Lights Out New Orleans
Ryan McMahon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Broken axle
Side of the road
A couple of night owls
Making plays
Making plans now
But not today
Stuck in limbo
And get our of dodge
Get out of this place
Get your team together
And if you got runners
Then get 'em on base
And steal this one on back because it's yours to begin with
And if New Orleans won't win tonight then go to the bullpen
And build that lead again
Build your town again
Lost the way
Lost the pictures
Lost the rest
So start it over
So broken down
So you fix it
Find middle ground
And walk it
Lights out
Time for bed
You little strangers
You little friends
Lights out
Go home
If you've got one to go to
The song "Lights Out New Orleans" by Ryan McMahon is a melancholic tune that reflects the pain and rebuilding process that the city of New Orleans underwent after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The song starts with the singer describing a broken-down vehicle on the side of the road with a group of people making plans but unable to execute them due to being stuck in limbo. The metaphor of the broken-down car could represent the shattered lives of the people of New Orleans struggling to restore their lives after the hurricane.
The lyrics then shift to a call for action, urging individuals to get out of the city and start afresh elsewhere, ideally with a group of like-minded friends, seizing an opportunity in potential defeat. The lyrics then evoke the idea of a sports team with the imagery of runners rounding the bases as a means of rebuilding their town and winning back what they lost. The chorus ultimately signals a call to rest, to recognize that the strife and struggle that has occurred has left everyone fatigued and in need of a break.
Line by Line Meaning
Broken down
The situation is in shambles, something has failed
Broken axle
A literal form of something being broken down
Side of the road
The location or context where something is broken down is known
A couple of night owls
Two people who are awake at night, possibly trying to fix or overcome a broken situation
Making plays
Making moves or taking actions to try to achieve a goal
Making plans now
Thinking ahead and strategizing
But not today
The plan or action will not be executed today
Stuck in limbo
The situation is temporarily stagnant or stuck, awaiting movement or change
And get our of dodge
To escape or leave a bad situation
Get out of this place
To physically leave a location that is problematic
Get your team together
Rallying a group of people toward a common goal
And if you got runners
If there are people who are willing and able to help
Then get 'em on base
Put them in the position to help achieve the goal
And steal this one on back because it's yours to begin with
Take back what rightfully belongs to you
And if New Orleans won't win tonight then go to the bullpen
If one plan doesn't work, use a backup plan
And build that lead again
Regain the advantage
Build your town again
Rebuild what has been lost or broken
Lost the way
Confusion and uncertainty about how to achieve the goal
Lost the pictures
Lost the memories or evidence
Lost the rest
Lost everything else that contributed to the broken situation
So start it over
Begin fresh, with a new plan or approach
So broken down
In a state of disrepair or dysfunction
So you fix it
Attempt to repair or improve the broken situation
Find middle ground
Compromise or find a way to bridge the gap between opposing sides
And walk it
Act on the middle ground found, and continue to build toward the goal
Lights out
Time to end the day or the problem
Time for bed
Time to rest and recover from the problem
You little strangers
People or things that are not familiar or comfortable
You little friends
People or things that are familiar or comforting
Go home
Find a place of comfort and safety
If you've got one to go to
If there is a place available to go to
Contributed by Aria M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Doreen Hemming
Hellz yeah so good!!!!! Thank you so much Ryan! This made my day, my week, even my year.... Hahaha
Aaron Smith
I love this song! just sent sasha a video of me watching it