Released in May, 2013, Young’s Dark Star EP received immediate label interest and blog acclaim upon its release – being featured by the likes of Nylon Magazine, Earmilk, and Noisey, as well as topping the #1 spot numerous times on Hype Machine’s “Most Popular Tracks” list.
Having just finished a North America & UK tour this fall with British indie pop trio London Grammar, Young sets to work on his much anticipated debut album, set to be released in 2014.
Northern Lights
Jaymes Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
her body aches when she's awake.
It kills her mother when she drinks too much,
she can't stay sober for a day.
She's giving everything to numb the burns,
addicted to the losing fight.
She looks vacant but the wheels still turn,
she could be singing this tonight.
I want to touch the northern lights,
we could leave the world behind.
I wanna know what it's like,
to walk away from this life.
I have to cross entire oceans when,
I want a moment of her time.
She never wants to fall in love again,
and every kiss would be a crime.
Maybe she suffered for the thrill of it all,
but I know she's thinking when she falls.
I want to touch the northern lights,
we can leave the world behind.
I want to know what it's like,
to walk away from this life.
And maybe one day when I've suffered,
tired and twisted, I'll call her,
and we'll drive, into the sunset,
into the sunset.
I want to touch the northern lights,
we can leave the world behind.
I want to know what it's like,
to walk away from this life.
The song "Northern Lights" by Jaymes Young is a hauntingly beautiful track that speaks to the pain of addiction and the longing for escape. The opening lines describe a woman who is tired of thinking until the sun comes up, her body aches when she's awake, and she can't stay sober for a day. These are classic symptoms of addiction, and the song goes on to suggest that this woman is addicted to numbing the pain of her life.
The singer of the song longs to touch the northern lights, a natural phenomenon that is notoriously difficult to reach. He wants to leave the world behind and walk away from this life, suggesting that both he and the woman he describes are looking for a way to escape their pain.
As the song progresses, we learn more about the woman's past and the reasons why she is addicted. She has suffered for the thrill of it all, but despite everything, the wheels still turn inside her. The singer's love for her is clear, but he knows that she doesn't want to fall in love again, as every kiss would be a crime. Despite this, he is willing to suffer for her and call her when he is tired and twisted, so that they can drive off into the sunset together.
Overall, "Northern Lights" is a poignant and emotional song that speaks to the pain of addiction and the longing for escape. It's a beautiful track that will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled with addiction or longed for a way to escape their pain.
Line by Line Meaning
She's tired of thinking 'til the sun comes up,
She's exhausted from overthinking all night
her body aches when she's awake.
Her physical pain matches her mental fatigue
It kills her mother when she drinks too much,
Her habits hurt her loved ones
she can't stay sober for a day.
She struggles with addiction
She's giving everything to numb the burns,
She's using unhealthy coping mechanisms to deal with her emotional pain
addicted to the losing fight.
She's trapped in an endless cycle of self-destructive behavior
She looks vacant but the wheels still turn,
She may appear empty, but her mind is still active
she could be singing this tonight.
She might be expressing her feelings through music right now
I want to touch the northern lights,
I crave a transcendent experience
we could leave the world behind.
We could escape reality together
I wanna know what it's like,
I desire a new perspective
to walk away from this life.
To abandon our current struggles and start fresh
I have to cross entire oceans when,
I must go to great lengths to see her
I want a moment of her time.
I long for a brief connection
She never wants to fall in love again,
She refuses to let her guard down emotionally
and every kiss would be a crime.
She sees intimacy as a violation
Maybe she suffered for the thrill of it all,
Perhaps she purposely seeks out pain and chaos
but I know she's thinking when she falls.
Even when she appears reckless, she's still contemplative
And maybe one day when I've suffered,
Eventually, I may go through similar struggles
tired and twisted, I'll call her,
When I'm at my lowest point, I may reach out to her
and we'll drive, into the sunset,
Together, we'll leave our problems behind
into the sunset.
We'll embark on a new journey
Contributed by Josiah D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@user-mk3jt3fm6k
She's tired of thinking till the sun comes up
Her body aches when she's awake
It kills her mother when she drinks too much
She can't stay sober for a day
She's giving everything to numb the burn
Addicted to the losing fight
She looks vacant but the wheels still turn
She could be singing this tonight
I wanna touch the northern lights
We could leave the world behind
I wanna know what it's like
To walk away from this life
I have to cross entire oceans way
I want a moment of her time
She never wants to fall in love again
And every kiss would be a crime
Maybe she suffers for the thrill of it all
But I know she's thinking when she falls
I wanna touch the northern lights
We could leave the world behind
I wanna know what it's like
To walk away from this life
And maybe one day
When I've suffered
Tired and twisted
I'll call her
And we'll drive into the sunset, into the sunset
I wanna touch the northern lights
We could leave the world behind
I wanna know what it's like
To walk away from this life
I wanna touch the northern lights
We could leave the world behind
I wanna know what it's like
To walk away from this life
@arsh9800
Lyrics:
She's tired of thinking till the sun comes up
Her body aches when she's awake
It kills her mother when she drinks too much
She can't stay sober for a day
She's giving everything to numb the burns
Addicted to the losing fight
She looks vacant but the wheels still turn
She could be singing this tonight
I wanna touch the northern lights
We could leave the world behind
I wanna know what it's like
To walk away from this life
I have to cross entire oceans when
I want a moment of her time
She never wants to fall in love again
And every kiss would be a crime
Maybe she suffers for the thrill of it all
But I know she's thinking when she falls
I wanna touch the northern lights
We could leave the world behind
I wanna know what it's like
To walk away from this life
And maybe one day
When I've suffered
Tired and twisted
I'll call her
And we'll drive
Into the sunset
Into the sunset
I wanna touch the northern lights
We could leave the world behind
I wanna know what it's like
To walk away from this life
I wanna touch the northern lights
We could leave the world behind
I wanna know what it's like
To walk away from this life
@genericscout5408
~Northern Lights~
To the shimmering mists we find our souls.
shifting, simmering, sullen.
carrying a burden only the ones,
alone understood, and they alone.
What remains for those who come?
Who will watch guard over the seeds?
Only time can tell of this moment.
May the seeds of humanity thrive safe
under the snow's gaze of its guardians.
Pray they never need find the warm sands.
For upon that day humanity's fire will echo
into embers of history forever lost.
Let stone by and by remain such
may the doors of our precious vault
forever remain closed poised for the never
Steady for the end, for new beginnings.
@loganappleman5642
Still here in 2020. I remember listening to this song in 2014 thinking I wouldn’t make it. But here I am.
@Slipknvt
Ain’t that the truth :/
@sory4beinanonymous
Same. I can’t wait to die.
@JamiesProPhoto
Im here in 2020 also. This song hits home to me in so many ways. I just want to escape and where else would be better? It's been a lifelong dream to experience the ultimate escape. This would be it for me
@treasuretrails
Same. Still getting drunk in October 2020 turns out the human body is incredibly resilient!
@nippotle
Man this comment really hit hard, but hey, here I am too. I hope you’re doing okay <3
@coolified167
Jaymes Young is ridiculously unnoticed wtf he's amazing
@cutefurryvader3043
tasnim khan keep it that way I dont want fake fans
@messeduphumanbeing9983
Ikr
@archie2555
We want him unnoticed😊