1. The Spiders from M… Read Full Bio ↴There is more than one artist under this name:
1. The Spiders from Mars, a rock band associated with David Bowie during his Ziggy Stardust era. The Spiders had one post-Ziggy Stardust-era album, of which Bowie had had no participation.
2. The Spiders from Mars, a collaborative eurobeat project between Dave Rodgers and Mickey B..
White Light/White Heat
The Spiders from Mars Lyrics
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White light - White light gonna make me feel so insane
White heat - White shapin' them down to my toes
White light - White light's got it now, goodness knows
White light - White light gonna drive me out of my mind
White light - White light's surely gonna make me blind
White heat - White shaping way down to my toes
Oh, Oh, White light
Oh, Oh, White light
Oh, Oh, White heat
Oh, Oh, White heat
White light - White light gonna drive me out of my brain
White light - White light gonna make me feel so insane
White heat - White shapin' them down to my toes
White light - White light's got it now, goodness knows
White light - White light gonna drive me out of my mind
White light - White light's surely gonna make me blind
White heat - White shaping way down to my toes
White light - White light could kill me now, goodness knows
[Chorus x 2]
White light's a-flashing
White light
Still feels right
What's that sound, what's that sound
Don't turn on, be dead or alive
No feeling
Here she comes
Oww, yeah
(Oh, oh, oh, oh) here she comes
(Oh, oh, oh, oh)
(Ah, ah, ah, ah)
The lyrics of "White Light/White Heat" by The Spiders from Mars depict the experience of someone who is under the influence of a dangerous and overwhelming drug. "White light" is used as a metaphor for the intense sensations that the drug is creating in the person's mind and body. The repetition of the phrase "white light - white light" at the beginning of the verses emphasizes the relentless and all-consuming nature of the drug's effects. The use of "white heat" also reinforces the idea of the drug as a dangerous force, with the heat shaping the person's body from head to toe.
The chorus of the song features a repetition of the phrase "white light's a-flashing," suggesting a pulsating and erratic energy that is both mesmerizing and potentially harmful. The final lines of the song are cryptic, mentioning a woman who is approaching ("here she comes") and an ominous warning to "don't turn on, be dead or alive."
Line by Line Meaning
White light - White light gonna drive me out of my brain
Intense, bright white light is overwhelming and causing mental distress.
White light - White light gonna make me feel so insane
The blinding, penetrating white light is driving the singer to madness.
White heat - White shapin' them down to my toes
The heat generated by the white light is physically affecting the singer's entire body right down to their toes.
White light - White light's got it now, goodness knows
The white light's power is out of the artist's control, and the intensity is overwhelming them.
White light - White light gonna drive me out of my mind
The brightness of the white light is continuing to cause mental distress and could push the artist over the edge.
White light - White light's surely gonna make me blind
The intense white light could potentially cause permanent vision loss.
White heat - White shaping way down to my toes
Again, the physical effects of the heat caused by the white light are prominent right down to the singer's toes.
White light - White light could kill me now, goodness knows
The overwhelming power of the white light could potentially cause harm to the artist and has become a dangerous force.
White light's a-flashing
The white light continues to strobe and create a dizzying effect.
White light Still feels right
Despite the harmful effects of the white light, there is a sense of satisfaction and pleasure in experiencing it.
What's that sound, what's that sound
The singer is searching for an explanation for the sound they hear, potentially trying to rationalize the overwhelming sensory experience.
Don't turn on, be dead or alive
The artist is possibly warning someone not to turn on the same white light, out of fear for the dangerous fever pitch it could reach.
No feeling
In the presence of the white light, the singer feels completely numb, both physically and mentally.
Here she comes
The white light continues to approach and surround the singer.
Oww, yeah
A cry of ecstasy and agony, conveying the intense feelings caused by the white light's power.
Lyrics © SONY ATV MUSIC PUB LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LOU REED
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind