The band's initial line up was as below, although there would be line up changes for the band by the time they came to work on their 3rd album, the first two members listed were a constant throughout the life time of the band.
* Steve Gould (vocals/saxophone/bass)
* Dave Kaffinetti (keyboards)
* Graham Field (organ)
* Mark Ashton (drums)
The band split up in the mid 1970s.
Turning the Lights Out
Rare Bird Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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.