Turning the Lights Out
Rare Bird Lyrics


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Look up, decision upon your face
Baby I know what you're thinking
Some other man wants to take my place
Out of my depth and I'm sinking

Tell me tomorrow, don't tell me today
Hold out your hand me for turning away
You're turning the lights out on me

Head off your stretch is an open door
There's hundreds that turned into tunes
I'm taking each one of every sand dune
Wherever I turn I'm a blues, ooh

Tell me tomorrow, don't tell me today
Hold out your hand me for turning away
You're turning the lights out on me





Tell me tomorrow, don't tell me today
Hold out your hand me for turning away

Overall Meaning

The song "Turning the Lights Out" by Rare Bird is a melancholic ballad that deals with the fear of losing someone you love to someone else. The first verse talks about the male protagonist's observation of his lover's face, which reflects her decision to leave him for someone else. He is aware that another man has entered the picture and is trying to take his place, and this realization makes him feel powerless and helpless. He feels out of his depth and is sinking, unable to hold on to the relationship, and is aware that he is losing control over the situation.


The chorus of the song is about the female protagonist's encounter with her lover, where she conveys to him that she will be leaving him soon. The male protagonist pleads with her to tell him tomorrow and not today, to hold out her hand for him before she turns away from him. He is pleading with her to give him another chance and not to leave him just yet. However, she is turning the lights out on him, symbolizing the end of their relationship.


Line by Line Meaning

Look up, decision upon your face
I see that you're contemplating something


Baby I know what you're thinking
I have an idea of what's going on in your head


Some other man wants to take my place
I feel like you're interested in someone else


Out of my depth and I'm sinking
I'm struggling to understand and cope with this situation


Tell me tomorrow, don't tell me today
I'm not ready to hear about this yet, please wait to tell me


Hold out your hand me for turning away
Please be patient with me as I gather myself and think things through


You're turning the lights out on me
I feel like you're shutting me out emotionally


Head off your stretch is an open door
When you're distracted, other opportunities can present themselves


There's hundreds that turned into tunes
Many situations have played out similarly before


I'm taking each one of every sand dune
I'm trying to navigate through this difficult landscape


Wherever I turn I'm a blues, ooh
No matter what I do, everything seems to be going wrong




Contributed by Adeline L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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