High Times
Jamiroquai Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

You don't need your name in bright lights
You're a rock star
And some tin foil with a glass pipe
Is your guitar now yes it is
Little Angela
Suffers delusions
From these high times
She's been cleaning up, since she was fourteen
On the main line
And her hunky funky junky, of a boyfriend
Got her on late nights, with her skirt tight
Whoa, she's a wild thing
Letting it all swing
God bless our high times

Don't you know that last night
Turned to daylight
And a minute, became a day
Last night (last night)
All my troubles
Well they seemed so, so far away
Searching my reflection
For a glimpse of, another me
I've got to get away from all these high high times
'Cause these high times are killing me

Now high times go on and on and on
High times rock your mind yeah

This twisted crystal Kingdom
Where you live your nine lives
And your head spins
With purple cyclones
Made of dexadrine
And when the phone rings
You think bad things
Well these are high high high high times yeah
In any back street
When you take a hot seat
Make sure check your flight times
Oh now mama

Don't you know that last night
Turned to daylight
And a minute, became a day
Last night (last night)
All my troubles
Well they seemed so, so far away
Searching my reflecting
For a glimpse of, another me
I've got to get away from all these high high times
'Cause these high times are killing me

Now drop this time
Paranoia will destroy ya
Paranoia will destroy ya
Paranoia will destroy ya
Paranoia
Paranoia

Don't you know that last night
Turned to daylight
And a minute, became a day
Last night (last night)
All my troubles
Well they seemed so, so far away
Searching my reflection
For a glimpse of, another one
I've got to get away from all these high high times
'Cause these high times are killing me

La la la la
High times (oh yeah)
We're living in high high times yeah

Last night (last night)
Turned to daylight
And a moment
Half a world away
Time can be so precious
When you throw your life away
I can't help living it up
Letting it all go wrong
I can't keep living this way
Knowing my life has gone

Kids wanna give it up
Kids wanna give it up
Time to let your mind be free
Searching for eternity

Kids wanna give it up
Kids wanna give it up
Time to let your mind be free
Searching for eternity

Kids wanna give it up
Kids wanna give it up
Time to let your mind be free
Searching for eternity





Kids wanna give it up
Kids wanna give it up, yeah, alright

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "High Times" by Jamiroquai paints a vivid picture of the dangers of drug addiction and the consequences that come with it. The song is about a young woman named Angela who is addicted to drugs and lives in a twisted crystal kingdom where she is enduring the high times. The song describes the difficulties she faces with her boyfriend, who is also a drug addict, and the dangerous situations that come with their lifestyle. The song highlights how addiction can take away the beauty and potential of an individual’s life, and ultimately kill them.


The chorus, "Don't you know that last night turned to daylight and a minute became a day" conveys how time passes quickly and the drug-induced state experienced during one night, ends up lasting for days, blurring the line between reality and drug-induced hallucinations. The bridge of the song talks about the internal struggle the person is going through, trying to find a reflection of themselves to remind them of who they truly are amid a life consumed by addiction.


The ending of the song highlights the importance of breaking free from drug addiction and how the younger generation should not make the same mistakes. The lyrics, "Kids wanna give it up, time to let your mind be free, searching for eternity," suggest that young people need to cherish life, find their passion, and strive for a better and fulfilling future.


Line by Line Meaning

You don't need your name in bright lights
You don't have to be famous to be important


You're a rock star
You are special and unique


And some tin foil with a glass pipe
Illegal drug use is seen as the mainstay


Is your guitar now yes it is
Drugs are seen as the tool of the person's choice


Little Angela
A young naive girl who struggles with addiction


Suffers delusions
She is delusional and not fully aware of reality


From these high times
Drug use is causing Angela's troubles


She's been cleaning up, since she was fourteen
Angela has been sober since she was 14 years old


On the main line
Angela was addicted to intravenous drug use


And her hunky funky junky, of a boyfriend
Her boyfriend is addicted to drugs


Got her on late nights, with her skirt tight
She is out late at night with her boyfriend, most likely doing drugs


Whoa, she's a wild thing
Angela has become a danger to herself and others due to her addiction


Letting it all swing
She has lost control of herself and her actions


God bless our high times
Drug use is seen as a blessing


Don't you know that last night
A reflection of the past


Turned to daylight
A new day brings new opportunities


And a minute, became a day
Time is perceived differently when under the influence of drugs


