Thompson began her singing career in the 1960s, doing advertising jingles for money and singing in folk clubs for enjoyment. She changed her name to Linda Peters, and was romantically linked to Martin Carthy before working with Richard Thompson, whom she married in 1972.
As part of Richard & Linda Thompson, she sang on a string of critically acclaimed albums until a bitter split in 1982. After battling voice problems over the years since, she resurfaced with a solo album in 1996, and has subsequently worked sporadically. Linda and Richard's children Teddy Thompson and Kamila Thompson are both musicians.
In 2007, Thompson released another set of original songs and covers, "Versatile Heart". Like her 2002 album "Fashionably Late", this too was primarily a collaboration with son Teddy Thompson, together with a supporting cast of family and friends.
Her fourth solo album, Won't Be Long Now, was released on 15 October 2013. The album features compositions and backing vocals from Teddy Thompson and his sisters as well as guitar work by Richard Thompson.
I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
Linda Thompson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now the weekend's come
I'm gonna throw my troubles away
If you've got the cab fare, mister, you'll do all right
I want to see the bright lights tonight
Meet me at the station, don't be late
I need to spend some money and it just won't wait
I want to see the bright lights tonight
There's crazy people running all over town
There's a silver band, just marching up and down
And the big boys are all spoiling for a fight
I want to see the bright lights tonight
Meet me at the station, don't be late
I need to spend some money and it just won't wait
Take me to the dance and hold me tight
I want to see the bright lights tonight
A couple of drunken nights rolling on the floor
Is just the kind of mess I'm looking for
I'm gonna dream 'till Monday comes in sight
I want to see the bright lights tonight
Meet me at the station, don't be late
I need to spend some money and it just won't wait
Take me to the dance and hold me tight
I want to see the bright lights tonight
Take me to the dance and hold me tight
I want to see the bright lights tonight
Linda Thompson's "I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight" is a song about the desire to escape the mundane and seek out an exciting and vibrant nightlife. The lyrics convey a sense of desperation to leave behind the day-to-day grind and live life to the fullest. The singer of the song is tired of working and wants to let loose for a weekend. She wants to go out, see the sights, spend money, and dance the night away.
The opening verse sets the tone for the song, with the singer expressing her weariness with the daily grind and eagerness to escape, "I'm so tired of working every day, now the weekend's come, I'm gonna throw my troubles away." The chorus repeats the desire to see the bright lights, which symbolize the excitement and energy of the nightlife, and the urgency of this desire, "If you've got the cab fare, mister, you'll do all right, I want to see the bright lights tonight."
The second and third verses describe the excitement and chaos of the nightlife, with the singer referencing "crazy people running all over town" and "big boys spoiling for a fight," while also expressing a desire for physical closeness and abandoning oneself to the moment, "Take me to the dance and hold me tight, a couple of drunken nights rolling on the floor is just the kind of mess I'm looking for." The song ends with a reiteration of the desire to escape and to live life to the fullest, "I'm gonna dream 'till Monday comes in sight, I want to see the bright lights tonight."
Line by Line Meaning
I'm so tired of working every day
I'm exhausted from my daily job routine
Now the weekend's come
The weekend has finally arrived
I'm gonna throw my troubles away
I want to forget my problems
If you've got the cab fare, mister, you'll do all right
If you can pay for the taxi, you'll do fine
I want to see the bright lights tonight
I crave the excitement of the city at night
Meet me at the station, don't be late
Be on time and meet me at the train station
I need to spend some money and it just won't wait
I have to spend my money now, can't delay
Take me to the dance and hold me tight
Escort me to the dance and hold me close
There's crazy people running all over town
The city is filled with eccentric individuals
There's a silver band, just marching up and down
There's a marching band playing music in the streets
And the big boys are all spoiling for a fight
The tough guys are looking for a confrontation
A couple of drunken nights rolling on the floor
I want to engage in wild, alcohol-fueled parties
Is just the kind of mess I'm looking for
That's exactly the kind of chaos I desire
I'm gonna dream 'till Monday comes in sight
I'll let my mind wander until the workweek starts
Take me to the dance and hold me tight
Escort me to the dance and hold me close
I want to see the bright lights tonight
I crave the excitement of the city at night
Contributed by Caroline T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@inkoinfinity2
I'm so tired of working every day
Now the weekend's come
I'm gonna throw my troubles away
If you've got the cab fare, mister, you'll do all right
I want to see the bright lights tonight
Meet me at the station, don't be late
I need to spend some money and it just won't wait
Take me to the dance and hold me tight
I want to see the bright lights tonight
There's crazy people running all over town
There's a silver band, just marching up and down
And the big boys are all spoiling for a fight
I want to see the bright lights tonight
Meet me at the station, don't be late
I need to spend some money and it just won't wait
Take me to the dance and hold me tight
I want to see the bright lights tonight
A couple of drunken nights rolling on the floor
Is just the kind of mess I'm looking for
I'm gonna dream 'till Monday comes in sight
I want to see the bright lights tonight
Meet me at the station, don't be late
I need to spend some money and it just won't wait
Take me to the dance and hold me tight
I want to see the bright lights tonight
Take me to the dance and hold me tight
I want to see the bright lights tonight
@doobiebros4626
This song is a masterpiece..
@nicolejenkins2609
Wall of Death is my favorite, but this is a close second...
@zodiac6968
@Nicole Jenkins What about Napalm Death?
@olwengarcia4449
Love this - genius horns.
@connorsample8389
Hell yeah first time hearing this! Good groove
@coreykauffman4921
Leon's wake up song. I feel it every morning.
@mynameisntdave6012
10$....10$ says you can't shoot that off his head
@ElegantHood
That's Easy!
@mrmeme9991
Woah woah woah, Jesus f*cking Christ
@MartyMcFly88
@My name isn't Dave! “with THIS Valentine!”