After teaching herself to pl… Read Full Bio ↴Gina Young is a U.S. singer-songwriter.
After teaching herself to play guitar while at high school in the 1990s in Washington D.C., Young became interested in punk, and developed a style that incorporated elements of riot grrrl music, queer politics, punk, and folk.
Several years later she moved to Brooklyn, New York, since which she has toured the United States and Canada. Her debut album, Intractable, was released in 2003 and nominated for Outmusic's Outstanding Debut Album Award.
Turn The Lights Off
Gina Young Lyrics
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it's a hard thing to do
but i have no choice
i don't know what to say to you
i don't know why you think i do
all i know is i feel this deeper than you
i belong where everything goes wrong
at least, everything i do
so turn the lights off on the girl with the broken face
her pencil heart has been erased
she's standing on a lonely stage
and if you're nice you can throw a secondhand smile her way
just please don't lie to her
she's had enough today
cause it's easy to remember when her hands are in your hair
that she always plays favorites and she never plays fair
and it's easy to forget when she is laughing ooh
cause she never laughs at anyone they way she laughs at you
three cheers for the lonely girl
she eats her cake alone
eightteen candles
and her dreams, six feet under ground
girlfriend used to give a shit
but now she's just so scared of it
and that's it, nothing profound
so turn the lights off on the girl with the broken face
her pencil heart has been erased
she's standing on a lonely stage
and it you're nice you can throw a secondhand smile her way
just please don't look too long
she's gullable that way
so where does she stand?
at the front lnes with a rock in her hand
on the blacktop with her build like a man's
in the drama with your blood on her hands
cause it's easy to believe that all her planaties are real
when you're eating up her looks like they were your last meal
and it's easy convince you that my feelings are pretend
so eat cake if you like and get frosted again
eat cake if you like and get frosted again
eat cake if you like and get frosted again
and turn the lights off on the girl with the broken face
her pencil heart has been erased
she's standing on a lonely stage
and if you're nice you can throw a secondhand smile her way
just please don't lie to her
she's had enough today
The song ‘Turn the Lights Off’ by Gina Young is a poignant and emotional tale of heartbreak and rejection. The singer of the song, presumably Young herself, is talking to an ex-lover, explaining that they have given up on them. The lyrics underline the difficulty of making this decision, but the singer feels there is no other option. The sentiment of the song is one of anguish and regret, expressed through the haunting melody and the powerful lyrics.
The chorus of the song is a plea to others to take pity on the “girl with the broken face”, to acknowledge her pain and offer her some kindness. It’s clear that the singer sees something of herself in this girl, who is standing alone on a lonely stage, her “pencil heart” erased. The girl is vulnerable and fragile, and the singer urges others to throw her a smile, but not to lie to her.
The final lines of the song are a poignant and powerful call to action, a declaration that the singer will not be pushed around anymore. She stands with a rock in her hand, ready to fight for herself, and for what she believes in. Overall, this is a song that speaks to the difficulty of standing up for oneself, even in the face of pain and rejection.
Line by Line Meaning
me giving up on you
I'm choosing to give up on our relationship
it's a hard thing to do
Ending things is emotionally difficult for me
but i have no choice
I feel like I have no other option
i don't know what to say to you
I'm at a loss for words
i don't know why you think i do
I'm not sure why you expect me to have answers
all i know is i feel this deeper than you
I care about this more than you do
you belong where you belong
You should be where you fit in
i belong where everything goes wrong
I seem to always end up in bad situations
at least, everything i do
My actions seem to lead to negative outcomes
so turn the lights off on the girl with the broken face
Stop looking at the person who is struggling
her pencil heart has been erased
Her emotions and feelings have been hurt and ignored
she's standing on a lonely stage
She feels isolated and alone
and if you're nice you can throw a secondhand smile her way
You can offer her a small gesture of kindness
just please don't lie to her
Don't deceive her
she's had enough today
She's reached her limit
cause it's easy to remember when her hands are in your hair
You only remember the good times
that she always plays favorites and she never plays fair
She's not always honest or fair in her actions
and it's easy to forget when she is laughing ooh
You overlook her negative qualities when you're having fun
cause she never laughs at anyone they way she laughs at you
She seems to find joy in making fun of you
three cheers for the lonely girl
Acknowledging and honoring the struggles of those who are isolated
she eats her cake alone
She's always on her own
eightteen candles
Celebrating her birthday
and her dreams, six feet under ground
Her aspirations and hopes are nonexistent or dead
girlfriend used to give a shit
She used to care about her relationship
but now she's just so scared of it
Now, she's afraid of commitment
and that's it, nothing profound
That's the extent of her situation, nothing significant
just please don't look too long
Don't stare at her struggles for too long
she's gullable that way
She's easily misled
so where does she stand?
What is her place in the world?
at the front lnes with a rock in her hand
She's fighting an uphill battle
on the blacktop with her build like a man's
She's strong and resilient
in the drama with your blood on her hands
She's involved in conflict and may be blamed for causing harm
cause it's easy to believe that all her planaties are real
Her seemingly perfect traits can make it easy to overlook her flaws
when you're eating up her looks like they were your last meal
You're caught up in her superficial qualities
and it's easy convince you that my feelings are pretend
It's effortless for her to make you doubt your own emotions
so eat cake if you like and get frosted again
Do what makes you happy, even if it's superficial
turn the lights off on the girl with the broken face
Stop focusing on someone who is struggling
and if you're nice you can throw a secondhand smile her way
Offer her a small gesture of kindness and empathy
she's had enough today
She's dealing with a lot already
Contributed by Bella C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.