Pull my mask so tight,
Til it pinches my skin.
Nerves strung so high.
I am a mandolin.
Jenny calls from Montana.
She's only passing through.
Probably never see her again in this life, I guess.
Not sure what I'm gonna do.

Plug a night light in.
Leave the porch light on.
Because the small dark corners have designs on me.
Live like an outlaw.
Clutching gold coins in his claw.

Room full of ambitious young policemen.
Everybody trying to make his mark.
I was a red dot blinking on a screen up overhead,
And then the room went dark.
Dream of maybe waking up someday,
And wanting you less than I do.
This is a dream though,
It's never gonna come true.

Plug a night light in.
Leave the porch light on.
Because the small dark corners are establishing a colony.
Live like an outlaw.
Clutching gold coins in his claw.

Can't ever set aside the sweetness,
Of the days before the crews put up the border.
Fields full of wet rain.
Cling tight to their memory forever.
Think about Montana when I close my eyes,
Possibly Jenny's headed east.
Count a couple of stray hopes outloud,
May their numbers one day be increased.


Plug a night light in.
Leave the porch light on.
Because the small dark corners breathe like heavy animals.
Live like an outlaw.
Clutching gold coins in his claw.


Lyrics submitted by lionelhutz

Night Light song meanings
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2 Comments

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  • +1
    Song Comparison

    I'm pretty sure this is the same eponymous Jenny from the All Hail West Texas, especially because the album is called Transcendental Youth, so it probably talks about John Darnielle's youth- just like All Hail West Texas. Also, there's the outlaw/pirate thing.

    Cithaeronon September 03, 2012   Link
  • 0
    Link(s)

    JD on Jenny's reappearance in this song:

    "She's one of those disruptive characters, really through no fault of her own. I hadn't planned on her reappearing but once I had an idea for the song's sound, I just tried barking out some random lyrics, which is how I usually start until I get to a chorus and just go from there. So I'm barking this stuff and there she was again and I was just, ‘Well, I'll be goddamned.'"

    Read more: rollingstone.com/music/news/mountain-goats-john-darnielle-discusses-the-satan-record-20120120

    zapp645on January 16, 2013   Link

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