The band reunited in February 2012, with a new album to be released in 2015.
This Is the Light
Good Riddance Lyrics
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Another self-inflicted nightmare I will not forget
I felt a light
I saw you shine something's wrong
I felt that tremor in my soul
That memory one last time
this is the light
Where the darkness keeps the sun away
This is the light
This is the way
This stream of memories that carries me away
I know my head
At least I thought I did
I'd take a silver bullet through my soul if I could give
This phantom friend
This runaway train of thought
Somebody's been following me through every trial I've ever sought
Never sought
these tears
Leave scars
As they run down my face
I'm changing
I'm leaving now
I'm leaving for a better place
The lyrics of Good Riddance's song "This Is the Light" seem to depict a state of inner turmoil and self-reflection. The song could be interpreted as the singer realizing that they have made mistakes in the past and living with the consequences of their actions while trying to move on. The opening lines, "I had a dream that I woke up in a sweat/Another self-inflicted nightmare I will not forget" could be a reference to anxiety and regret.
As the song progresses, the singer seems to seek a way out of their situation. The lines "This is the light/This is the way/Where the darkness keeps the sun away" suggest that the light represents a path forward but is being blocked by darker thoughts and memories. The reference to "this stream of memories that carries me away" could be a metaphor for feeling overwhelmed by past experiences.
The lines "I'd take a silver bullet through my soul if I could give/This phantom friend/This runaway train of thought/Somebody's been following me through every trial I've ever sought" suggest that the singer acknowledges their role in causing their own pain and tries to understand its root causes. The song ends on a positive note with the line "I'm leaving for a better place," perhaps indicating that the singer is starting to find a way forward.
Overall, Good Riddance's "This Is the Light" is a powerful song about personal growth and redemption. It illustrates the importance of acknowledging one's mistakes and learning from them to move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
I had a dream that I woke up in a sweat
I experienced a nightmare that caused me to wake up perspiring
Another self-inflicted nightmare I will not forget
The nightmare was my own fault, and I won't forget it
I felt a light
I noticed a glimmer of hope
I saw you shine something's wrong
I saw you shining, but something felt amiss
I felt that tremor in my soul
I experienced a strong emotional reaction
That memory one last time
I recalled a memory for the final time
this is the light
This represents hope
This is the way
This is the path to follow
Where the darkness keeps the sun away
The darkness symbolizes the obstacles preventing the light from shining
This stream of memories that carries me away
I am lost in a stream of memories
I know my head
I thought I understood my thoughts and emotions
At least I thought I did
But now I'm not so sure
I'd take a silver bullet through my soul if I could give
I would do anything to escape my current emotional pain
This phantom friend
This imaginary friend
This runaway train of thought
This uncontrollable stream of consciousness
Somebody's been following me through every trial I've ever sought
I feel as though someone or something has been hindering my every attempt to succeed
Never sought
I never actually sought this help or hindrance
these tears
These tears shed from my eyes
Leave scars
Are a lasting reminder of the pain I've experienced
As they run down my face
As they flow down my cheeks
I'm changing
I am undergoing a transformation
I'm leaving now
I am departing from this current state
I'm leaving for a better place
I am moving toward a more positive state of being
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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