Lightning crashes a new mother cries
Her placenta falls to the floor
The angel opens her eyes
The confusion sets in
Before the doctor can even close the door

Lightning crashes an old mother dies
Her intentions fall to the floor
The angel closes her eyes
The confusion that was hers
Belongs now to the baby down the hall

Oh now feel it, coming back again
Like a rolling, thunder chasing the wind
Forces pulling from
The center of the earth again
I can feel it

Lightning crashes a new mother cries
This moment she's been waiting for
The angel opens her eyes
Pale blue colored iris
Presents the circle
Puts the glory out to hide, hide

Oh now feel it, coming back again
Like a rolling, thunder chasing the wind
Forces pulling from
The center of the earth again
I can feel it
I can feel it

Oh, I
Oh, I
Oh, I

I can feel it, coming back again
Like a rolling, thunder chasing the wind
Forces pulling from
The center of the earth again
I can feel it

I can feel it, coming back again
Like a rolling, thunder chasing the wind
Forces pulling from
The center of the earth again
I can feel it

I can feel it, coming back again
Like a rolling, thunder chasing the wind
Forces pulling from
The center of the earth again
I can feel it
I can feel it
I can feel it

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Lyrics submitted by sawg

Lightning Crashes Lyrics as written by Chad David Taylor Chad Alan Gracey

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Lightning Crashes song meanings

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152 Comments

+15
General Comment
i just watched something on VH1 last night. it was the 90 best songs of the 90's. but this song was on there. the band was saying the song was very emotional for them and it was about a mother giving childbirth while another woman was dying down the hall. one person was ending their life, while another was begining. its such a powerful song.

i just watched something on VH1 last night. it was the 90 best songs of the 90's. but this song was on there. the band was saying the song was very emotional for them and it was about a mother giving childbirth while another woman was dying down the hall. one person was ending their life, while another was begining. its such a powerful song.

Reason:

notperfecton May 05, 2002 Link
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@notperfect

If you watch the episode of one tree hill (last episode of season 4) this song is in the beginning and it makes sense too because that's somewhat kinda happening.

sibowittzon May 25, 2009

If you watch the episode of one tree hill (last episode of season 4) this song is in the beginning and it makes sense too because that's somewhat kinda happening.

sibowittzon May 25, 2009
+11
Song Meaning
Ed Kowalczyk said, "I wrote 'Lightning Crashes' on an acoustic guitar in my brother's bedroom shortly before I had moved out of my parents' house and gotten my first place of my own." Kowalczyk says that the video for "Lightning Crashes" lends itself to many misinterpretations of the song's intent. "While the clip is shot in a home environment, I envisioned it taking place in a hospital, where all these simultaneous deaths and births are going on, one family mourning the loss of a woman while a screaming baby emerges from a young mother in another room. Nobody's dying in the act of childbirth, as some viewers think. What you're seeing is actually a happy ending based on a kind of transference of life. The dedication to Barbara Lewis came after the song was written. But it was something that we hoped would honor the memory of a girl we grew up with and help her family cope with sorrow -- which it seems to have accomplished -- in a fashion in keeping with the theme of the song." In other words, this song is about the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. The angel opens her eyes in birth, and closes them in death. The angel is both a symbol of the divine and of life, and the living people themselves (eyes opening for the first time in life, closing for the final time in death). The pale blue-colored iris of a newborn baby represents the circle of life. The glory coming out to hide is the spark of the divine hidden within all people. It is there before us in plain sight, but hidden because we see the flesh most often rather than the spirit within. It is not about the girl who died in the car accident, nor is it about abortion, miscarriage, etc. It is about the peaceful passing of a life (an old mother whose children are grown), and the joyful if hectic arrival of a new life (the new mother and her baby).