All my troubles
Drug use can cause an individual to feel as though their troubles are gone


Well they seemed so, so far away
The individual is temporarily disconnected from their problems


Searching my reflection
Looking at oneself, both in a literal and introspective sense


For a glimpse of, another me
An individual's self-perception can be altered in unpredictable ways under the influence of drugs


I've got to get away from all these high high times
The individual recognizes the negative impact of their drug use


'Cause these high times are killing me
The individual realizes that they can no longer continue their drug use without suffering consequences


Now high times go on and on and on
Drug addiction is an ongoing struggle


High times rock your mind yeah
Drug use has the potential to severely alter an individual's mental state


This twisted crystal Kingdom
The Kingdom is a metaphor for a person's mind, distorted by drug use


Where you live your nine lives
Drug addiction can make an individual feel as though they have multiple lives, each with unique personalities and experiences


And your head spins
Drug use can cause disorientation and altered consciousness


With purple cyclones
The colors associated with drug use can be vivid and intense in the mind of the user


Made of dexadrine
A specific drug, often used for ADHD, that can be abused and misused


And when the phone rings
Small triggers can cause a heightened response in individuals struggling with addiction


You think bad things
Paranoia and negative thoughts are common among drug users


In any back street
Drug abuse can happen in many different environments, some of which may not be safe or conducive to well-being


When you take a hot seat
When an individual is under the influence of drugs, they may feel a sense of urgency or heightened energy


Make sure check your flight times
The individual may not be fully grounded in reality, leading to confusion or forgetfulness


Oh now mama
Reflecting on the maternal figure in one's life


Now drop this time
A shift in focus or mindset is needed to move forward in life without drugs


Paranoia will destroy ya
Paranoia and fear associated with drug use can have detrimental effects on an individual's mental health


Don't you know that last night
Reflecting on past actions and experiences


Turned to daylight
A new day brings new opportunities and experiences


And a moment
Time can be manipulated in the mind of a drug user


Half a world away
The user can feel disconnected from the present moment


Time can be so precious
Time is valuable and should not be squandered on unhealthy habits


When you throw your life away
Drug abuse can cause an individual to miss out on valuable life experiences


I can't help living it up
Drug use can feel exciting or euphoric to the user, making it difficult to stop


Letting it all go wrong
Despite the negative consequences of drug use, the user may feel a lack of control over their actions and decisions


I can't keep living this way
The user recognizes the detrimental effects of their drug use on their life and well-being


Knowing my life has gone
Drug addiction can cause an individual to feel as though they have lost control of their life


Kids wanna give it up
There is a desire among young people to break free of harmful habits and live a healthy life


Time to let your mind be free
To live a fulfilling life, one must learn to let go of unhealthy coping mechanisms and embrace mental clarity


Searching for eternity
To achieve happiness and fulfillment in life, one must learn to seek sustainable, healthy habits and ideals


Kids wanna give it up, yeah, alright
The younger generation has the power to break free of the cycle of drug abuse and take control of their lives for a better future




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Wallis Buchanan, Simon Katz, Jason Kay, Derrick McKenzie, Toby Smith, Stuart Zender, Joseph Wheeler

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@TheMattyPlant

Takes me back to a classic holiday in 94, man I'm old, where I met some amazing characters as a teenager.
All we talked about was 16 bit video games, chupa chups lollipops, and music, simple times!
With my first weeks wages on return, I went to the local HMV and snapped this album up.
So I dedicate this track to some amazing people I met in Tenerife, and the everlasting impression that music has on our lives!
Thanks Jay Kay ❤️

@zabba7461

This album wasn't out till 96

@TheMattyPlant

@@zabba7461 Yeah you are right, got the years confused with space cowboy

@isaacdes962

@@zabba7461 he didnt actually say that this track was playing he said it just takes him back to that era lol

@jamesshook3395

Fucking loved the '90s!

@DIMP11

@@zabba7461 Hahahaha, so true.

@alexbalkan9018

Jay Kay .. you are a Legend ! ... I love your tunes since '90 ... 'Summer Girl' just left me speechless another time !

@mikeymillions1486

Last night turned to daylight, and a minute became a day.

@bmackenzie2740

Still one of my favorite songs!

@Leosheva98

4:49 From HERE!

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