Baker's stark and soulful music is said to evoke names like Bon Iver, Daughter, and Natalie Prass. Her first album, Sprained Ankle, was released in 2015, followed by the 2017 release of Turn Out The Lights. Her third album, Little Oblivions, was released in 2021.
Baker honed her music skills while playing in her high school band, Forrister, with whom she continued to perform while attending college. After writing a batch of songs that didn't seem to fit the group's more rock-oriented vibe, Baker headed to Matthew E. White's Spacebomb Studios in Richmond, Virginia to begin recording what would eventually become her solo debut, 2015's Sprained Ankle. Originally released by Smith 7 in 2014, it was reissued by 6131 Records in 2015, it reached number 23 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart and led to an invitation to join the Matador Records roster. With a more expansive sound and equally intimate lyrics, the self-produced follow-up, 2017's Turn Out the Lights, was recorded at Ardent Studios in Memphis. It landed on the Billboard 200, peaking at number 78.
She then joined fellow indie singer/songwriters Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus in the trio Boygenius. Together they issued their eponymous EP in late 2018, also on Matador. Bridgers and Dacus appear on the track, "Favor," from Baker's third solo set, 2021's Little Oblivions that was self-produced and recorded in Memphis.
In 2023, boygenius announced their reformation and their upcoming debut album, ‘the record,’ which Baker and the band wrote and co-produced.
turn out the lights
Julien Baker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause I just haven't gotten around to it
And besides, I'm starting to get used to the gaps
Say you wish you could find some way to help
To be so hard on myself
So why is it easy for everyone else?
I'm not always like this
And I'd never do it, but it's not a joke
I can't tell the difference when I'm all alone
Is it real or a dream, which is worse?
Can you help me?
I just wanted to go to sleep
When I turn out the lights
When I turn out the lights
There's no one left
Between myself and me
But when I turn out the lights
When I turn out the lights
When I turn out the lights
Oh
There's no one left
Between myself and me
In Julien Baker's song, "Turn Out the Lights," the central theme is the sense of isolation and loneliness associated with mental illness. The opening lines of the song, "There's a hole in the drywall, still not fixed/ 'Cause I just haven't gotten around to it," are symbolic of the way mental illness can create chaos and disorder in one's life. The singer of the song is struggling with their own internal battles and can't seem to find the motivation or energy to fix the physical holes in their surroundings. The following lines, "And besides, I'm starting to get used to the gaps," illustrate the idea that the singer has grown accustomed to the constant stream of negative thoughts and feelings that come with their mental illness.
Later in the song, the lyrics "I'd never do it, but it's not a joke/ I can't tell the difference when I'm all alone" suggest that the singer is grappling with suicidal ideation. They are unsure if their own thoughts are real or just a product of their imagination. The line, "Can you help me?/ I just wanted to go to sleep" highlights the desperate cry for help that many people feel when they are struggling with mental illness.
The repeated lines, "When I turn out the lights/ There's no one left/ Between myself and me" speak to the internal struggle of living with mental illness. When the lights are turned off, the singer is left alone with their own thoughts, and there is no escape from the turmoil within themselves. Overall, the song is a poignant and raw declaration of the challenges associated with mental illness and the reality of trying to navigate these struggles on one's own.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a hole in the drywall, still not fixed
I have a physical flaw in my home that I am aware of, but I haven't taken any steps to fix it.
'Cause I just haven't gotten around to it
I haven't fixed the hole in my home due to a lack of motivation or time management.
And besides, I'm starting to get used to the gaps
I have adapted to living with the imperfection in my home by becoming accustomed to it.
Say you wish you could find some way to help
I know that others may wish to lend me their help or support, but I may not be open to it or may not know how to ask for it.
To be so hard on myself
I am critical of myself and may be too harsh in self-evaluation and judgment.
So why is it easy for everyone else?
I may struggle with self-confidence and wonder if others have it easier because they appear to be more confident or competent.
I'm not always like this
At times, my emotions or behavior may fluctuate and not reflect how I typically act or feel.
There's always tomorrow, I guess
I may believe that I have time to improve or change my situation, but this may not always be the case.
And I'd never do it, but it's not a joke
Although I may not act on certain thoughts, they still carry significant weight and have an impact on me.
I can't tell the difference when I'm all alone
When I am isolated or feeling lonely, it may be difficult to distinguish between reality and my own thoughts or fears.
Is it real or a dream, which is worse?
I may worry about the impact of my thoughts on my mental state and wonder if experiencing them in a dream or in reality would be worse.
Can you help me?
I am seeking support or assistance in managing my thoughts or emotions.
I just wanted to go to sleep
I may be feeling overwhelmed or tired and simply desire rest or an escape from my thoughts/mood.
When I turn out the lights
By turning off the lights, I am symbolically representing my desire to disconnect from the world and my own thoughts/mood.
There's no one left between myself and me
When I am alone in the dark, there is no longer any external distraction or influence that can impact me - everything is internal.
But when I turn out the lights
The act of turning off the lights and being alone in the dark is a recurring theme and symbol throughout the song.
Oh
This interjection may be used to convey strong emotion or emphasize a particular line/phrase in the song.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Julien Baker
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@luizvieirasouto
There's a hole in the drywall, still not fixed
I just haven't gotten around to it
And besides I'm starting to get used to the gaps
So you wish you could find some way to help
Don't be so hard on myself
So why is it easy for everyone else?
I'm not always like this
There's always tomorrow I guess
And I'd never do it, but it's not a joke
I can't tell the difference when I'm all alone
Said you're either a dream, which is worse
Can you help me?
I just wanted to go to sleep
When I turn out the lights?
When I turn out the lights?
There's no one left
Between myself and me
But when I turn out the lights
When I turn out the lights
When I turn out the lights
There's no one left
Between myself and me
@maverickmusic3533
Lyrics:
There's a hole in the dry wall, still not fixed. I just haven't gotten around to it and besides, I'm starting to get used to the gaps. Say wish you could find some way to live to be so hard on myself, so why is it easy for everyone else. I'm not always like this, there's always tomorrow, I guess.
And I never do it but it's not a joke. I can't tell the difference when I'm all alone. Is it real or a dream, which is worse, can you help me? I just wanted to go to sleep.
When I turn out the lights. When I turn out the lights. There's no one left between myself and me.
But when I turn out the lights. When I turn out the lights. When I turn out the lights, there's no one left between myself and me.
JB's new single is amaze y'all. Enjoy it. I sure am. 😊
@phantasmagoricalc1077
"looks that kill" was such a great movie ;-;
@revoltin85
I'm watching it now & I'm at that part where Max is heading to the bridge as he left the hospital
@krisd04
the movie brought me here too
@mrityunjayaluriya9162
Mee to
@mrityunjayaluriya9162
Where are you from
@BORDerOJ
Same
@b-west
Crying at an airport bar while listening to this. Beautiful.
@Great_lakes_derelict
You alright? I hope you’re good now.
@lukeysnookey2877
“This is for one on the moments where life derails your head and your heart can’t keep up and everything plays out like a blur”
@swiimmer954
It's very good. I'm Russian