The Lights Go Down
Elo Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

The lights go down

One day
I gotta get out of here
I gotta make everything clear
I gotta see you, oh, oh

I know
The way that I feel is wrong, so wrong
But I gotta carry on
When you ain't around

I believe things are going wrong
And the night goes on and on
All your dreams have flown away
And the sun won't shine today

The lights go down (I want you, baby)
The lights go down (I need you, baby)
The lights go down
And there's no one around

I know
You're waiting so close to me
But how will you ever see
As time rolls away?

Lonely
But trying to be so proud
And just as I turn around
The lights go down

I believe things are going wrong
And the night goes on and on
All your dreams have flown away
And the sun won't shine today

The lights go down (I want you, baby)
The lights go down (I need you, baby)
The lights go down
And there's no one around

The lights go down (I want you, baby)
The lights go down (I need you, baby)
The lights go down
And there's no one around

The lights go down (I want you, baby)
The lights go down (I need you, baby)




The lights go down (I want you, baby)
The lights go down (I need you, baby)

Overall Meaning

"The Lights Go Down" is a song by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) that tells the story of a person trying to escape from their current situation and longing to be with someone they love. The song begins with a desire to leave the current situation and make everything clear. The lyrics convey a feeling of melancholy and despair, emphasizing the importance of being with someone you love. The singer has a sense that things are going wrong, and as night falls, they feel more and more alone. Despite the closeness of their loved one, they feel isolated as time rolls away, a realisation that is emphasised in the repetition of the line "The lights go down, and there's no one around."
The chorus of the song is the singer expressing their longing for their loved one, "The lights go down, I want you baby, the lights go down, I need you baby, the lights go down, and there's no one around." It is a heartfelt expression of their need and desire for companionship.


Interestingly, this song is significantly slower and less bombastic than many other ELO songs. Instead, it is a more personal and intimate song with a focus on emotions, rather than grandiose production. Jeff Lynne, the frontman of ELO, wrote the song and played most of the instruments on the track, including drums and bass. He also sang the lead vocals, along with backing harmony parts.


Line by Line Meaning

The lights go down
The atmosphere becomes dim


One day
At some point in the future


I gotta get out of here
I need to leave this place


I gotta make everything clear
I need to clarify everything


I gotta see you, oh, oh
I need to see you


I know
I am aware


The way that I feel is wrong, so wrong
My emotions are incorrect


But I gotta carry on
But I must continue


When you ain't around
When you are not present


I believe things are going wrong
I think things are going poorly


And the night goes on and on
And the night continues


All your dreams have flown away
Your aspirations have disappeared


And the sun won't shine today
It will be a gloomy day


You're waiting so close to me
You are standing near me


But how will you ever see
But how can you ever understand


As time rolls away?
As time passes by?


Lonely
Feeling alone


But trying to be so proud
But attempting to remain confident


And just as I turn around
And just as I look away


The lights go down
The atmosphere becomes dim


The lights go down (I want you, baby)
The atmosphere becomes dim (I desire you, darling)


The lights go down (I need you, baby)
The atmosphere becomes dim (I require you, darling)


And there's no one around
And there is nobody nearby




Contributed by Blake H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@jmsander91

Lyrics 💛
The lights go down

One day, I gotta get out of here
I gotta make everything clear
I gotta see you, oh, oh

I know the way that I feel is wrong, so wrong
But I gotta carry on
When you ain't around

I believe, things are going wrong
And the night goes on and on
All your dreams, have flown away
And the sun, won't shine today

The lights go down (I want you, baby)
The lights go down (I need you, baby)
The lights go down
And there's no one around

I know, you're waiting so close to me
But how will you ever see
As time rolls away?

Lonely, but tryin' to be so proud
And just as I turn around
The lights go down

I believe, things are going wrong
And the night goes on and on
All your dreams, have flown away
And the sun, won't shine today

The lights go down (I want you, baby)
The lights go down (I need you, baby)
The lights go down
And there's no one around

The lights go down (I want you, baby)
The lights go down (I need you, baby)
The lights go down
And there's no one around

The lights go down (I want you, baby)
The lights go down (I need you, baby)
The lights go down (I want you, baby)
The lights go down

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Lynne Jeffrey
The Lights Go Down lyrics © Emi April Music Inc.



@peterhoare3219

I usually burst into tears when Mr Lynne sings with true emotion, "And the Sun, wont shine, today........" 😢😥

And im fifty fucking seven, heard the whole album a billion times since it's release and listening to it over and over at Study Time at boarding school in Australia in '81/'82

And ever since 🙂 .......hence, my comment

Saw em live once. Aistralia, Brisbane. Smallish gig, few thousand. I was PISSED and stoned. I really can't remember it, but i think i thought they sucked, live, at the time

But you know, i wasnt in a state for rational criticism. I couldnt stand ffs.....😂



All comments from YouTube:

@jimmykarlsson2567

For real such an underrated song. I mean listen to the harmony of the voices and instruments. This is GOLD

@kye8378

YES PURE GOLD

@senderodeluzterapias

Totally agree

@ericstewart9499

Perfect

@loremeza2150

Hermosa Canción, como se puede traducir en Español?

@LijaMoore

His voice is pure gold ✨️

5 More Replies...

@jmsander91

Lyrics 💛
The lights go down

One day, I gotta get out of here
I gotta make everything clear
I gotta see you, oh, oh

I know the way that I feel is wrong, so wrong
But I gotta carry on
When you ain't around

I believe, things are going wrong
And the night goes on and on
All your dreams, have flown away
And the sun, won't shine today

The lights go down (I want you, baby)
The lights go down (I need you, baby)
The lights go down
And there's no one around

I know, you're waiting so close to me
But how will you ever see
As time rolls away?

Lonely, but tryin' to be so proud
And just as I turn around
The lights go down

I believe, things are going wrong
And the night goes on and on
All your dreams, have flown away
And the sun, won't shine today

The lights go down (I want you, baby)
The lights go down (I need you, baby)
The lights go down
And there's no one around

The lights go down (I want you, baby)
The lights go down (I need you, baby)
The lights go down
And there's no one around

The lights go down (I want you, baby)
The lights go down (I need you, baby)
The lights go down (I want you, baby)
The lights go down

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Lynne Jeffrey
The Lights Go Down lyrics © Emi April Music Inc.

@janewagner1601

Lovely thankyou for the lyrics a god idea to match the melody

@trudithirtle5106

@sarahmcpherson3666

I will never tire of listening to ELO. One of my favorite songs.

More Comments

More Versions