Ellie Goulding: Lights Meaning
Lights Lyrics
I had a heart then but the queen has been overthrown
And I'm not sleeping now the dark is too hard to beat
And I'm not keeping now the strength I need to push me
You show the lights that stop me turn...
-
I believe this is about a battle with terrifying sleep paralysis. If you've ever had it you may see the connection (especially if it felt like alien abduction)
First verse. "I had a way then" When in the throes it's easy to describe but once you're back in reality it's impossible.
"losing it all on my own" You feel all alone, nobody understands what causes this. Nobody can relate. There's a fear of admitting to it because of the psychological labels you fear being given.
"I had a heart then" Sometimes looking back on a time in your life when SP happened every night can be nostalgic. Since you can get the impression of being visited by angels or aliens you are given a sense of significance instead of shame (from being labeled "crazy")
"but the queen has been overthrown" Your mommy can't protect you from this (especially significant if it's been happening since childhood. Some people try to pray to Jesus or their god so possibly queen = goddess
"And I'm not sleeping now" Pretty self explanatory. The experience is terrifying, and if it happens every time you lie down to rest you can become scared out of sleeping and eventually avoid it.
"the dark is too hard to beat" This isn't just the night's dark, there are "shadow creatures" that loom over your bed some nights.
"And I'm not keeping now/ the strength I need to push me" The very act of struggling against your invisible restraints is impossible sometimes. Also, after dealing with this turmoil for awhile you can be so sleep deprived and constantly scared that all other aspects of your life suffer.
Chorus
Turning to stone = paralysis "Show me I'm not alone" = bedroom visitors/ abductors "When I'm alone" it's an individual experience nobody can relate to %100
"tell myself I'll be strong" Is all you can really do when in the throes and also during the day since you know it's just going to happen again. It rules your life.
"They're calling home"These lights can come in through the bedroom window as beams or balls. They can be glowing eyes or upward blowing purple rain. Now if you understand that as alien abduction (especially when you're younger) you can be told by these abductors that they are your real parents or their planet is your real home. In dealing with the after effects it can feel like you don't belong on this planet with these people. -
This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
-
Alien abduction.
-
Its obviously about the turmoil of suicide. "I had a way than, losing it all on my own"... she had her own plan and was in control to deal with her situation. " I had a heart than the queen has been overthrown.... she was in control of her emotions and has lost control of her feelings. "And I'm not sleeping now, the dark is too hard to beat" she has lost control, the darkness is ruling her heart and feelings. "And I'm not keeping now, the strength I need to push me" she is no longer strong enough to continueon... she is giving up. " you show the lights that stop me turn to stone (lights in the hospital when they r trying to save her} you shine them when I'm alone (she is completely alone in life besides medical staff. And so I tell myself that ill be strong, and dreaming whe they're gone (determined to end her life despite the efforts to save her). Cuz they're calling me... c me.. c me... (still determined the heavens r calling her and she should die). noises I play within my head, touch my own skin and hope that I'm still breathing ( recalling moments in her life that make her want to hold on, give her something she wants to eep living for). " and I think back to when my brother and sister slept, an unlocked place, (a happy childhood memory of family/friends/meaningful people that give her a reason to continue living). "The only time I feel safe" (gives her a reason to keep fighting.
-
This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
-
I believe she is talking about a haunting past. That she remembers. It could also mean she was abused. I get this from... "I had a heart then but the queen has been overthrown"
Also "and I'm not sleeping now the dark is to hard to beat"
I think that line is her trying to escape the darkness but "the darkness is winning" also how she is afraid. Confused and scared.
It is a strong song with a great meaning and truly believe that this song is beautiful. -
It's a metaphor. Being afraid of the dark in general. Evidently though, it's amplified. But it has little to do with abuse and more of like an Alice in Wonderland take on a phobia.
-
On a christian standpoint, I think this is almost a struggle in ones life, but stopping at the light and the call of God "Home" or to heaven... very good song... and inspirational.
-
i think its about not wanting to grow up, the battle between facing the corruption that lies ahead of her, as she will see more of that, and the innocence/childhood or "light" that's calling her home and leaving her, she is undecided in what she should do; she turns to stone
-
"I had a heart then, but the queen has been overthrown." --The queen holds the heart, Her being the queen, used to care an love, but having been "overthrown" or in other words hurt she has lost all heart, or all idea of heart an love because she doesn't want to feel that again. (my personal opinion, more later for the whole song)
-
I think it's about someone dealing with the effects of fame. The "Lights that stop me, turn me to stone," are the people watching her (like spot-lights) that make her stop (stone) and think about how they feel about her actions. But "dreaming when they're gone" means she isn't worried what others think about her when she's alone. I'm not sure if this is the real meaning, but this is what it means to me.
-
Its about the lights calling her home. about Ufos. ET Phone home.
-
She's singing about losing who you are and when your trying to find yourself again. Trying to breathe again, to be safe again. To laugh just one more time.Trying to survive a world that isn't cooperating.
-
This song is about abuse. She states that he shines the light that turns her to stone. She freezes in fear because she knows that he is coming to hurt her. She touches her own skin to see if she is still breathing and she thinks of where her brother and sister slept because that was her safe place.
-
Shes scared of the dark.
More Ellie Goulding songs »
Latest Articles
-
A new era for Millennial favorite, Linkin Park -
Anime to watch for the soundtracks… and other reasons you’re undateable -
.jpg)
Dolly, we need you -
The Stranger Things Effect: How new media is drawing Gen Z and Alpha's attention to aging media -
The most underrated soundtrack of the early 2000s -
Buy the Soundtrack, Skip the Movie: Brainscan (1994)
Trending:
Just Posted
| Amnesia | anonymous |
| Your Smiling Face | anonymous |
| You Should Be Dancing | anonymous |
| Washing Machine Heart | anonymous |
| Souvenirs | anonymous |
| Art Deco | anonymous |
| Let It Go | anonymous |
| The Greatest Show | anonymous |
| Vampire | anonymous |
| Vampire | anonymous |
| Sippy Cup | anonymous |
| A Place For My Head | anonymous |
| I Hope You Dance | anonymous |
| Metaphor | anonymous |
| Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now) | anonymous |
