Black Light
J Roddy Walston And The Business Lyrics


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White light can′t bear the burden of proof.
Last night you told the terminal truth.
Ooh who told it to you?
You felt the phantom limb of our love
And the wound it bears but cannot bind up.
This ain't enough.
In the black light
In the black light of our love
Ooh Im coming clean
In the black light
In the black light of our love
I′m seeing everything. Our love is a diffusion of lust.
I'm full term
And words burn and broaden my hips.
I've returned cause I′ve learned no way to resist.
Ooh give us a kiss.
And it′s just us, it's must lust, and throbs in the night.
A hot cuss, a loose trust, turned on and imbibed.
Ooh I feel it′s alive.
In the black light.
In the black light of our love.
Ooh I'm coming clean.
In the black light.
In the black light of our love.
Ooh I′m coming clean.
In the black light.
In the black light of our love.
Ooh I'm coming clean.
In the black light
It′s a heavy night.
It's enough.
Ooh I'm coming clean.
It′s enough.
In the black light.
In the black light of our love.
Ooh I′m coming clean.
In the black light.




In the black light of our love.
Ooh I'm coming clean.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of J Roddy Walston and The Business's song "Black Light" are about coming to terms with the truth of a past love, and the singer's struggles with moving on. The opening lines "White light can't bear the burden of proof. Last night you told the terminal truth" suggest that the singer has been confronted with some hard truths about their relationship, and they can't deny or hide from them any longer. The line "You felt the phantom limb of our love" alludes to the lingering emotional attachment the singer still feels towards their former partner, despite the pain and wounds of the past. However, the singer acknowledges that this isn't enough and they must face the reality of moving forward. The repetition of the phrase "In the black light" may signify the darkness and unknown of the future, but also the honesty and clarity that comes with facing the truth.


The chorus "Our love is a diffusion of lust" suggests that the singer may have mistaken their physical attraction for a deeper emotional connection, or that their love was ultimately not sustainable. The lines "I'm full term, and words burn and broaden my hips" indicate that the singer has matured and grown from the experience, but still feels the weight of the past. The phrase "give us a kiss" could be interpreted as them longing for closure or a final goodbye. The ending lines "It's a heavy night. It's enough" express the exhaustion and closure the singer has come to, acknowledging that they have done all they can and it's time to move on entirely.


Line by Line Meaning

White light can't bear the burden of proof.
White light, which is typically associated with clarity and truth, cannot provide the evidence needed to prove the authenticity of our love.


Last night you told the terminal truth.
You revealed the truth about our love, which is final and inevitable, during what could be our last night together.


Ooh who told it to you?
The singer asks who shared the truth about their love with their partner.


You felt the phantom limb of our love And the wound it bears but cannot bind up.
The partner experiences the presence of the love they once had, but the pain associated with it still persists and cannot be healed.


This ain't enough.
The current state of their love is not enough for the artist to feel truly fulfilled.


Our love is a diffusion of lust.
The singer describes their love as a blend of physical attraction and desire rather than deep emotional connection.


I'm full term And words burn and broaden my hips.
The singer is at a point of no return in their relationship and words have a physical effect on them, causing them to feel more emotionally invested.


I've returned cause I've learned no way to resist. Ooh give us a kiss.
Despite trying to resist, the artist has returned to their partner as they have learned no other way to deal with their feelings. They request a kiss as a means of expressing their desire.


And it's just us, it's must lust, and throbs in the night.
The only thing present between the artist and their partner is physical desire, which pulsates throughout the night.


A hot cuss, a loose trust, turned on and imbibed. Ooh I feel it's alive.
Desire and lack of commitment add excitement, and the artist feels the physical connection come to life.


It's a heavy night. It's enough.
The mood and seriousness of the situation weigh on the singer, but they are resigned to accept it as enough for now.


In the black light of our love. Ooh I'm coming clean.
The artist confesses their true feelings in the darkness, where their love seems more intense and genuine.




Writer(s): Billy Gordon, J. Roddy Walston

Contributed by Molly P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@PlantationSensation

You guys are real rockers, I tell people about you guys every chance I get! Just wish there was more tabs and sheet music from you guys, I'd love the chance to cover some of your songs

@dianemeyer6847

Brought here by NPR and a member of The Lumineers. Took me a minute to find it, they said the name so fast but once they played a bit of this track I was pretty much instantly hooked.

@firepuppyfilms2778

Diane Meyer me too!!

@mericavids

Me three

@katrinadivine2940

Me 4!!

@sollymanbanana-8447

the same thing happened to me on my way to school with my mom the NPR episode sampled this song and now this is my favorite band and ironical i live in Maryland as well as them.

@garyjohnstone9016

these guys are fuckin awesome

@SleepySagittari

🖤

@ianhunter8737

Reminds me of T REX, in a good way

@pearl6243

I'd glady let that dinosaur gobble me up 😉❤️

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