Ed Kowalczyk said, "I wrote 'Lightning Crashes' on an acoustic guitar in my brother's bedroom shortly before I had moved out of my parents' house and gotten my first place of my own." Kowalczyk says that the video for "Lightning Crashes" lends itself to many misinterpretations of the song's intent. "While the clip is shot in a home environment, I envisioned it taking place in a hospital, where all these simultaneous deaths and births are going on, one family mourning the loss of a woman while a screaming baby emerges from a young mother in another room. Nobody's dying in the act of childbirth, as some viewers think. What you're seeing is actually a happy ending based on a kind of transference of life. The dedication to Barbara Lewis came after the song was written. But it was something that we hoped would honor the memory of a girl we grew up with and help her family cope with sorrow -- which it seems to have accomplished -- in a fashion in keeping with the theme of the song." In other words, this song is about the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. The angel opens her eyes in birth, and closes them in death. The angel is both a symbol of the divine and of life, and the living people themselves (eyes opening for the first time in life, closing for the final time in death). The pale blue-colored iris of a newborn baby represents the circle of life. The glory coming out to hide is the spark of the divine hidden within all people. It is there before us in plain sight, but hidden because we see the flesh most often rather than the spirit within. It is not about the girl who died in the car accident, nor is it about abortion, miscarriage, etc. It is about the peaceful passing of a life (an old mother whose children are grown), and the joyful if hectic arrival of a new life (the new mother and her baby).

Reason:

tritterbugg02on December 20, 2010 Link
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@tritterbugg02

Well, I disagree
Angels do would not close their eyes - they would be welcoming a new member of 'God's creation' into the world. Although I understand the symbolism. From what I know about Angels - death and birth are joyous times. In my religion - we celebrate death because if you lived a good life - you will be in heaven or maybe purgatory to clean your soul. Death is sad for us humans but, very happy for everyone else. The Guardian Angel welcomed the woman's soul into heaven and certainly didn't close 'her eyes'. Again, I understand the symbolism but, death is tragic but, really really beautiful for the glory of the individual hopefully going to heaven. Angels are nothing but positive heavenly spirits.

buton July 09, 2016

In my religion, death is wonderful, because it marks the time when we finally no longer have to deal with stupid fucking religious idiots telling us what is right, what is wrong, how to live, what we should care about, who we should love, what things mean, and everything in between. Go fuck yourself.

despondenton July 10, 2018
+6
General Comment
I think the lyrics and the music just go so well together. It's so emotional and yes, really sad but I think the part about the baby represents new hope so its kind of a bitter sweet thing.

I think the lyrics and the music just go so well together. It's so emotional and yes, really sad but I think the part about the baby represents new hope so its kind of a bitter sweet thing.

Reason:

Jean Machineon April 14, 2002 Link
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@Jean Machine
+3
General Comment
This song is about a life being transfered into another. the old lady dies while the baby is being born.

This song is about a life being transfered into another. the old lady dies while the baby is being born.

Reason:

Marky Markon July 24, 2002 Link
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@Marky Mark
+2
General Comment
this song is about re-encarnation (i know i spelled it wrong). hence lightning crashes, an old mother dies her intentions fall to the floor the angel closes her eyes the confusion that was hers belongs now, to the baby down the hall

this song is about re-encarnation (i know i spelled it wrong). hence lightning crashes, an old mother dies her intentions fall to the floor the angel closes her eyes the confusion that was hers belongs now, to the baby down the hall

Reason:

XSeach and DestroyXon May 14, 2008 Link
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@XSeach and DestroyX
+2
General Comment
As I write this I am siting in a hospice house with my husband, who is dying from stage IV colon cancer. I wept the first time I heard this song. Our grown children and their children are gathering now, and we will all be together within a few days to say goodbye. For some reason I had to hear this song again - and I wept again. There is a circle of life that you can see very clearly from this end of the spectrum. I felt it very strongly when i welcomed my children to this world, and now I feel like I am giving my husband back. The world will go on without him, and eventually without me, I am sure of it every time I look in my children's faces.

As I write this I am siting in a hospice house with my husband, who is dying from stage IV colon cancer. I wept the first time I heard this song. Our grown children and their children are gathering now, and we will all be together within a few days to say goodbye. For some reason I had to hear this song again - and I wept again. There is a circle of life that you can see very clearly from this end of the spectrum. I felt it very strongly when i welcomed my children to this world, and now I feel like I am giving my husband back. The world will go on without him, and eventually without me, I am sure of it every time I look in my children's faces.

