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.
Portal
Lights Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
River that flows through this
Darkening concrete, devouring ghost afloat by
I'm with them
Up in the current and, taking in whole
I've been struggling, strangling
Others in toll have my eyes
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
Imagining sequences, playing back visions by
Stereo air and fragmenting emissions
I've lost and found it
The loneliest thing in the shape of a fist
That I wish I could bring in this bitter abyss
Is my petrified heart
Still bound in
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
Out on a balcony, reaching out to
Design this epiphany and with the sidewalks
Will do
And I just,
In the processes through means to the end
It's the glass bottle vessel and
Depths that extend to the spins between us
If I could I'd cut through the cables and cords
But I'd never be able,
My life's at the table with yours
Immortal
Nothing is sacred and nothing is sure anymore
Except all that you are and stand for
Got me toward your portal
Your portal, your portal
Your portal
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
Your portal, your portal
Your portal
Your portal
The song "Portal" by Lights is a hauntingly beautiful piece that delves into the darkness and isolation that can come from being consumed by our own thoughts and emotions. The opening lines describe the singer's experience of being swept away in a river of emotions, feeling as if they are drowning while surrounded by ghosts. The use of the color ruby red suggests that this river represents something violent and overwhelming, such as heartbreak or grief.
Throughout the song, the singer seems to be grappling with the emotional turmoil caused by a lost love or a difficult situation. They describe feeling lost and disconnected from the world around them, lost in their own thoughts and memories. The chorus repeats the phrase "your portal," suggesting that the singer is reaching out for a connection or entry point to something greater outside of themselves.
The final lines of the song describe the singer's desire to escape from their own emotions and thoughts, but recognizing that they are ultimately bound to them. The use of the word "immortal" suggests that this is an ongoing struggle, something that they will continue to face throughout their life.
Overall, "Portal" is a poignant exploration of the highs and lows of the human experience, capturing the complexity of emotions and the challenges of finding our place in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
In the throes of the ruby red
Caught in the midst of a tumultuous, intense experience
River that flows through this
A metaphor for the ever-changing circumstances of life
Darkening concrete, devouring ghost afloat by
The dreary environment that surrounds the singer, causing them to feel lost and abandoned
I'm with them
The artist is not alone in this experience
Up in the current and, taking in whole
Fully immersed in the experience, accepting both its negative and positive elements
I've been struggling, strangling
The singer is in a difficult and suffocating situation
Others in toll have my eyes
The singer is influenced by the experiences of others
Gone missing
The artist is no longer able to see clearly or understand their purpose
Imagining sequences, playing back visions by
The artist is reflecting on past experiences and imagining different outcomes
Stereo air and fragmenting emissions
The memories are distorted and unclear
I've lost and found it
The singer has experienced both growth and setbacks in their journey
The loneliest thing in the shape of a fist
The protaganist's heart is closed off and unresponsive due to feeling neglected and alone
That I wish I could bring in this bitter abyss
The singer is searching for a solution to their inner turmoil
Is my petrified heart
The singer's heart is paralyzed and unwilling to accept new experiences
Still bound in
The singer is unable to escape their emotional pain and is trapped in this stagnant state
Out on a balcony, reaching out to
Looking for a way to escape
Design this epiphany and with the sidewalks
The artist is seeking a moment of realization and transformation
Will do
The singer is determined to make a change
And I just,
The singer is focused on the task ahead
In the processes through means to the end
The artist is willing to do whatever it takes to reach their goals
It's the glass bottle vessel and
Metaphor for the container that holds the artist's emotions - fragile and easily shattered
Depths that extend to the spins between us
The emotional distance between the artist and others, making it difficult to connect
If I could I'd cut through the cables and cords
Metaphor for breaking free from the things that hold us back or keep us disconnected
But I'd never be able,
The artist is acknowledging the difficulty of changing their circumstances
My life's at the table with yours
The singer's life is connected to another's
Immortal
The singer's connection to the other person is everlasting, even if their life is not
Nothing is sacred and nothing is sure anymore
The singer feels uncertain and unsure about life
Except all that you are and stand for
The other person is a constant in the artist's life
Got me toward your portal
The other person acts as a comforting escape for the artist
Your portal, your portal
Reinforcement of the idea that the other person is a sanctuary
Your portal
The other person acts as a gateway to a happier place
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Lights Valerie Poxleitner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@VicInCommentSection
Lyrics:
[Verse 1]
In the throes of the ruby red river that flows
Through this darkening concrete
Devouring ghosts that float by
I'm with them
Up in the current and taken in whole
I've been struggling, strangling, others in tow
Have my eyes gone missing?
[Verse 2]
Imagining sequences, playing back visions
By stereo air and fragmenting emissions
I lost and found in
The loneliest thing in the shape of a fist
That I wish I could bring in this
Bitter abyss is my petrified heart
Still pounding
[Verse 3]
Out on the balcony
Reaching out to who designed this epiphany
And what the sidewalks will do
Am I just
In the process, it's the means to the end
It's the glass bottom vessel
In depth that extends to the spans
Between us
[Verse 4]
If I could, I'd cut through the cables and cords
But I'd never be able, my knifes at the table with yours
Immortal
Nothing is sacred and nothing is sure anymore
Except all that you are and stand for
Guide me toward your portal
[Outro]
Your portal
Your portal
Your portal
Your portal
Your portal
Your portal
Your portal
@TrailerParkBros
I remember driving to Calgary with my Dad when I was a kid, and bought her first album and LOVED IT. Now I'm 26 and still throwback to all music, it never gets old
@paraelin
I listen to this everytime I'm having an anxiety attack because it's so calming
@Televisonkills
+paraelin YES <3
@butlertron
I play any of her songs to calm me down or take me away from the reality of the world
@noraann9140
I know how u feel... i just had a school dance and i am so overwhelmed i feel like i am going to craw up in to a ball and cry but this song helps a ton! im so happy im not alone
@Iceroadtrucker_
Same... I also listened to this during my 50+ hour labor! :D
@shann_rosea
It's such a calming song. I also love it for that.
@blueorange31
this song puts me in another dimension.
@melmelrobrob
Same! 😍
@cassea6470
Tristan Dumantay
The 'Fouth Dimension' you could say?? ;)