Her debut EP Lights was released in July 2008 and achieved commercial success which enabled the release of her first full-length album, The Listening, on September 22, 2009. Her second album, Siberia, was released on October 4, 2011. Both albums have been certified gold in Canada. Lights released her third studio album, Little Machines, on September 19, 2014, which debuted on the Canadian Albums Chart at number five. Her fourth album, Skin&Earth, which featured "Giants", was released in September 2017, accompanied by a graphic novel of the same name. Her albums won the Juno Award for Pop Album of the Year in 2015 and 2018.
Lights has collaborated with artists including Bring Me the Horizon, Silverstein, Deadmau5, Felix Cartal, i_o, Owl City and Sleepy Tom. Lights signed with Fueled by Ramen in 2019 and released Skin&Earth Acoustic, which included three new songs.
Face Up
Lights Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The place is flying high but right now I want to be low
Don't want to move an inch, let alone a million miles
And I don't want to go but I know I gotta go
I just want to feel alive
The times you don't wanna wake up
'Cause in your sleep it's never over when you give up
You need to get up, gotta keep your head up
Look at the people all around you
The way you feel is something everybody goes through
Dark out, but you still gotta light up
You need to wake up, gotta keep your face up
Seems like the more you grow, the more time you spend alone
Before you know it you end up perfectly on your own
The city's shining bright, but you don't see the light
How come you concentrate on things that don't make you feel right
I just want to feel alive
The times you don't wanna wake up
'Cause in your sleep it's never over when you give up
The sun is always gonna rise up
You need to get up, gotta keep your head up
Look at the people all around you
The way you feel is something everybody goes through
Dark out, but you still gotta light up
You need to wake up, gotta keep your face up
I'm looking for more than a little bit
I'm gonna have to find my way through it
Gonna leave a mark, I'm gonna set a spark
I'm coming up off the ground
I won't be looking down
The times you don't wanna wake up
'Cause in your sleep it's never over when you give up
The sun is always gonna rise up
You need to get up, gotta keep your head up
Look at the people all around you
The way you feel is something everybody goes through
Dark out, but you still gotta light up
You need to wake up, gotta keep your face up
The lyrics to Lights' song, "Face Up," are about feeling exhausted and overwhelmed but needing to keep going. The artist describes wanting to "spark a smile" but feeling low and not wanting to move at all. However, she also knows that she has to keep going and "keep her face up," even when it feels like she can't. She encourages listeners to remember that everyone goes through tough times, and it's important to find the strength to keep pushing forward.
The chorus of the song reinforces this message, urging listeners to "keep your head up" and to look around at the people going through similar struggles. The artist also acknowledges that growing up and becoming independent can be a lonely experience, but it's important to find one's own path and make a mark in the world.
The song's lyrics are a reminder that it's okay to feel down and exhausted but that it's important to keep pushing forward and find the strength to face each day. The overall message of the song is a call for resilience and perseverance, even during difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
It's late and I am tired, wish I could spark a smile
Feeling exhausted and gloomy; wishing for something to cheer up and feel happy
The place is flying high but right now I want to be low
Despite being in a high-energy place, the seeker wants to be in a calmer state right now
Don't want to move an inch, let alone a million miles
Feeling a lack of interest in doing anything right now, not even travelling
And I don't want to go but I know I gotta go
Not wanting to leave but realizing it is necessary to move forward
I just want to feel alive
Yearning to live a fulfilling life
'Cause in your sleep it's never over when you give up
Stressing that giving up doesn't give you rest, but fuels a never-ending cycle of defeat
The sun is always gonna rise up
Constantly assuring that a new day will bring new opportunities
You need to get up, gotta keep your head up
Encouraging resilience and strength during tough times
Look at the people all around you
Highlighting that everyone goes through similar struggles
The way you feel is something everybody goes through
Emphasizing that nobody is alone in their emotional turbulence
Dark out, but you still gotta light up
Implying that one should shine even in dark times
You need to wake up, gotta keep your face up
Reminding to face the challenges head-on and keep the positive attitude
Seems like the more you grow, the more time you spend alone
As you mature, you tend to spend more time in solitude than with people
Before you know it you end up perfectly on your own
Pointing out that being alone is not always sad and can be liberating
The city's shining bright, but you don't see the light
Despite the promising atmosphere, the person is unable to feel joyful
How come you concentrate on things that don't make you feel right
Questioning why our attention is drawn to negativity instead of positivity
I'm looking for more than a little bit
Aspiring for something greater instead of settling for mediocrity
I'm gonna have to find my way through it
Acknowledging that this journey will require personal effort and discovery
Gonna leave a mark, I'm gonna set a spark
Promising to make a difference and ignite inspiration in others
I'm coming up off the ground
Rising from a low point in life
I won't be looking down
Not dwelling on past mistakes and failures, instead looking towards the future
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: THOMAS SALTER, VALERIE POXLEITNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jennifer Amsy
This song helped me get through some of the hardest days high school
Samescape
This song helps me get through the hardest days in my adult life too..
iResonate
Saaaame! I was going through it! But Lights helped me push through!
Samescape
A wise woman for her time. This song is timeless, helped me through my youth and well into my adult life... Thank you, Lights.
Lostgal
I won't bore anyone with details, but in the last few months my depression has spiralled out of control, I still contemplate suicide every single day. This song helps talk me out of it every time, it's saved me countless times since I discovered it a month ago. Thank you Lights, for being my light at the end of the tunnel when I feel like there's nothing else left to live for.
jonny jynxer
hope youre doing better
Weethetniet
lizvandort666 stay alive fren ❤
Jackson Wang’s Fan
This song gets my hope up when I'm crying ( which is basically every day since I have depression)
Love her ❤️
DreamYear
You good now?
Vyanak
This song literally saved my life, Thank you Lights.