Reason:

susanbon August 23, 2011 Link
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@susanb

@susanb Appreciate it was 3+ years ago, wanted to say sorry for your loss.

rtrton June 05, 2015
+2
Song Meaning
this should clear it up....basically, when one life ends another is beginning Lead singer Ed Kowalczyk said, "I wrote 'Lightning Crashes' on an acoustic guitar in my brother's bedroom shortly before I had moved out of my parents' house and gotten my first place of my own." Kowalczyk says that the video for "Lightning Crashes" has caused misinterpretations of the song's intent. While the clip is shot in a home environment, I envisioned it taking place in a hospital, where all these simultaneous deaths and births are going on, one family mourning the loss of a woman while a screaming baby emerges from a young mother in another room. Nobody's dying in the act of childbirth, as some viewers think. What you're seeing is actually a happy ending based on a kind of transference of life.[citation needed]

this should clear it up....basically, when one life ends another is beginning Lead singer Ed Kowalczyk said, "I wrote 'Lightning Crashes' on an acoustic guitar in my brother's bedroom shortly before I had moved out of my parents' house and gotten my first place of my own." Kowalczyk says that the video for "Lightning Crashes" has caused misinterpretations of the song's intent. While the clip is shot in a home environment, I envisioned it taking place in a hospital, where all these simultaneous deaths and births are going on, one family mourning the loss of a woman while a screaming baby emerges from a young mother in another room. Nobody's dying in the act of childbirth, as some viewers think. What you're seeing is actually a happy ending based on a kind of transference of life.[citation needed]

Reason:

Sonvyaon April 19, 2013 Link
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@Sonvya
+1
General Comment
i agree with you completely gage. this is one song that i never get sick of and never will.when i listen to it, i just get this feeling of peace and i just sit there (usually pretty baked) and just think about everything

i agree with you completely gage. this is one song that i never get sick of and never will.when i listen to it, i just get this feeling of peace and i just sit there (usually pretty baked) and just think about everything

Reason:

zekey babyon January 31, 2002 Link
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@zekey baby
+1
General Comment
This is dedicated to a woman who was a friend of some of the band members who died in a car accident. THe song is about a mother dying in childbirth and the other is about the child dying. Although that is not how Barbara Lewis died, the song is for her. God BLess

This is dedicated to a woman who was a friend of some of the band members who died in a car accident. THe song is about a mother dying in childbirth and the other is about the child dying. Although that is not how Barbara Lewis died, the song is for her. God BLess

Reason:

schuttfaceon April 14, 2002 Link
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@schuttface

Actually you're a little off. only one person dies (the old woman). The baby lives. It's about a woman giving birth in a hospital and down the hall at the same time an old woman was dying.

Lightning crashes, a new mother cries(child birth is painful)
Her placenta falls to the floor
The angel opens her eyes(baby is the "angel", opening its eyes for the first time.)
The confusion sets in before the doctor can even close the door(I believe confusion is used to illustrate the struggle for life i explain that more later. also could mean not the babies struggle but the old woman's but I think it refers to their simaltanious struggle to live as the baby is beig born starting its life the old woman is dying and life is endeing)

Lightning crashes( could be metaphorical as in to say in a instant), an old mother dies(old mother meaning a older woman not the New mother or young woman becoming a parent who was mentioned in the first verse)
Her intentions fall to the floor
The angel closes her eyes(the angel this time refers to the old woman who has just died.)
The confusion that was hers belongs now, to the baby down the hall(confusion is to mean life. the struggle also could mean the fight to live. this verse says earlier her intentions fall to the floor she intended to live but she didn't she died the baby down the hall is the baby from the first verse who also is fighting to live as it takes its very first breath.)

Oh now feel it comin' back again
Like a rollin' thunder chasing the wind
Forces pullin' from the center of the earth again
I can feel it(I think the songs hook is describing crossing over or the feeling of life happening around you birth and death, begining and endings etc).

Lightning crashes, a new mother cries(this time tears of joy)
This moment she's been waiting for(shes hold ing/meeting her child after the 9 month journey)
The angel opens her eyes (baby opens her eyes and sees her mom)
Pale blue colored iris, presents the circle (the babies blue eyes metaphorically represent the circle of life, a never ending cycle of beginings and ends recycled.)
And puts the glory out to hide, hide

tuchesuavaeon September 24, 2009

Well I think your right. This song could be about the circle of life.

mrwrangon December 30, 2009

i always thought it was about the cycle of life and agree with tuchesuavae cause thats what i always thought this song was about :)

leytonloveron April 23, 2010
+1
General Comment
I agree with notperfect. The baby doesn't die. It is new life being brought forth into the world while an old one is being taken. I actually did this song for a project in high school ^_^ We had to analyze songs. How easy and fun!

I agree with notperfect. The baby doesn't die. It is new life being brought forth into the world while an old one is being taken. I actually did this song for a project in high school ^_^ We had to analyze songs. How easy and fun!

Reason:

Katydidon May 09, 2002 Link
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@Katydid

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Lightning Crashes

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