Bright Lights
Gary Clarke Jr. Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Woke up in new york city lying on the floor
Just outside of monsey's west 54
Well
You gonna know my name by the end of the night
Yeah
You gonna know my name by the end of the night

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

Start off with a bottle
Endin up with a bottle
Takin shots, waitin on tomorrow
Tryin to fill up what's hollow
You gonna know my name
You gonna know my name

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

Get lost in the city
Try to find myself
I went up a different person came down somebody else
I know it ain't right but it's all in my head
Oh i'm surprised that i'm still alive i should be dead

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

Oh you gonna know my name
Yeah, yeah you gonna know my name
You gonna know my name
You gonna know my name





Hey,
You gonna know my name by the end of the night

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Gary Clarke Jr.'s "Bright Lights" paint a vivid picture of the ups and downs of the big city lifestyle. The song starts off with the singer waking up on the floor in New York City, specifically outside of Monsey's West 54. Despite starting off in a rough position, the singer is determined to make a name for themselves. They declare that by the end of the night, everyone will know their name.


As the song continues, the repetitive chorus of "bright lights big city goin to my head" emphasizes the intoxicating nature of the city. The singer portrays the typical party lifestyle, starting off with a bottle and ending up with a bottle. They're taking shots and waiting for tomorrow, trying to fill the emptiness they feel inside. Despite this, they still want to be known and recognized, even though they acknowledge that the people around them don't really care.


In the final verses, the singer reflects on how the city has changed them. They've gotten lost and found themselves as a different person. They know their lifestyle isn't right, but it's all in their head. They're surprised that they're still alive and feel like they should be dead. Regardless of the toll it's taken on them, they end the song with the declaration that everyone will know their name.


Line by Line Meaning

Woke up in new york city lying on the floor
I found myself waking up on the floor of a New York City building.


Just outside of monsey's west 54
Specifically, I was outside of Monsey's West 54 club.


You gonna know my name by the end of the night
I am confident that I will make a name for myself before the night is over.


Bright lights big city goin to my head
The bright lights of the city are having a strong effect on my mind.


I don't care, no
I don't care about the consequences.


Cause you don't care, no
I assume you also don't care.


Start off with a bottle
I started drinking from a bottle.


Endin up with a bottle
And I ended drinking from the same bottle.


Takin shots, waitin on tomorrow
I'm just taking shots and waiting for tomorrow.


Tryin to fill up what's hollow
I'm trying to fill up the emptiness that I feel inside.


Get lost in the city
I get lost in the city easily.


Try to find myself
I try to find myself, but I can't seem to do so.


I went up a different person came down somebody else
In my pursuit of finding myself, I ended up becoming someone else.


I know it ain't right but it's all in my head
I know it's wrong, but I can't help thinking this way.


Oh i'm surprised that i'm still alive i should be dead
Considering my actions and how I feel, I am surprised I have not died yet.


Oh you gonna know my name
Again, I am confident you will know my name.


Yeah, yeah you gonna know my name
I repeat, you will definitely know my name.


Hey,
Just a casual greeting.


You gonna know my name by the end of the night
I reiterate that I will make a name for myself before the night ends.




Contributed by Charlie G. 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
Comments from YouTube:

@mattconnor8677

Modern blues rock doesn't get any better than this. I've been listening to these kind of jams since the 1960's and I'm here to tell you... this young man is the REAL...deal.

@dspencer1969

He's good brother, Try some fish-Samantha Fish

@Scorhos

Cristone "Kingfish" Ingram rocks,too.. He's 20 years. Solid talent.

@easysinmusic216

GeminiiDragon Ballad Of Willie Mae & George lyric video 🚨 MUST SEE 🚨 https://youtu.be/oLLpOUEfcZk

@roryderkson765

Samantha Fich

@obriantomlinson2776

@@Scorhosand Eric Gales!

3 More Replies...

@nitishchauhan8655

2:10 Probably one of the greatest music shots of all time. A gritty song about fame and pride and then a shot of him capturing the entire crowd in his visor. So cool

@jessejive117

Whoa……

@barryware7497

Agree...

@easysinmusic216

GeminiiDragon Ballad Of Willie Mae & George lyric video 🚨 MUST SEE 🚨 https://youtu.be/oLLpOUEfcZk

More Comments

More Versions