White Light Riot consists of Minneapolis natives, brothers Mike and Mark Sc… Read Full Bio ↴White Light Riot consists of Minneapolis natives, brothers Mike and Mark Schwandt, Joe Christenson and Dan Larsen. These incredibly talented musicians craft catchy songs that appeal to fans of both indie rock and Britpop. Though often compared to The Killers, The Strokes or Franz Ferdinand, White Light Riot blend originality with influences of the past. The foursome have been playing together since 2005 and already have released two Eps, The Dark Is Light Enough, produced by Erik Appelwick (Tapes ‘N Tapes) and Out of Sight, produced/co-engineered by Brent Sigmeth (Grant Hart, They Might Be Giants, Tim O’Reagan, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott). Atomism, their first full-length album, was also produced/co-engineered by Sigmeth, co-engineered by Paul Marino (The New Congress, Desdemona) and mastered by Bob Ludwig. With sophisticated lyrics, perfected melodies and tight, driving rhythms, their music keeps audiences engaged and attracts new fans with every show.

This is definitely a band worth checking out:
Atomism is available on iTunes or buy physical copy through http://www.myspace.com/whitelightriotmusic
http://www.whitelightriot.com
or http://50records.com

Illusions
White Light Riot Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Flick the brights on high to burn through my blurry eyes
Where does it come from, where do we all belong
Fell for your disguise like a child naïve to lies
Where does it come from, when did it all go wrong
I'm gonna find a place that tells me like it is
I'm gonna find a face that doesn't change
That relieves my troubled head

This is breaking me I just don't get it
These illusions leave the wrong impression here
All the time it keeps us waiting

So where's the touch I loved
Was it something I conjured up
It all could be simpler if it all wasn't mystery
I still need your drug, there's solace within your arms
Even if it's not quite what it seems
I'm gonna find a place that tells me like it is
I'm gonna find a face that doesn't change
That relieves my troubled head

This is breaking me I just don't get it
These illusions leave the wrong impression here
It's a fantasy with expectations
I've been down and out before
These illusions leave the wrong impression here
All the time it keeps us waiting

I can't let you go before I let you know
There was nothing to be scared of
I can't let you go before I let you know
There was nothing to be scared of there
I'm gonna find a face that doesn't change
That relieves my troubled head

This is breaking me I just don't get it
These illusions leave the wrong impression here
It's a fantasy with expectations
I've been down and out before

These illusions leave the wrong impression here
All the time it keeps us waiting

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Illusions" by White Light Riot are centered around the idea of searching for truth and understanding in a world of confusion and deceit. The song begins with the singer struggling to see clearly through the "blurry" haze of reality, questioning where they come from and where they belong. They express a sense of naivety and betrayal, having fallen for someone's disguise and not understanding when things went wrong.

The chorus of the song emphasizes the frustration and pain of living in a world of illusions, waiting for something real and trustworthy to come along. The singer sings about finding a place and a face that won't change and can provide solace for their troubled head.

In the second verse, the lyrics suggest that the singer had a deep connection with someone, but it's unclear if it was real or just a figment of their imagination. They express a desire for simplicity amongst the mystery and the need for the other person's "drug," even if it's not entirely genuine. The chorus repeats once again, driving home the central theme of the song - the frustration and disappointment of living in a world of illusion.

Overall, the lyrics to "Illusions" are a poignant commentary on the struggles of modern life, searching for truth and clarity in a world that seems to thrive on confusion and deceit.

Line by Line Meaning

Flick the brights on high to burn through my blurry eyes
Turn the car's high beams on to help me see better through my blurry eyes

Where does it come from, where do we all belong
Questioning the origin of something and where everyone's place is in relation to it

Fell for your disguise like a child naïve to lies
Believed your facade like an innocent child who doesn't know any better

When did it all go wrong?
Asking when a situation turned negative or unexpected

I'm gonna find a place that tells me like it is
Seeking a place where honesty is valued over sugarcoating

I'm gonna find a face that doesn't change
Searching for someone who is consistent and steadfast

That relieves my troubled head
Finding someone or something that alleviates mental distress

These illusions leave the wrong impression here
False beliefs are giving off incorrect signals or impressions

All the time it keeps us waiting
Constantly waiting for something that may never come

Where's the touch I loved
Asking where the familiar touch went

It all could be simpler if it all wasn't mystery
Things would be easier to understand if they weren't so mysterious

I still need your drug, there's solace within your arms
I still need your comfort, even though it may not be entirely honest

Even if it's not quite what it seems
Even if the comfort I seek is not entirely truthful

It's a fantasy with expectations
The situation is unrealistic, with expectations that may not be met

I've been down and out before
I've experienced difficult times in the past

I can't let you go before I let you know, there was nothing to be scared of
I need to tell you that you didn't need to be afraid before I part ways with you

All the time it keeps us waiting
We are constantly waiting for something that may never come

Contributed by Julia B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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