Lights
Lay/Leetch/Smith/Urbanowicz Lyrics
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Not blue flashing lights, maybe fairy lights
Those blue lights into strobe lights
Maybe even fairy lights, not blue flashing lights
Don't you run when you hear the sirens coming
When you hear the sirens coming you'd better not run
'Cause the sirens not coming for you
Was a bit late, but it wasn't Monday
Kept after class for answering back
You apologized, ain't no harm in that
(I wanna turn those blue lights) What have you done?
(Into strobe lights) There's no need to run
(Not blue flashing lights) If you've done nothing wrong
Blue lights should just pass you by (maybe even fairy lights)
Gun crime into your right ear
Drugs and violence into your left
Before white headphones flooding
The auditory subconscious waves you accept
You're sitting on the 4 back home
(Where you're at G answer your phone?)
Pause the poison to answer his message
Your boy sounds rush, fears for his adolescent
(I wanna turn those blue lights) What have you done?
(Into strobe lights) There's no need to run
(Not blue flashing lights) If you've done nothing wrong
Blue lights should just pass you by (maybe even fairy lights)
Tall black shadow as you're getting off the bush
Shadow shows no emotion, so what's even the fuss?
But the face of your boy casts a darker picture
Of the red handed act he's gonna whisper
Look blood, I'm sorry 'cause I know you got my back
He was running, I couldn't think I had to get out of that
Not long ago, you were miming to the "Shook Ones"
Now this really is part two, 'cause you're the shook one
Hands you the tool as you question your friendship
How's man like you gonna make me a convict?
Level of a felon when I've done nothing wrong
Blood on my hands, but I don't know where it's from, oh
You got blood on your hands, but you don't know where it's from
You'd better run when you hear the sirens coming
When you hear the sirens coming
Better run when you hear the sirens coming
'Cause they will be coming for you
Run when you hear the sirens coming
Better run when you hear the sirens coming
When you hear the sirens coming
The blue lights are coming for you
(I wanna turn those blue lights) What have you done?
(Into strobe lights) There's no need to run
(Not blue flashing lights) If you done nothing wrong
Blue lights should just pass you by hmm (maybe even fairy lights)
Run when you hear the sirens coming
Don't you run when you hear the sirens coming
Run when you hear the sirens coming
Don't you run when you hear the sirens coming
What have you done
Don't you run
Don't you run
Don't you run when you hear the sirens coming
The song "Lights" by Lay/Leetch/Smith/Urbanowicz explores the societal issue of police brutality, specifically towards young Black men. The lyrics speak about the fear and mistrust that these individuals feel towards the police, and the consequences of not running when the sirens are heard. The opening lines "I wanna turn those blue lights into strobe lights" are a metaphor for wanting to avoid the harsh blue flashing lights of a police car and instead replace them with gentler, more welcoming lights like fairy or strobe lights.
The song is told from the perspective of a young man who has been accused of a crime he did not commit. He recounts the events of his day, including going to school and being reprimanded, listening to music on his headphones on the way home, and receiving a fearful message from a friend. As he gets off the bus, he is confronted by a tall shadow and moments later, given a weapon by a friend to defend himself. When the police arrive, he is covered in blood, but doesn't know where it came from. The lyrics emphasize the unfairness of the situation, with the innocent person being more likely to suffer at the hands of the police than the actual criminal.
Overall, the song highlights the dangers and injustices that young Black men face in daily life, and how they must navigate a world that is often rigged against them.
Line by Line Meaning
I wanna turn those blue lights into strobe lights
I want to transform the blue flashing lights of police cars into party strobe lights
Not blue flashing lights, maybe fairy lights
I don't want to see the depressing sight of police cars' blue flashing lights, perhaps a more pleasant fairy lights
Don't you run when you hear the sirens coming
When you hear the police sirens getting closer, don't try to escape
When you hear the sirens coming you'd better not run
If you run from the approaching police, it will only make you look more suspicious
'Cause the sirens not coming for you
The police's arrival is not always meant to catch a criminal or troublemaker
What have you done? You went to school that day
You have done nothing to warrant police attention. You were just going to school
Was a bit late, but it wasn't Monday
You might have arrived in school a little later than usual, but there's nothing wrong with that
Kept after class for answering back
You were held back after class because you talked back to the teacher
You apologized, ain't no harm in that
Your apology has made things okay; there's no need for you to fear the police
Gun crime into your right ear
You hear stories of gun violence in your right ear
Drugs and violence into your left
You hear stories of drugs and violence in your left ear
Before white headphones flooding
Before the white headphones you're wearing flood your mind with thoughts and stories of violence
The auditory subconscious waves you accept
You unconsciously accept the violent stories you hear
You're sitting on the 4 back home
You are riding the train going home
(Where you're at G answer your phone?)
Someone named G is calling you and you wonder where you should answer the call
Pause the poison to answer his message
You stop listening to the violent stories in order to answer G's message
Your boy sounds rush, fears for his adolescent
Your friend G sounds nervous and is concerned for his younger brother
Tall black shadow as you're getting off the bush
As you get off the bus, you see the ominous shadow of a man
Shadow shows no emotion, so what's even the fuss?
The shadow of the man does not show any emotions, so there's nothing to worry about
But the face of your boy casts a darker picture
Your friend G's face shows a more troubling image
Of the red handed act he's gonna whisper
G will tell you about a crime he has committed
Look blood, I'm sorry 'cause I know you got my back
G apologizes to you because he knows you will support him
He was running, I couldn't think I had to get out of that
G ran away from a problem and couldn't think straight
Not long ago, you were miming to the "Shook Ones"
Just a while before you were singing along to The Shook Ones song by Mobb Deep
Now this really is part two, 'cause you're the shook one
This is now part 2 of the situation because now you are the scared one
Hands you the tool as you question your friendship
G gives you a gun, and you start to doubt your friendship with him
How's man like you gonna make me a convict?
You challenge G's manhood by asking him how he could make you a criminal
Level of a felon when I've done nothing wrong
You feel like a criminal even though you have done nothing wrong
Blood on my hands, but I don't know where it's from, oh
You have blood on your hands but don't know how it got there
You'd better run when you hear the sirens coming
If you have done something illegal, it's best to run when you hear the police sirens
When you hear the sirens coming
The sound of police sirens is a warning that you may be in trouble
The blue lights are coming for you
The blue flashing lights of the police cars mean they are coming for you
Run when you hear the sirens coming
If you don't want to get caught, run when you hear the police sirens
Don't you run when you hear the sirens coming
It's not advisable to run when the police sirens are getting closer
What have you done
If you haven't done anything wrong, there's no need to be afraid of the police
Don't you run
You will just get yourself into more trouble by running
Don't you run when you hear the sirens coming
If you have done something wrong, it's best to face the consequences instead of running
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Nicholas Andrew Detnon, Guy Bonnet, Roland Romanelli, Jorja Alice Smith, Dylan Kwabena Mills, Ben Joyce
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind