It's about time. On the heels of a self-released EP and a slew of national … Read Full Bio ↴It's about time. On the heels of a self-released EP and a slew of national accolades, singer/songwriter Billy Redfield has just released his debut full lengther entitled "Two Steps Closer." It's a CD that builds on his reputation for breezy acoustic-based ballads and upbeat pop anthems delivered with equal parts earnesty AND urgency.

Working with an uber- talented studio team that includes producer Chris Keup (Jason Mraz, Josh Kelly) and engineer Stewart Myers (Rachel Yamagata, Lifehouse) "Two Steps" is an impressive effort for the 26 year old Maryland-native;especially considering he's a relative newcomer to the art of songwriting. Full of tasteful guitar phrasings, shuffling beats and lilting Hammond B-3, Redfield's musical reference points clearly extend beyond his birth date. "Guys like David Gray and Dave Matthews really changed my way of approaching writing songs," Redfield admits.

Redfield recently received honorable mention in the prestigious International Songwriting Competition for his track "Die for You" no easy feat considering the sheer number of entries and a panel of judges that includes Frank Black, Tom Waits, and the Strokes' Julian Casablancas. It's recognition like this that the soft-spoken Redfield doesn't take lightly. "It was pretty amazing [to win]. It was really validating."

Redfield's continued evolution as a young songwriter continues lyrically, where on pensive numbers like "Miss Melissa" he sings, "And I'm trying to melt the pain/But each day goes/And I'm nailed to the ghost/The weight of it all keeps my face long/I Miss Melissa."

"I write from a personal point of view;it's what I know best," admits Redfield. And it's clearly what his fans;who've cleverly dubbed themselves "redheads"relate to most. The coming months will look to see Redfield expand his flame-colored flocks and continue to hone his songwriting chops on the road in support of "Two Steps Closer." A title, which based on his current round of career success, could prove prescient.

Scott Crawford - Harp Magazine

Lights Out
Billy Redfield Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh my god it's happening again
The cloud's split open
Your face undisguised and unaffected
Has me going insane
Lights out
The devil's laughing hard
Fight proud We've all been dealt good cards
Think tough It doesn't rely on

It doesn't rely on Luck
Cold feet Stare and see me
Can't complain Lifes got a hold of me
Everyday is the same
Your life so controlled and uneventful
Has me going insane
Lights out The devil's laughing hard
Fight proud We've all been dealt good cards
Think tough
It doesn't rely on
It doesn't rely on Luck
Cold feet Stare and see me
Lights out The devil's laughing hard
Fight proud We've all been dealt good cards
Think tough It doesn't rely on

It doesn't rely on Luck
Cold feet Stare and see me

Overall Meaning

In "Lights Out," Billy Redfield sings of a familiar feeling of insanity that comes when faced with the disturbing, uncontrollable forces in life. The opening lines "Oh my god it's happening again/The cloud's split open" suggest a kind of visual and sensory disturbance, as if the sky itself is cracking apart. These lines paired with "Your face undisguised and unaffected" suggest some sort of emotional and personal reckoning. The singer is unable to ignore the truth that is being uncovered––the emotional dissonance that comes with the realization of certain truths can cause a loss of control or sanity. The refrain "Lights out, the devil's laughing hard/Fight proud, we've all been dealt good cards/Think tough, it doesn't rely on luck" suggests an attitude of perseverance in the face of difficult circumstances.

Throughout the song, Redfield encourages listeners to confront the chaos that lies beneath the surface of life. This message is made clear in the repetition of "Stare and see me" and "It doesn't rely on luck," indicating that certain circumstances cannot be escaped or avoided, but must be faced head-on. The line "Everyday is the same/Your life so controlled and uneventful/Has me going insane" reflects the inevitable monotony of everyday life, and how little control we often have over the course of our days. The refrain "We've all been dealt good cards" might also be interpreted as a call to recognize the positives in life, even amidst difficulty.

Overall, "Lights Out" is a song that encourages the listener to confront their own inner demons and face the chaos of the world around them with bravery and perseverance.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh my god it's happening again
Something familiar is happening again and is causing great distress

The cloud's split open
Something ominous and unsettling has been revealed

Your face undisguised and unaffected
The truth of your emotions is laid bare, unfiltered

Has me going insane
This situation is driving me to the brink of madness

Lights out
The situation has reached its climax and there is no turning back

The devil's laughing hard
The forces of evil seem to be enjoying my struggles and despair

Fight proud We've all been dealt good cards
Despite hardship, it is important to maintain a sense of dignity and gratitude for what we have

Think tough It doesn't rely on It doesn't rely on Luck
Success comes from persevering through challenges, not just relying on chance

Cold feet Stare and see me
Facing fear head on and observing how I handle it

Can't complain Lifes got a hold of me
There are aspects of life that we cannot control, and we must learn to accept them

Everyday is the same
The monotony and routine of daily life can be suffocating and unfulfilling