“Turn the Lights Off” is the tenth track on Tally Hall‘s second studio album, Good & Evil. Joe Hawley wrote the song, and the music video was created by Drew Mokris.
The song explores the path through puberty and adolescence. Inspired by sources like “Where The Wild Things Are” and the movie “Jacob’s Ladder,” the songwriter, Joe Hawley, imagined a scenario where a boy opens his closet and finds a lively party of monsters. These imaginative visuals symbolize the chaos and conflict in the reality of the adult world.
In this analysis, we’ll delve into the lyrics to understand their meaning and what the song is expressing.
Table of Contents
Inspiration Behind “Turn the Lights Off”
In an interview with My Car and My Guitar, Joe Hawley sheds light on what inspired the song:
Joe: The whole album is about dualities, and that song is probably about the child-adult duality. And the verses are about kids growing up, and the choruses are about whatever chaos or strife is caused by competition for partners? I was looking at Where The Wild Things Are, also. And I pictured this boy going into his closet and seeing a monster party. A party full of monsters dancing, like in this movie Jacob’s Ladder, also. Just a lot of visions like that kind of influencing the song.
Even with Joe’s explanation, the cryptic lyrics filled with metaphors might still leave you puzzled. Let’s break down the lyrics, taking it verse by verse in the following section.
“Turn the Lights Off” Lyrics Meaning
[Verse 1: Joe Hawley]
Don’t go in there, you’ll become one
Freaky creatures, monster party
Eyes of yellow, scales and feathers
Tails and tethers, turn the lights off
Bend the nightmare, you control it
Artful dodger, easy does it
Shut the closet, get under the covers
Snakes and lovers, turn the lights off
In the first verse, Joe paints a picture of a world filled with bizarre monsters – creatures sporting yellow eyes, scales, feathers, tails, and tethers, all gathered for a peculiar party. The warning in the line “Don’t go in there, you’ll become one” suggests that the singer is cautioning a boy. But what’s the deeper meaning behind this monster bash?
According to Joe Hawley, the song delves into the path from adolescence to adulthood. The monster party imagery represents the darkness of adult world, where the boy must navigate beyond the conventional norms learned in school.
Joe drew inspiration from the psychological horror movie “Jacob’s Ladder.” In the film, war veteran Jacob Singer battles to maintain his sanity after returning home from Vietnam. Hallucinations and flashbacks plague him as the world distorts into disturbing images.
The recurring phrase “turn the lights off” holds significance. It suggests that genuine aspects of life are often concealed in darkness, and what appears normal in daylight might be just a façade. By turning off the lights, the child gains a glimpse into the harsh reality of the adult world.
Reassuring the frightened boy, the singer urges him with the words, “Bend the nightmare, you control it.” This means taking charge of the fear linked to darkness. The line “Artful dodger, easy does it” might be tricky for non-English speakers. The term “Artful Dodger” originates from Charles Dickens’ “Oliver Twist,” describing a smart pickpocket in a gang of child criminals. It now refers to someone clever at avoiding trouble. “Easy does it” is an English idiom advising caution or proceeding carefully. So, “Artful dodger, easy does it” encourages the boy to be clever and cautious in handling his fear of darkness.
“Shut the closet, get under the covers” reflects a typical way children react to fear. In the United States, many kids go through common nighttime fears, such as being afraid of monsters in their closets. This fear of the dark and imaginary creatures is a regular part of a child’s development, aligning with Piaget and Erikson’s theories as they learn to differentiate between reality and imagination.
The singer compares opening the closet to confronting the challenges of the adult world and closing it to avoid those realities.
Next up, the singer croons, “Snakes and lovers, turn the lights off.” Snakes and lovers is an odd pairing. In the Bible, snakes play a key role in the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, where the serpent tempts Eve to eat the forbidden fruit. This links snakes to themes of temptation, deceit, and betrayal. In a broader sense, the singer could be cautioning the boy about the traps and allurements lurking in the adult world, especially from beautiful girls.
