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When The Lights Go Out
The Black Keys Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Don't it hurt so bad
When you're standin' in the sun
In the bottom of your heart
You don't love no one

You can be oh so mean
I just can't see, no in between
You know what the sun's all about
When the lights go out

What a way to live
Back of your class
End of the line
Always last

You can be oh so mean

I just can't see, no in between
You know what the sun's all about
When the lights go out

See the moon
See the stars
From your lonely seat
In your lonely cars

You can be oh so mean
I just can't see, no in between
You know what the sun's all about
When the lights go out

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Black Keys's song When The Lights Go Out convey feelings of loneliness, heartache, and longing for connection despite being mean and misunderstood. The opening lines, "Don't it hurt so bad, when you're standin' in the sun, in the bottom of your heart, you don't love no one," suggest the pain of feeling alone and unloved even when living in society's spotlight. The recognition of one's own meanness, "You can be oh so mean, I just can't see, no in between," further underscores a feeling of isolation from others. The contrast between the bright, sunny imagery and the dark, lonely reality of the lyrics is emphasized by the refrain, "You know what the sun's all about, when the lights go out," which speaks to a sense of hidden pain and fear of being exposed to others.


The second verse finds the singer musing on "what a way to live," with "back of your class" and "end of the line" both serving as metaphors for feeling excluded from society's normative expectations. The imagery of viewing the moon and stars from a "lonely seat," such as in a car, further emphasizes the theme of solitary contemplation. Ultimately, the song offers a poignant commentary on the price of success and the personal toll it can take on one's emotional well-being.


Line by Line Meaning

Don't it hurt so bad
The feeling is painful


When you're standin' in the sun
When you're exposed and vulnerable


In the bottom of your heart
Deep down


You don't love no one
You can't find love or give love in your current state


You can be oh so mean
Your actions demonstrate cruelty towards others


I just can't see, no in between
I can't perceive any gray area in your behavior


You know what the sun's all about
You have an understanding of the exposure and vulnerability of life


When the lights go out
When the protection of social interaction disappears


What a way to live
Living in a state of isolation and unhappiness


Back of your class
Feeling inferior and unworthy compared to others


End of the line
At the very bottom of society


Always last
Never getting a chance to be first or noticed


See the moon
Looking up towards hope


See the stars
Finding inspiration in the beauty of the world


From your lonely seat
As an isolated and unhappy individual


In your lonely cars
Seeking solitude as a means of escape




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Daniel Quine Auerbach, Patrick James Carney

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

vïvïð

Don't it hurt so bad,
Standin' in the sun,
The bottom of your heart,
You don't love no one,

You can be,
Oh, so mean,
I just can't see,
No in-between,
You know what the sun's all about,
When the lights go out,

What a way to live,
Back of your class,
The end of the line--
You're always last,

You can be,
Oh, so mean,
I just can't see,
No in-between,
You know what the sun's all about,
When the lights go out,

See the moon,
See the stars,
From your lonely seat,
In lonely cars,

You can be,



All comments from YouTube:

Jack Schmit

I've seen them play live twice....they didn't play this song. I wasn't even mad. And this is my favorite song from them.

Minze Katze

They are just freaking perfect! Love that song :)

Dale Jefferson

Listen to Samuel Blues - Grunge Blues Psychedelia,
way under the radar

Michael Nuber

It's simple. It's dark. It's a great song!

Jillian

Fav band of all time

Julian Grant

best black keys album

river tide

totally amazing

Science Fantastic

I feel that Southern heat. Awesome.

Science Fantastic

@Pierre Fogliata really? Huh. It sounds very Southern Bluesy.

Prince Albert In A Can

I expect to see a gator crawling across the road.

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