For Song Lyric Sunday, Jim Adams has asked us to focus on a song that references light or space. I decided to feature songs referencing light.
Turn on Your Love Light.
First, from Bobby Bland, Turn on Your Love Light. It was written by band leader and arranger Joe Scott and Don Robey. The brass arrangement, All Music says, “upped the excitement ante” with “the groove picking up momentum as the horns and percussion talk to each other” and Bland’s vocal “riding on top”
Without a warning you broke my heart, takin’ it baby, tore it apart
And you left me standin’ in the dark, said your love for me was dyin’
Come on baby, baby please come on baby, cause I’m on my knees
Turn on your lights let it shine on me shine on your love light
Let it shine on me let shine, let it shine
When I get lonely in the middle of the night
And I need you darlin’ to make things all right
So come on baby, baby please and I’m beggin’ you baby cause I’m on my knees,
Turn on your lights let it shine on me
Turn on your love light let it shine on me
Let it shine, let it shine, let it
Without a warning you broke my heart, takin’ it baby, tore it apart
And you left me standin’ in the dark, shine your love for me was dark
Come on baby, baby please come on baby, cause I’m on my knees
Turn on your lights let it shine on me turn on your love light
Let it shine, let shine
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Don Robey / Joseph W. Scott
Turn On Your Love Light lyrics © TuneCore Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
After The Lights Go Down Low
After The Lights Go Down Low is a fantastic song from Al Hibbler was a hit in 1956. It was written by songwriters Phil Belmonte, Allen White, and Leroy C. Lovett. There have been many covers of the song (Marvin Gaye, Lou Rawls, Ann Margaret), but Hibbler’s version is the best.
After the lights go down low
Uh-uh, baby you know
There’ll be no reason for teasing me so
And when the dancing is through
And folks will be few
I’ll be here sitting with no one but you
And I’ll be needing you so
After the lights go down low
I wanna hold you, squeeze you as tight as I can
I’d like to kiss you and please you and make you understand
And when you thrill me, you fill me with love so divine
Together we can have a good time
When the lights go down low
Uh-uh, baby you know
There’ll be no reason for teasing me so
And we can cuddle up near
Uh-uh, without any fear
‘Cause I’ve got some sweet talk that you wanna hear
And I’ll be needing you so
After the lights go down low
And I’ll be needing you so
After the lights go down low
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Alan White / Leroy Lovett / Phil Belmonte
After The Lights Go Down Low lyrics © Kassner Associated Publishers Ltd.
Let’s Put Out The Lights (And Go To Sleep)
Let’s Put Out The Lights (And Go To Sleep) dates back to 1932. It was written by Herman Hupfeld (who also wrote the hit song “As Time Goes By”). It was initially introduced as “(Let’s) Turn Out the Lights and Go to Bed” in the 1932 Broadway revue George White’s Music Hall Varieties. However, NBC radio changed “go to bed” to “go to sleep” for early broadcasts like Rudy Vallée’s version due to its double entendre.
It was recorded by the aforementioned Rudy Vallée, Bing Crosby and Sarah Vaughn. I like Dean Martin’s version.
No more company to feed
No more papers left to read
What’s to do about it
Let’s put out the lights and go to sleep
No more anything to drink
Leave those dishes in the sink
What’s to do about it
Simply nighty-night and go to sleep
You’re waiting now for me to say
I love you more and more and more dear
You’re looking younger every day
You never were so sweet before dear
No more money in the bank
No cute baby we can spank
What’s to do about it
Let’s put out the lights and go to sleep
You’re waiting now for me to say
I love you more and more and more dear
You’re looking younger every day
You never were so sweet before dear
No more money in the bank
No cute baby we can spank
What’s to do about it
Let’s put out the lights
And go to sleep
I Saw The Light
My final choice is from Wynonna Judd, who had a #1 country hit with I Saw The Light. It was written by Andrew Gold (Thank You For Being a Friend) and Lisa Angelle. It was produced by Tony Brown.
Kevin John Coyne of Country Universe gave the track an A rating, saying that “it has the rhythm and cadence of a classic sixties girl group hit, infused with just enough twang to keep the proceedings country.” Billboard gave it a positive review, saying the track “sports a thoroughly infectious melody, vivid lyrical images, and rousing harmonies that add weight to the clever wordplay of the title.”
I laid a red rose on your front porch
Wrote “I love you” on a note
I rang the doorbell and turned to go
Baby when the curtains moved
I couldn’t believe the view
I saw the light in your window tonight
I saw two shadows holding each other tight
I know the truth when I look in your eyes
I saw the light in your window tonight
So take your cheating hands off my red dress
‘Cause I ain’t wearing this thing for you
I see you clearly now, and your lies too
They say that love is blind
Well, baby, not this time
I saw the light in your window tonight
I saw two shadows holding each other tight
I know the truth when I look in your eyes
I saw the light in your window tonight
Why, baby, why (why, baby, why)
Should I listen to ya
Cry, baby, cry (cry, baby, cry)
Now I’m walking out the door
They say that love is blind
Well, baby, not this time (I saw the light, I saw the light, I saw the light)
I saw the light in your window tonight
I saw two shadows holding each other tight
I know the truth when I look in your eyes
I saw the light in your window tonight
I know the truth when I look in your eyes
I saw the light in your window tonight
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Andrew M. Gold / Lisa Angelle
I Saw the Light lyrics © Great Eastern Music, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Thanks again to Jim Adams for hosting this fantastic feature. I look forward to it each week.
