorrow, perhaps because it is too painful or difficult. Instead, he chooses to believe that tomorrow will never come again, and the night will last forever.
Overall, the lyrics of "Self Control" capture the allure and danger of the nightlife, the feeling of surrendering control, and the fear of facing reality.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh the night is my world
The singer prefers the nighttime to the day.
City life, painted girls
The city streets are alive and vibrant.
In the day nothing matters
The singer finds the daytime to be dull and uninteresting.
It's the nighttime that flatters
The artist finds the nighttime to be mysterious and exciting.
In the night no control
The artist feels a lack of control in the nighttime.
Through the wall something breakin'
There are disruptive noises coming from outside.
Wearin' white as you're walkin'
Someone is walking while dressed in white.
Down the streets of my soul
The white-dressed person is walking down the streets of the artist's mind.
You take my self, you take my self control
Someone else has control over the artist's actions.
You got me livin' only for the night
The artist becomes obsessed with the nighttime and disregards everything else.
Before the morning comes the story's told
The nighttime activities will come to an end when the morning comes.
Another night another day goes by
Time is passing.
I never stop myself to wonder why
The singer doesn't question their behavior.
You're makin' me forget to play my role
The controlling person is distracting the singer from fulfilling their responsibilities.
I I live among the creatures of the night
The singer associates with night-dwellers.
I haven't got the will to try and fight
The artist lacks motivation to resist temptation.
Against a new tomorrow
The idea of facing the consequences of their actions is daunting.
So I guess I'll just believe it that tomorrow never comes again
The singer prefers to live in the moment and ignore future consequences.
Oh oh oh
Vocalization with no specific meaning.
Oh the night is my world (you take my self, you take my self control)
Reiteration of previous lyrics.
City lights, painted girls (you got me livin' only for the night)
Reiteration of previous lyrics.
In the day nothing matters (before the morning comes the story's told)
Reiteration of previous lyrics.
It's the nighttime that flatters (you take my self, you take my self control)
Reiteration of previous lyrics.
I said I I live among the creatures of the night (you take my self, you take my self control)
Reiteration of previous lyrics.
I haven't got the will to try and fight (you take my self, you take my self control)
Reiteration of previous lyrics.
Against a new tomorrow (you take my self, you take my self control)
Reiteration of previous lyrics.
So I guess I just believe it that tomorrow never knows (you take my self, you take my self control)
Reiteration of previous lyrics.
Oh oh oh
Vocalization with no specific meaning.
You take my self, you take my
The controlling person takes away the artist's autonomy.
Oh oh oh
Vocalization with no specific meaning.
You take my self, you take my
Reiteration of previous lyrics.
Oh oh oh
Vocalization with no specific meaning.
You take my self, you take my
Reiteration of previous lyrics.
Oh oh oh
Vocalization with no specific meaning.
You take my self, you take my self control
Reiteration of previous lyrics.
Lyrics © Sugarmusic s.p.a.
Written by: Raffaele Riefoli, Stephen Vincent Piccolo, Giancarlo Bigazzi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ShehrozeAmeen
@@neildarling2404 could be. As far as I have found, the lyrics are constant in both versions.
With Raf, it could be that since the "night" - I'm treating it as a character here, since it does have metaphorical elements indulging the protagonist ("City light, painted girl", "Wearin' white as you're walkin' / Down the street of my soul", "So I guess I just believe it that tomorrow never comes", "So I make myself believin' that this night will never go", "You take my self, you take my self-control") - is a constant entity, and eventually you have to indulge the night, the male decision making is more inclined towards the inevitable, the whole "if you can't beat them, join them" approach.
But with Laura, truth be told, it could be argued that the female is literally using the exact same lyrics, and pointing out not that nihilism but the very uncomfortable submission to these whims, and that it is made worse because Laura - excellent singer that she is - sings it with that nihilism upfront.
What I'm getting at is you empathize with Raf, but you relate with Laura. Raf is implicit - which is a European thing if you consider it - whereas Laura's interpretation is exceptionally explicit. Raf is a guy telling his mate he's been wrecked, and you'd imagine it happening in a club or a bar. With Laura, you imagine it being anyone, walking back home, if they're living in sinful districts. Hamburg's Reeperbahn and St. Pauli are examples where people actually do live there, and that's the red district. You can apply both versions of the song there, and they both would be apt.
For all intents and purposes, the song is immortal. Lyrically it is dope. And in the hand of a good artist it really is able to leave a mark. Raf did that, so did Laura.