[Chorus: Joe Hawley]
Everybody likes to get taken for turns
To see how bright the fire inside of us burns
And everybody wants to get evil tonight
But all good devils masquerade under the light
In the chorus, the singer dives into the reality of the grown-up world, belting out, “Everybody likes to get taken for turns, To see how bright the fire inside of us burns.” Here, “taken for turns” hints at facing challenges, while the “fire inside of us” metaphor likely symbolizes passion or inner drive. This paints a picture of adults in constant competition, striving to prove their self-worth.
The following lines, “And everybody wants to get evil tonight, But all good devils masquerade under the light,” unfold a theme of duality and hidden motives.
The first part, “And everybody wants to get evil tonight,” might sound like a desire for mischief. However, a deeper meaning surfaces: adults often need to appear virtuous, concealing their less obvious sinister qualities. They’re like “all good devils masquerading under the light.”
It’s as if the singer is telling the boy that the adult world he sees in appearance isn’t the whole truth. True adults embody a mix of good and less admirable qualities because humanity is a blend of both.
[Verse 2: Zubin Sedghi, Rob Cantor, (Joe Hawley), ( Rob Cantor and Joe Hawley)]
Here’s the pinky, there’s the kinky
Everybody, complicated
Man and woman, baby child
Calm and wild, turn the lights off
Don’t remember (Day’s gone), what we look like (Night’s on)
Younger holding (Day’s gone), one another (Light’s passed)
Paper colors, (Day’s gone), tangle streaming (Night’s on)
Tangle screaming (Light’s gone), turn the lights off
In the second verse, the singer draws a sharp contrast between the worlds of children and adults, highlighting the complexities of reality. The term “pinky” is used to represent a light red color, and “pinky promise” signifies a special commitment. In a metaphorical sense, “pinky” could symbolize innocence and trust. On the flip side, “kinky,” meaning unconventional or alternative, suggests complexity and adventure. When the singer says “Here’s the pinky, there’s the kinky,” he’s contrasting the simplicity of the child’s world with the intricate and often unconventional nature of the adult world.
The singer emphasizes that everyone, regardless of age or gender, is inherently complex, singing “Everybody, complicated/ Man and woman, baby child/Calm and wild.” This reminds us that each person contains both calm and wild aspects. Once again, the singer encourages the boy to “turn the lights off” and sees the reality in darkness, urging him to look beyond appearances.
He advises the boy to forget the facades of daylight and discover the true essence beneath, singing “Don’t remember (Day’s gone), what we look like (Night’s on).”
In the darkness of reality, the world reveals some chaos, as he sings “Younger holding (Day’s gone), one another (Light’s passed).” This implies intertwined and complex relationships. In the lines “Paper colors, (Day’s gone), tangle streaming (Night’s on),” the singer suggests that reality is a mix of colors and sounds. “Tangle screaming (Light’s gone)” highlights the cacophony of differing opinions in reality, emphasizing that not every question in the adult world has a straightforward answer like in the world of children.
[Verse 3: Joe Hawley, Zubin Sedghi, (Joe Hawley)]
Can’t they take it? Should be stronger
Books abandoned, breathe the water
Mind distracted (Bad girls), sons and daughters (Good boys)
Out for slaughter (Bad guys), turn the lights off
In the third verse, the singer ponders whether the boy is ready to grasp the realities of the adult world. He sings “Can’t they take it? Should be stronger,” suggesting the need for the boy to toughen up to face these realities.
He points out that the knowledge from books and school might not always fit into the real world, singing “Books abandoned, breathe the water.” Metaphorically, “breathe the water” hints at the need to adapt and thrive in overwhelming situations, much like surviving in an environment where breathing underwater is suffocating and impossible. It signifies the boy’s journey into adapting to the complexities of the adult world.
When he sings “Mind distracted (Bad girls), sons and daughters (Good boys)/Out for slaughter (Bad guys), turn the lights off/”, he warns the boy about the labels he’ll encounter in the adult world. These labels, like “bad girls” and “good boys,” might distract the mind. It plays on societal expectations and stereotypes regarding behavior and gender roles. “Out for slaughter” hints at the dangers posed by “bad guys,” cautioning the boy about potentially sinister encounters in adulthood.
