The Electric Soft Parade began in Brighton, where brothers Alex White (voca… Read Full Bio ↴The Electric Soft Parade began in Brighton, where brothers Alex White (vocals/guitar) and Tom White (drums) recorded sloppy four-track albums and sold them to locals under the moniker Feltro Media. One of these recordings caught the attention of indie DB, which signed the siblings in 2001. Renamed the Electric Soft Parade and enlisting the aid of bassist Matt Thwaites and keyboardist Steve Large, that April the group issued the single "Silent to the Dark," which showcased their mix of latter-day Brit-pop sensibilities with doses of American-style modern rock and psychedelia. DB issued the full-length Holes in the Wall in early 2002, and extensive touring followed. There was even a bit of Oasis-style brotherly strife to spark the interest of the British music press. The Electric Soft Parade jumped to BMG for The American Adventure, which was issued in the U.K. in October 2003. Large left the band during this period, and drummer Matthew Priest was brought into the fold. The band went on the road throughout the next year, sharing the stage with bands like Elbow, Starsailor, and the Who. They then returned to the studio and recorded the Human Body EP, which arrived in 2006. The band's third full-length effort, No Need to Be Down-Hearted, came out a year later. From 2008 to 2010, the band went on hiatus from touring and recording. In 2010, they reunited to perform at the Maximalism! charity concert. The EP A Quick One appeared in 2011. In 2013, the Electric Soft Parade released their fourth studio album, the Chris Hughes- and Mark Frith-produced Idiots.

Lights Out
The Electric Soft Parade Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Time for lights out
Over the allotment

I must remember not to feel the elements

If I'm not here when you call,
You'll have a hundred places to go,
and the victories that you've had,

won't make up for the values you lack

Time for lights out
Over the allotment

I must remember not to feel the elements

If I'm not here when you call,
You'll have a hundred places to go,
and the victories that you've had,
won't make up for the values you lack

If I'm not here when you call,
You'll have a hundred places to go,
and the victories that you've had,
won't make up for the values you lack

If I'm not here when you call,
You'll have a hundred places to go,

and the victories that you've had,
won't make up for the values you lack

Overall Meaning

The Electric Soft Parade's "Lights Out" can be interpreted as a reflection on the fleeting nature of life and the significance of cherishing meaningful relationships. The repeated phrase "Time for lights out" evokes the idea of the end of one's life, while "Over the allotment" suggests a place of reflection and memories. The line "I must remember not to feel the elements" could be seen as a metaphor for not allowing the hardships of life to discourage or weigh down the singer.

The following lines about not being there when called and the victories that won't make up for lacking values may refer to the idea that material success or accomplishments do not necessarily equate to personal fulfillment or happiness. The overall message seems to encourage the listener to prioritize meaningful connections and values over superficial achievements, especially in the brief time we have on earth.

Line by Line Meaning

Time for lights out
It's time to turn off the lights and go to bed

Over the allotment
Referring to a garden patch, indicating that it's the end of the day

I must remember not to feel the elements
Not to let the outside world affect your emotions

If I'm not here when you call,
If I'm not available when you need me

You'll have a hundred places to go,
You'll have many options to choose from

and the victories that you've had,
Accomplishments you've achieved in the past

won't make up for the values you lack
Just because you've achieved things doesn't mean you have good values or morals

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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