@felixmagath1471
Oh the night is my world
City life, painted girls
In the day nothing matters
It's the nighttime that flatters
In the night no control
Through the wall something breakin'
Wearin' white as you're walkin'
Down the streets of my soul
You take my self, you take my self control
You got me livin' only for the night
Before the morning comes the story's told
You take my self, you take my self control
Another night another day goes by
I never stop myself to wonder why
You're makin' me forget to play my role
You take my self you take my self control
I I live among the creatures of the night
I haven't got the will to try and fight
Against a new tomorrow
So I guess I'll just believe it that tomorrow never comes again
Night I'm livin' in a moment of a dream
I know that life is not as it would seem
I must believe in something
So I make myself believe it that this night will never go
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Oh the night is my world
City life, painted girls
In the day nothing matters
It's the nighttime that flatters
Oh the night is my world (you take my self, you take my self control)
City lights, painted girls (you got me livin' only for the night)
In the day nothing matters (before the morning comes the story's told)
It's the nighttime that flatters (you take my self, you take my self control)
I said I I live among the creatures of the night (you take my self, you take my self control)
I haven't got the will to try and fight (you take my self, you take my self control)
Against a new tomorrow (you take my self, you take my self control)
So I guess I just believe it that tomorrow never knows (you take my self, you take my self control)
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh (you take my self, you take my)
Oh oh oh (you take my self, you take my)
Oh oh oh (you take my self, you take my)
Oh oh oh (you take my self, you take my)
Oh oh oh (you take my self, you take my self control)
Oh oh oh (you take my self, you take my self control)
Oh oh oh (you take my self, you take my self control)
Oh oh oh (you take my self, you take my self control)
Oh oh oh (you take my self, you take my self control)
Oh oh oh (you take my self, you take my self control)
Oh oh oh (you take my self, you take my self control)
@susanwallei-vj3bh
Oh, the night is my world
City light painted girl
In the day nothing matters
It's the night time that flatters
In the night, no control
Through the wall something's breaking
Wearing white as you're walkin'
Down the street of my soul
You take my self, you take my self control
You got me livin' only for the night
Before the morning comes, the story's told
You take my self, you take my self control
Another night, another day goes by
I never stop myself to wonder why
You help me to forget to play my role
You take my self, you take my self control
I, I live among the creatures of the night
I haven't got the will to try and fight
Against a new tomorrow
So I guess I'll just believe it
That tomorrow never comes
A safe night (you take my self, you take my self control)
I'm living in the forest of my dream (you take my self, you take my self control)
I know the night is not as it would seem (you take my self, you take my self control)
I must believe in something
So I'll make myself believe it (you take my self, you take my self control)
This night will never go
Oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh...
Oh, the night is my world
City light painted girl
In the day nothing matters
It's the night time that flatters
I, I live among the creatures of the night
I haven't got the will to try and fight
Against a new tomorrow
So I guess I'll just believe it
Tomorrow never knows
A safe night (you take my self, you take my self control)
I'm living in the forest of my dream (you take m yself, you take my self control)
I know the night is not as it would seem (you take m yself, you take my self control)
I must believe in something
So I'll make myself believe it (you take my self, you take my self control)
This night will never go
Oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh...
You take my self, you take my self control (oh-oh-oh)
You take my self, you take my self control (oh-oh-oh)
You take my self, you take my self control (oh-oh-oh)
You take my self, you take my self control (oh-oh-oh)
You take my self, you take my self control (oh-oh-oh)
You take my self, you take my self control (oh-oh-oh)
You take my self, you take my self control (oh-oh-oh)
You take my self, you take my self control (oh-oh-oh)
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Giancarlo Bigazzi / Raffaele Riefoli / Stephen Vincent Piccolo
Self Control lyrics © Sugarmusic S.p.a., Sugarmusic Edizioni Musicali S R L
@giuliodf
As an 80's italian boy for me this is the real version.
@tvolabogusi5693
Because it IS 💯
@kokoxiv516
sono un ragazzo di 19 anni, e ascolto questa musica, posso confermare pur non essendo della vecchia generazione, che queste canzoni sono le migliori
@franksanchez6034
I'm 53 yrs. old, was a teenager in the 80's, and this is the first time I've heard this song from this artist...never knew it even existed...life is a trip!
@bubblelex5051
Brother do you live under a rock? Im 25 and I grew up on alot of this 80s music come on 🤦♂️🤦♂️
@Andy-bh8hw
@@bubblelex5051 Laura Branigan version is more popular thats why
@fortunasc5442
@@Andy-bh8hw May be in the USA, not in Europe
@Aquais97
I had to republish the comment due to not showing up on my browser, I am in my 20s and had great taste of music, mostly from the 80s. I was going to listen Laura Branigan's version few years ago until today, I came across with this first. I did listened to Laura's version shortly thereafter and It was ok, but I prefer Raf's version more.
@LillyBunnyBoo
Same!!! This is great - and he co-wrote it - beats Branigan’s cover all to hell. LOL
@victorj.montfort1916
Years and years listening to Laura's version, never knew until now it was a cover. A nice addition to my 80's collection. Loving both, no need to compete one with another!