All Of The Lights
Bon Iver/Jay-Z/Kanye West/Nicki Minaj/Rick Ross Lyrics

All of the lights (all of the lights)
This song is about the brightness and intensity of fame and success.

(Lights, lights) all of the lights
The repeated emphasis on lights symbolizes the constant attention and scrutiny that comes with fame and success.

Turn up the lights in here baby
The singer is commanding someone to increase the brightness of the lights, drawing attention to themselves and their success.

Extra bright, I want y'all to see this
The artist wants everyone to take notice of their success and accomplishments, and is requesting more attention and admiration.

Turn up the lights in here, baby
The demand for brighter lights is repeated, emphasizing the artist's desire for attention and recognition.

You know what I need
The singer is communicating their expectations of others, presuming that they should understand and cater to their desires.

Want you to see everything
The singer is seeking attention and approval, wanting others to admire and acknowledge all aspects of their success.

Fast cars, shooting stars
The mentions of fast cars and shooting stars represent the fleeting and temporary nature of success and fame, and the pressure to keep achieving in order to maintain it.

(All of the lights, all of the lights)
The chorus is repeated, emphasizing the intense and constant nature of fame and success.

Until it's Vegas everywhere we are
The reference to Las Vegas implies a glitzy and glamorous lifestyle that is present wherever the artist goes, emphasizing their wealth and success.

If you want it you can get it for the rest of your life
The singer is asserting their dominance and success while also implying that others can achieve the same if they work hard and strive for it.

Something wrong
The artist is acknowledging that there are negative aspects of success and fame, beyond just the positive attention and wealth.

I hold my head
The singer is expressing disappointment or anguish over something that has gone wrong in their life or career despite their success.

M.J. gone, our nigga dead!
The reference to Michael Jackson's death is a reminder of the fleeting and uncertain nature of life, including the temporary nature of success and fame.

I slapped my girl, she called the feds
The singer is acknowledging a mistake they made in their personal life, showing that fame and success do not exempt them from making bad decisions or having personal struggles.

I did that time and spent that bread
The artist has experienced consequences for their actions, including incarceration and financial losses, despite their wealth and success.

I'm heading home, I'm almost there
The artist is returning to their personal life and leaving their public persona behind, acknowledging the distinction between their public and private selves.

I'm on my way, headed up the stairs
The singer is returning to their home or personal space, emphasizing the separation between their public and private lives.

To my surprise, a nigga replacing me
The singer is acknowledging the possibility that someone else could take their place in the public eye, despite their current success and visibility.

I had to take 'em to that ghetto university (all of the lights)
The artist is referencing their own experiences from a difficult upbringing or life circumstances, indicating that their current success was not necessarily easy or handed to them.

Cop lights, flash lights, spot lights
The various types of lights represent the different ways that the artist is constantly under surveillance or being watched, emphasizing the intense and constant nature of fame and success.

Strobe lights, street lights
The mention of different types of lights is repeated, reinforcing the constant attention and scrutiny that comes with fame and success.

Fast life, drug life
The mention of fast and drug-related lifestyles implies that success and fame can come with negative consequences or moral compromises.

Thug life, rock life
The mention of thug and rock lifestyles reinforces the idea that success and fame can come with negative associations or consequences.

Every night (all of the lights)
The constant surveillance and attention is emphasized again, with the chorus repeated to express the intense and constant nature of fame and success.

Restraining order
The singer acknowledges a legal consequence or challenge they are facing in their personal life, showing that success and fame do not exempt them from legal or personal struggles.

Can't see my daughter
The singer expresses a personal hardship or loss they are experiencing despite their success and wealth, further humanizing them and negating the idea that fame and success solve all problems.

Her mother, brother, Grandmother hate me in that order
The artist is acknowledging personal struggles they have with their family, showing that not all relationships are perfect or positive despite success and wealth.

Public visitation
The artist is acknowledging the legal or public aspect of their personal struggles, further emphasizing the crossover between their public and private lives.

We met at Borders
The singer is referencing a personal connection or experience they had in a public space, further emphasizing the crossover between their public and private lives.

Told her she take me back
The singer is expressing their desire to repair a damaged relationship or connection, showing that personal struggles and hardships are universal even with wealth and success.

I'll be more supportive
The artist is expressing their desire to be a better partner or person in the future, acknowledging past mistakes or shortcomings despite their success and wealth.

I made mistakes
The artist is acknowledging their imperfections and past mistakes despite their success and wealth, further humanizing them and negating the idea that fame and success solve all problems.

I bump my head
The artist is acknowledging personal struggles or mental health challenges they have faced despite their success and wealth, further humanizing them and negating the idea that fame and success solve all problems.

Courts suck me dry
The singer is acknowledging financial losses or consequences they have faced despite their success and wealth, further humanizing them and negating the idea that fame and success solve all problems.

She need a daddy
The artist is acknowledging their responsibility as a parent or figure in someone's life, further emphasizing that success and fame do not exempt them from personal responsibilities or struggles.

Baby please, can't let her grow up in that ghetto university (all of the lights)
The singer is expressing their desire to provide a better upbringing or life for their child, while also referencing their own difficult upbringing or experiences.

Getting mine, baby
The singer is emphasizing that they are achieving success and wealth on their own terms and through their own efforts.

Gotta let these niggas know, yeah
The singer is asserting their dominance and success, asserting that others should recognize and respect their accomplishments.

Get it right, eh
The artist is encouraging others to strive for success and accomplish their goals, while also asserting that their own success is due to their own efforts and merits.

You should go and get your own
The artist is emphasizing that others should strive for and achieve success through their own efforts and merits, rather than relying on others or external factors.

Unemployment line, credit card declined
The singer is acknowledging financial struggles or setbacks they may have faced in the past, undermining the idea that wealth and success are always attainable and permanent.

Did I not mention I was about to lose my mind? (my mind, my mind, my mind)
The singer is acknowledging their personal struggles or mental health issues despite their success and wealth, further humanizing them and negating the idea that fame and wealth solve all problems.

And also was about to do that line (line, line, line)
The artist is referencing drug use or addiction they may have faced in the past, undermining the idea that fame and success always lead to a perfect or ideal life.

Okay, okay, you know we going all the way this time (time)
The artist is determined to achieve success and go all out, emphasizing their drive and ambition while rejecting any limitations or setbacks.

We going all the way this time (time)
The repeated emphasis on the artist's ambition and determination emphasizes their mindset and approach to achieving success.

Whoa, whoa, oh
The singer is expressing surprise or awe at their own success or accomplishments.

I tried to tell you but all I could say is oh
The artist is acknowledging that words cannot fully express their emotions or experiences of success, implying that it can only be fully understood through experience.