This is a song that I started writing in about 1985, but didn't get to properly recording until the "Marley's Chain" release. The red light was a metaphor for "attention" more than anything else; a spotlight; but I guess in my head it was also a warning light. Lyrics always have these internal layers - especially if you don't think about them too much. I always remember a quote of Paul McCartney's, talking about "Hey Jude":
In Anthology, it is recalled that when McCartney introduced Lennon to his new composition, he came to "the movement you need is on your shoulder" lyric and told Lennon "I'll fix that bit." Lennon asked why, and McCartney answered "...it's a stupid expression; it sounds like a parrot." Lennon parried with "You won't, you know. That's the best line in the song."
So, I tend to leave things alone that sound good, but don't necessarily make sense to me at the time. It worked for Paul, after all!
Breathing on you
Leading on you
You're such a nasty little, tiny little brittle girl
Oh, aren't you?
Once in awhile think you've got it all figured out
It took me awhile to get control of myself
But the river is deep and I've been losing sleep
Red lights on you
Ooo you've got that mist
It hangs about you
Drifts around you
Whips about you
Oh don't you want?
I've got to have, I've got to have it
But in the mist I lose you
Misconstrue you
Once in awhile think you've got it all figured out
It took me awhile to get control of myself
But the river is deep and I've been losing sleep
Red lights on you
Once in awhile you think you've got it all made
You've made some space between real life and yourself
But the river is dry
Like the wastelands by the highway tonight
With nowhere left to hide
The red light is shining
All songs Copyright Jerry Hammack, used by permission, published by Really Real Music, BMI
In Anthology, it is recalled that when McCartney introduced Lennon to his new composition, he came to "the movement you need is on your shoulder" lyric and told Lennon "I'll fix that bit." Lennon asked why, and McCartney answered "...it's a stupid expression; it sounds like a parrot." Lennon parried with "You won't, you know. That's the best line in the song."
So, I tend to leave things alone that sound good, but don't necessarily make sense to me at the time. It worked for Paul, after all!
Red Light
Ooo you've got that red light shining on youBreathing on you
Leading on you
You're such a nasty little, tiny little brittle girl
Oh, aren't you?
Once in awhile think you've got it all figured out
It took me awhile to get control of myself
But the river is deep and I've been losing sleep
Red lights on you
Ooo you've got that mist
It hangs about you
Drifts around you
Whips about you
Oh don't you want?
I've got to have, I've got to have it
But in the mist I lose you
Misconstrue you
Once in awhile think you've got it all figured out
It took me awhile to get control of myself
But the river is deep and I've been losing sleep
Red lights on you
Once in awhile you think you've got it all made
You've made some space between real life and yourself
But the river is dry
Like the wastelands by the highway tonight
With nowhere left to hide
The red light is shining
All songs Copyright Jerry Hammack, used by permission, published by Really Real Music, BMI
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