Bright Lights
Gary Clark Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Wake up in New York City
Lying on the floor
Just outside of Marcy's - West 54 wow

You gonna know my name by the end of the night, yeah
You gonna know my name by the end of the night, well

Bright lights, big city going to my head
Bright lights, big city going to my head
Bright lights, big city going to my head
I don't care no, no
Cause you don't care, no

Start up with the bottle
End it up with the bottle
Taking shots, waitingon tomorrow
Trying to fill up, whats hollow

You gonna know my name
You gonna know my name

Bright lights, big city going to my head
Bright lights, big city going to my head
Bright lights, big city going to my head
I don't care no
'Cause you don't care, no

Get lost in this city trying to find myself
I went up a different person
Came down somebody else
I know it ain't right
But its song in my head
Wow I'm surprised that
I'm still alive I should breathe in

Bright lights, big city going to my head
Bright lights, big city going to my head
Bright lights, big city going to my head
I don't care no, no
Cause you don't care

Well you gonna know my name
Well you gonna know my name




Well you gonna know my name
Hey! You gonna know my name by the end of the night, well

Overall Meaning

The song “Bright Lights” by Gary Clark Jr. talks about the excitement and restlessness of being in New York City. The opening lines, “Wake up in New York City / Lying on the floor / Just outside of Marcy's - West 54 wow,” paints a picture of someone who has partied all night, possibly in the company of some unsavory characters. Despite the chaos, the singer is determined to make a name for themselves, as evidenced by the repeated refrain, “You gonna know my name by the end of the night, yeah / You gonna know my name by the end of the night, well.”


The song’s chorus, “Bright lights, big city going to my head / I don't care no, no / 'Cause you don't care, no,” speaks to the intoxicating nature of the city and the way it can make people feel invincible. The second verse delves deeper into this feeling, as the singer turns to alcohol to fill a void inside them. The line “Get lost in this city trying to find myself / I went up a different person / Came down somebody else” suggests that the city has changed them in some way, leading to a crisis of identity. Overall, “Bright Lights” captures the mix of excitement and disillusionment that often comes with life in the city that never sleeps.


Line by Line Meaning

Wake up in New York City Lying on the floor Just outside of Marcy's - West 54 wow
The song starts with the singer waking up in New York City, finding himself lying on the floor just outside Marcy's on West 54th street, surprised at his surroundings


You gonna know my name by the end of the night, yeah You gonna know my name by the end of the night, well
The singer is confident that by the end of the night, people will recognize and remember his name


Bright lights, big city going to my head Bright lights, big city going to my head Bright lights, big city going to my head I don't care no, no Cause you don't care, no
The fast-paced and exciting city life is making the singer feel overwhelmed and possibly a bit lost, but he doesn't care because he knows others around him feel the same way.


Start up with the bottle End it up with the bottle Taking shots, waitingon tomorrow Trying to fill up, whats hollow
The artist turns to alcohol to help fill a void inside of him, whether it be out of boredom, loneliness, or other internal struggles


Get lost in this city trying to find myself I went up a different person Came down somebody else I know it ain't right But its song in my head Wow I'm surprised that I'm still alive I should breathe in
The city can be a confusing and overwhelming place, and the artist has the urge to find himself amidst the chaos. Despite this, he knows that he has changed since coming to the city and feels conflicted about it. At the same time, he's grateful for the experience of being alive and tries to take it all in.


Well you gonna know my name Well you gonna know my name Well you gonna know my name Hey! You gonna know my name by the end of the night, well
The singer repeats his earlier claim that people will soon know his name, stating it even more confidently and with emphasis




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: VICTORIA LOTT, JARED ROGERS, KWASI DANQUAH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@LukeVidler

This song gets in your blood, i've been coming back to it for a few years now.

@reneejones5915

Same here

@all--in2175

“I’ve been sitting at the bar for about three hours or about five years, depending on how you looked at things.."
-Max Payne

@thalisribeiro9922

"I tried not to look at things"

@nicholasnevola4811

This guy is severely underrated. So much talent and skill into this craft.

@tologueca

+Nicholas Nevola Underrated?! Mick Jagger called him the saviour of the blues 10 years ago.

@jamesraymondsmith

+Tolo Gueca underrated in the united states, my man

@annmeckes2208

He really is talented!! How do we get him noticed?

@realjackbronco

+Nicholas Nevola agree this fella is amazing!

@katherinedearman29

I totally agree 😋

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