Lights Out
Santogold/Santigold Lyrics

Lights out, shoot up the station
The singer is calling for a rebellion or an uprising, to overthrow or take control of the status quo, symbolized by the station or the system.

Tv's dead where's there to run?
The singer questions the purpose and value of mass media, as it fails to provide meaningful information or real solutions to everyday problems.

Watch everybody come undone (lights out)
The singer observes how people are lost, confused, or helpless without external guidance, authority, or entertainment, and how they need to be awakened or enlightened to their own potential and power.

Won't make it easy, won't make it fun
The artist acknowledges the difficulties and challenges of the struggle for freedom, justice, or self-expression, but also affirms the need to keep going and keep fighting, despite the odds and the risks involved.

Won't let them see now, how they have one
The artist refuses to let the oppressors or the conformists feel secure or superior in their position, and exposes their weaknesses, contradictions, or illusions, to inspire others to join the revolution or the evolution.

Still I'll go another round
The singer expresses her/his determination, resilience, and courage, to face the challenges and the setbacks of the journey, and to keep moving forward, no matter what.

Darlin', Don't got to worry you're locked in tight
The singer addresses a specific person, possibly a lover or a friend, and reassures them that they are safe, protected, and secure, within their relationship or their bond.

Darlin' (must be worth it 'cause the more) (I try the more it gets uneven)
The artist reflects on the ups and downs of their relationship, and how despite the challenges and the doubts, they still value it and believe it's worthwhile, because it's real and it's meaningful.

Now don't you worry turn out the lights (I can shake it I keep thinking) (But it's with me for a reason)
The artist encourages the other person to let go of their fears or their doubts, and to trust their instincts and their intuition, even if they don't always understand or control them completely. The artist also acknowledges that their own struggles or emotions are part of their identity and their purpose.

Wiped out, no concentration
The artist describes a state of exhaustion, confusion, or distraction, where one's mind and body are depleted, and one's focus and clarity are compromised.

They got us basking in a storm
The singer criticizes the society or the culture, which promotes and rewards chaos, drama, or conflict, and which distracts or manipulates people with superficial or sensational information or entertainment.

I watch it as it loses form, I doubt
The artist observes how the status quo or the dominant ideology is losing its power or its legitimacy, and how people are starting to question or challenge it, but also expresses her/his own doubts and uncertainties, and the need to find an alternative or a new direction.

They even see me, guess what I want
The singer feels invisible, marginalized, or misunderstood by the mainstream or the establishment, and wonders if anyone can see or hear her/him, but also affirms her/his own sense of purpose or identity, and the importance of being authentic and true to oneself.

A casualty but I am up front
The singer acknowledges the risks or the sacrifices involved in standing up for one's beliefs or values, and how one might become a victim or a martyr of the struggle, but also affirms her/his own courage or leadership, and the need to lead by example and inspire others.

And I know what it's about
The singer affirms her/his own awareness or understanding of the issues, the problems, or the opportunities at stake, and the need to educate or inform others, to organize or mobilize collective action, or to create positive change.

I'm still here shaking my head
The artist expresses her/his frustration, disappointment, or disbelief at the situation, but also affirms her/his own resilience, creativity, or defiance, to find new solutions or perspectives, to challenge or subvert the existing norms or structures.

The one you can't account for
The artist asserts her/his own uniqueness or unpredictability, and the difficulty or the futility of trying to control or manipulate her/him, or to fit her/him into a predefined category or stereotype.

I keep just one step ahead
The singer affirms her/his own agility or adaptability, and the need to anticipate or respond to the changing circumstances or environments, in order to survive or thrive, but also to challenge or transcend the limitations or the boundaries imposed by others or by oneself.

There's no place to run
The singer emphasizes the urgency or the intensity of the situation, where one feels trapped, exposed, or vulnerable, and where one needs to face the consequences or the challenges of one's choices or actions, without escape or denial.

Ah ah ah ah ah (repeated multiple times)
The artist uses a simple and catchy melodic phrase to convey a sense of rhythm, unity, or affirmation, to engage and inspire the audience, and to create a memorable and catchy hook for the song.