In 1971, guitarist Bill Nelson (William Nelson, 18 December 1948, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England) recorded the limited edition Northern Dream. Tapes of this collector's item were played by the pioneering disc jockey John Peel on his legendary BBC Radio programme, Top Gear. The line-up of Nelson, Nicholas Chatterton-Dew (drums), Robert Bryan (bass, vocals) and Ian Parkin (d. July 1995; guitar) recorded Axe Victim as BE-BOP DELUXE. Nelson soon disbanded the outfit, and following a tour supporting Cockney Rebel, he formed a new band, taking members from that fragmented unit. This short-lived combo also broke up. With the addition of bass player Charles Tumahai (b. New Zealand, d. 21 December 1995) and drummer Simon Fox, Nelson released Futurama and Sunburst Finish. The latter included a surprise hit single, "Ships In The Night". Nelsons art-school sensibilities and his use of themes from such diverse sources as Jean Cocteau, 1950's sci-fi and the surroundings of his native Yorkshire gave the group a unique character.
Nelson's undeniable talent as a guitarist began to dominate the band and as his technical virtuosity grew, the songs became weaker. Nelson abandoned the name in 1978 for the more radical Bill Nelson's Red Noise, retaining keyboard player Andrew Clark from the old band, although he now records under his own name. During their peak, Be-Bop Deluxe were an exciting and refreshing band who were ultimately unable to find a musical niche that suited their varied styles.
Lights
Be Bop Deluxe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of the people we once knew
And though their hearts are full of sorrow
The sun inside can still shine through
In the factories and the stations
In the house of the poor
In the darkest of all places
In the factories and the stations
In the house of the poor
In the darkest of all places
There is still an open door
When you lose the smile your smiling
When the blues stare down on you
You are still the lamp that's shining
So let the sun inside shine through
So let the sun inside shine through
So let the sun inside shine through
Let the sun inside shine through
Let the sun inside shine through
The lyrics of Be Bop Deluxe's "Lights" speak of the resilience of the human spirit in times of darkness and suffering. The shadows that move across the faces of "the people we once knew" symbolize the trials and hardships that we encounter in life. But despite their sorrow, the sun inside these people can still shine through, a testament to the strength and endurance of the human soul.
The song also speaks of the hopefulness that can be found even in the darkest of places. Whether it be in the factories and stations where people work tirelessly, or in the homes of the poor, there is still an open door, a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. Even when all seems lost and the blues are staring down on you, there is still a lamp that is shining within you. The song encourages us to let that light shine through, to not lose hope, and to keep fighting.
Overall, the lyrics of "Lights" are a poignant reminder that even in the midst of suffering and darkness, there is still beauty and hope to be found if we allow ourselves to see it.
Line by Line Meaning
Shadows move across the faces
The singer observes shadows on the faces of people they used to know.
Of the people we once knew
The singer is referring to people they have lost touch with over time.
And though their hearts are full of sorrow
The people the singer knows are experiencing deep sadness.
The sun inside can still shine through
Despite their sorrow, these people still have a capacity for happiness and optimism.
In the factories and the stations
The artist is painting a picture of industrial settings, where people work hard to make a living.
In the house of the poor
The singer is calling out poverty and the struggles people face in meager living situations.
In the darkest of all places
Even in the most dire situations.
There is still an open door
There is always hope for improvement and change in difficult circumstances.
When you lose the smile you're smiling
The artist acknowledges that people hide their sadness by continuing to smile, even when they're hurting inside.
When the blues stare down on you
The artist is using a blues metaphor to describe feeling down and defeated.
You are still the lamp that's shining
The singer believes that individuals always have a light to guide them, no matter how dark things may feel.
So let the sun inside shine through
The artist encourages others to keep striving for happiness and positivity.
Let the sun inside shine through
A repeated call to action as a final message of hope.
Contributed by Declan A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.