[Bridge]
Sparkles and shines on the water
(Bet you’ve got a bone to pick with me)
Seeps through the cumulus brume
(Bet you’ve got a bone to pick with me)
Tingles and tears while we’re gazing
(Bet you’ve got a bone to pick with me)
Vanishes soon after bedtime for good
(Bet you’ve got a bone to pick with me)
In these lines, the singer crafts a vivid image filled with contrasts. When he mentions “Sparkles and shines on the water” and “Seeps through the cumulus brume,” he’s playing with the beauty of sparkling water against the backdrop of mist or clouds.
But what’s the singer conveying to the boy? “Sparkles and shines on the water” could symbolize the early stages of adolescence, a vibrant and youthful time. “Seeps through the cumulus brume” might depict the gradual clarity that comes with growing up, with “cumulus brume” representing the confusion of adolescence. The light seeping through signifies gaining insight or navigating through uncertainties.
The lines “Tingles and tears while we’re gazing” seems to give a nod to the challenges of adulthood, hinting that at times, it can be so overwhelming that tears might surface. Yet, the singer reassures the boy that these difficulties are transient, emphasizing, “Vanishes soon after bedtime for good.”
Throughout the bridge, Joe sings, “Bet you’ve got a bone to pick with me.” He playfully admits he might have hit the boy with a lot of realities, jokingly hinting that he might have caused a bit of annoyance with all his revelations.
[Verse 4]
Don’t you like it? (Day’s gone) I know I do (Night’s on)
How about you? (Day’s gone) What do we know? (Light’s passed)
Tiny patterns (Day’s gone), hypnotizing (Night’s on)
Terrorizing (Light’s gone), turn the lights off
In these lines, the singer suggests that “the boy” has come to accept the realities and uncertainties of the adult world he’s about to enter, saying, “Don’t you like it? (Day’s gone) I know I do (Night’s on).” Here, the “I” might refer to “the boy” himself. After hearing the boy’s response, the singer continues with “Tiny patterns (Day’s gone), hypnotizing (Night’s on)/Terrorizing (Light’s gone), turn the lights off.”
When he mentions “tiny patterns,” it could allude to the details or routines the boy deals with during the day. In contrast, the adult world at night appears new, captivating, and mysterious. However, the singer issues a warning, emphasizing that it’s also filled with dangers and can be “terrifying.”
[Outro]
Chroma diamonds, twinkle brightly
Dance in darkness, blow the nights off
Sleepy child, spark desire
Walk the fire…
In these lines, the phrase “Chroma diamonds, twinkle brightly” paints a vivid picture, hinting at colorful and radiant imagery. Perhaps the singer is likening the boy to diamonds that shine with various colors, symbolizing the child’s boundless possibilities. After all, a child is a universe of potential.
Continuing with “Dance in darkness, blow the nights off,” the singer seems to suggest that if the boy learns to navigate the complexities of the adult world, he could dispel the challenges and live a joyful life.
With confidence, the boy falls back to sleep, dreaming of the future he desires. The singer encourages him with the words “Sleepy child, spark desire/Walk the fire…” The phrase “Walk the fire” implies that the boy is ready to confront challenges, navigate difficulties, and embrace passion as he moves forward.
Overall Message
In “Turn The Lights Off,” Joe Hawley explores the challenges children may encounter as they grow up. The lyrics portray an innocent boy who stumbles upon the complexities of the adult world, feeling uneasy about the looming prospect of adulthood. Yet, as the song unfolds, the boy gradually accepts the inevitable process of maturing and entering the adult world.
The song skillfully contrasts the idealized world often presented to children with the intricate reality they will eventually face as adults. The singer acknowledges the inherent insecurities and anxieties tied to growing up but emphasizes the importance of recognizing these realities and bravely navigating the difficulties they present.
Jacob Carter is a lyricist. He created the lyrics writing course to teach people how to analyze and write lyrics. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in English Literature, so he’s skilled at playing with words.
He’s also an amateur guitarist, which means he knows music and melody very well. With this background, he’s a great lyricist you can rely on to learn writing lyrics.