Produced by Saint Etienne & Xenomania
Mixed by Tim Powell
Released June 2005 on Tales from Turnpike House
Notes Backing vocal arrangement by Anthony Rivers. Mooted by Bob Stanley on the official website early 2005 to be the first single from the album. Eventually upon the LP's release a few months later, Side Streets was chosen instead.
Lightning Strikes Twice
Saint Etienne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Could they help me get you back for good?
Such a striking combination, gone away
Could I say that if I knocked on wood
Did I have a chance and fail to keep it?
Lose my dream and let it slip away
Will my destiny remain a secret?
[Chorus]
Everyone should have a reason to believe
So I still believe
That lightning could strike twice for me, yeah-yeah-yeah
Every time I find the feeling's gone in me
Suddenly I see
That lightning could strike twice for me, yeah-yeah-yeah
Sitting down to read the stars again
Maybe they can tell me what's in store
Now I'm mixing up a magic potion
That's gonna get you banging on my door
Did I have a chance and fail to keep it?
Lose my dream and let it slip away
Will my destiny remain a secret?
Well that's okay...
[Chorus]
And I'm working on a saddened song
Oh baby, oh baby
Got a feeling that it won't be long
Oh baby, oh baby
Well don't you know that...
[Chorus]
In "Lightning Strikes Twice," Saint Etienne explores the idea of second chances in love. The lyrics convey a sense of desperation as the singer considers using "crazy superstitions" and magical thinking to win back a lover who has "gone away." Despite the odds, she still hopes that "lightning could strike twice" and bring them back together again. The chorus repeats this sentiment, with the singer asserting that everyone should have a reason to believe in the possibility of a second chance.
The second verse adds to the theme of searching for answers and solutions through mystical means. The singer turns to astrology and potion-making in an attempt to regain control over the situation and win back their lover. The song ends with the singer working on a "saddened song" and expressing a sense of hope that their efforts will pay off.
Overall, "Lightning Strikes Twice" is a poignant exploration of the universal human desire for second chances in love. The lyrics convey a sense of vulnerability, desperation, and ultimately hope for a happy ending to an uncertain love story.
Line by Line Meaning
Crazy superstitions on my mind
I am thinking irrationally, imagining that certain rituals or beliefs may help me win you back.
Could they help me get you back for good?
I am hoping that these superstitions will somehow succeed where my previous attempts at winning you over have failed.
Such a striking combination, gone away
Our relationship was a great fit, but it has ended, leaving me in a state of shock and dismay.
Could I say that if I knocked on wood
Perhaps if I perform this act of superstition and say the right words, I may restore some good fortune to our relationship.
Did I have a chance and fail to keep it?
I am concerned that I had an opportunity to make things work, but failed to do so.
Lose my dream and let it slip away
I fear that my vision of us being together forever may have been unrealistic and that it has now faded away.
Will my destiny remain a secret?
I wonder if fate has something else in store for me and that it will remain unclear until it happens.
Everyone should have a reason to believe
I believe that all people need to have an element of optimism in their lives, even if it seems unlikely that things will work out.
So I still believe
Despite setbacks and disappointments, I still hold hope that we could be together again.
That lightning could strike twice for me, yeah-yeah-yeah
I am confident that the rare and unlikely occurrence of good fortune could happen to me more than once, potentially bringing us back together.
Every time I find the feeling's gone in me
Whenever I lose hope or give up on the idea of us being together, something rekindles that feeling again.
Suddenly I see
Out of nowhere, I am struck by a renewed sense of hope or positivity that prompts me to think about us again.
Sitting down to read the stars again
I am trying to find some cosmic or astrological explanation for what has happened to our relationship, in the hopes that it might give me some insight into how to fix it.
Maybe they can tell me what's in store
I am looking for some kind of prediction or prophecy about what the future holds for us or our relationship.
Now I'm mixing up a magic potion
I am resorting to extreme measures or unconventional approaches to try to win you back, perhaps influenced by fictional stories or myths.
That's gonna get you banging on my door
I am hopeful that my attempts to impress or charm you will make you want to come back to me on your own accord.
And I'm working on a saddened song
I am trying to express my emotions through music, potentially to communicate how much I miss you and how sorry I am for whatever went wrong.
Oh baby, oh baby
These repeated exclamations convey my deep desire and affection for you, as well as my sense of longing and sadness over our separation.
Got a feeling that it won't be long
I am optimistic that our separation is only temporary and that we will find a way back to each other soon, perhaps through my efforts or due to some external factor.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BOB STANLEY, PETER STEWART WIGGS, SARAH CRACKNELL, SKI OAKENFUL, TIM ELLIOT LARCOMBE, TIMOTHY MARTIN POWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind