Kill The Lights
Matt Nathanson Lyrics

The opening lines of Matt Nathanson's 'Kill The Lights' paint a picture of sensory overload- his mind is a stereo that he cannot switch off, indicating his active and overactive imagination and thoughts. In contrast, the person he is addressing in the song advises him to 'learn to sing along' or find a way to harmonize his inner voice and external reality. The second line talks about being in a bedroom in a particular area of San Francisco- Taraval. The specificity of location anchors the song in a real place and time, lending to the authenticity of the narrative that follows. The idea of being haunted by everything they ever wanted can be interpreted in two ways- either they dreamt of something and finally have it, and now the reality of having it isn't as rosy as anticipated or that in trying to achieve something, they have left a part of themselves behind, and ghosts of their desire still linger.

The chorus of the song is powerful and speaks of overcoming fear and giving into temptation. The phrase 'Kill The Lights' is used here as a metaphor for shutting down doubts, inhibitions, and fears, thus enabling a free flow of emotions and desires. The Church of Your Curves is a metaphoric representation of the lover's body as a place of worship, and Nathanson's reference to finding religion at the record store is a nostalgic nod to the days when people would go to stores and search for vinyl records, something Nathanson, as a singer-songwriter, can relate to. As the song progresses, Nathanson talks about his partner's beauty and how it leaves him stunned. He vows to follow her explosive energy, hence lending himself to be blown away by her energy, almost like a moth to a flame. The line, 'All the things I couldn't see, standing right in front of me,' is probably the most poignant in the song as it highlights the human tendency to take things for granted or ignore them altogether, only to realize their value when they are gone or out of reach.