In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Listen to me baby, you've got to understand
You're old enough to learn the makings of a man
Listen to me baby, it's time to settle down
Am I asking too much for you stick around?
Every boy wants a girl he can trust to the very end
Baby that's you, won't you stay? But 'till then,
When I see lips begging to be kissed, I can't stop (stop) I can't stop myself
Lightning striking again (and again, and again, and again, and a-)
Lightning striking again (and again, and again, and again, and a-)
Nature's taken over my one-track mind
Believe it or not, you're in my heart all the time
All the girls are saying that you'll end up a fool
For the time being, baby, live by my rules
When I settle down, I want one baby on my mind
Forgive and forget, and I'll make up for all lost time
If she's got to get out fine, then she's on my mind
I can't stop (stop) I can't stop myself
Lightning striking again (and again, and again, and again, and a-)
Lightning striking again (and again, and again, and again, and a-)
There's a chapel in the pines waiting for us, around the bend
Picture in your mind love forever. But 'till then,
When I see lips begging to be kissed, I can't stop (stop) I can't stop myself
Lightning striking again (and again, and again, and again, and a-)
Lightning striking again (and again, and again, and again, and a-)
Lightning striking again (and again, and again, and again, and a-)
Lightning striking again (and again, and again, and again, and a-)
Lightning striking again (and again, and again, and again, and a-)
Lightning striking again (and again, and again, and again, and a-)
Lightning striking again (and again, and again, and again, and a-)
You're old enough to learn the makings of a man
Listen to me baby, it's time to settle down
Am I asking too much for you stick around?
Every boy wants a girl he can trust to the very end
Baby that's you, won't you stay? But 'till then,
When I see lips begging to be kissed, I can't stop (stop) I can't stop myself
Lightning striking again (and again, and again, and again, and a-)
Lightning striking again (and again, and again, and again, and a-)
Nature's taken over my one-track mind
Believe it or not, you're in my heart all the time
All the girls are saying that you'll end up a fool
For the time being, baby, live by my rules
When I settle down, I want one baby on my mind
Forgive and forget, and I'll make up for all lost time
If she's got to get out fine, then she's on my mind
I can't stop (stop) I can't stop myself
Lightning striking again (and again, and again, and again, and a-)
Lightning striking again (and again, and again, and again, and a-)
There's a chapel in the pines waiting for us, around the bend
Picture in your mind love forever. But 'till then,
When I see lips begging to be kissed, I can't stop (stop) I can't stop myself
Lightning striking again (and again, and again, and again, and a-)
Lightning striking again (and again, and again, and again, and a-)
Lightning striking again (and again, and again, and again, and a-)
Lightning striking again (and again, and again, and again, and a-)
Lightning striking again (and again, and again, and again, and a-)
Lightning striking again (and again, and again, and again, and a-)
Lightning striking again (and again, and again, and again, and a-)
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
The lyrics for this song are way ahead of even our own time. You see, Herr Klaus knew that when you listen to this song you'll say to yourself, "Crikey that was off the deep end."
But what you don't know, and what Herr Klaus damn well knew is that you'll tell one of your friends, maybe even a loved one, that they have "just got to check this out, it's way out there." By the time you show them it and the song is over, it's too late. The next day you find yourself telling more people about this song, you even catch yourself singing this song in the bathroom when nobody is around, "LIGHTNING STRIKING AGAIN."
You'll wiki Klaus Nomi, read his backstory, dig up pictures of him, and even pirate some mp3s of him off google. Before you know it you've already ordered his self titled vinyl off e-bay, "LIGHTNING STRIKING AGAIN" you sing to yourself with satisfaction.
Then it hits you, you're completely and utterly obsessed with Herr Klaus. You have his entire back catalog, his greatest hits album, you're even thinking of dressing up as him for Halloween. The best part is, all of your friends have all doing the same.
It's not until when Halloween strolls around do you realize what has happened. The 31st of October has turned it's self into the ending from V for Vendetta, except instead of Guy Fawkes masks, everyone looks like a rejected character from a Tim Burton film. And when that day finally comes, then and only will Herr Klaus come back to life. And after all the dust settles and the world is once blessed with "that weird looking opera singer in some punk band seen hanging out with David Bowie, what was his name, Claude Neon?" The only thing you will have to say for yourself is "LIGHTNING STRIKING AGAIN!"
You have those jerks over at Adult Swim to thank for letting the Venture Bros. Episode 12, "Showdown at Cremation Creek," make it through the editing process and whoever it was that uploaded the episodes to You Tube to thank. Seriously, after you watch the music video for this song on You Tube, look for it, you'll die of laughter, that is, if you manage to stop singing.
"LIGHTNING STRIKING AGAIN!"
This is so absolutely true! It all started by just having to happen upon the documentary on him, NOMI SONG on Netflix.. and after watching that and being blown away by this amazing man, like you said - "And then it hits you, you're completely and utterly obsessed with Herr Klaus." I then started looking for all his videos on youtube, got two of his CD's so far, but will get more... everything really I'm sure.. started telling my friends about him and pointing them to his videos.. yes! Have even thought of how I could dress like him for Halloween or other costumed events.. to be a sort of feminine version of him.. which would probably not be too difficult since his look was so androgynous and universal (he did not discriminate in his expressino) and let's what else.. well, I think since discovering him, it may not be too much, my life has changed.. he has so inspired me in ways I cannot even say... yes, "LIGHTNING STRKES AGAIN AND AGAIN AND.." - the lighnting of inspiration and hope, which be brought to a dying culture.. sounds like too much? I don't know, not to those who really love him.. right? And with respect to those who said he wasn't quite ahead of his time in doing this song, well, even if it was a cover, just the fact that he did it again and in his own unique way, says a lot.. long live Klaus! <br />
Klaus Nomi didn't write Lightning Strikes. It's a cover of Lou Christie.
So, lyrically, he is not ahead of his time at all here. However, there's no doubt that Klaus was ahead of his time. Just not here ^_^
As far as the interpretation of this song, well as far as Klaus Nomi doing it, I think first of all, that perhaps Klaus was trying to revive the old 60's music and update it in a New Wave fashion to revive the disco dust that was settling on the 70's music scene which the 'new wavers and punks' abhorred.. Klaus was always about doing something different 'breaking the rules' as he put it himself.. originally as the song was done by Lou Christie in 1965, it was obviously about the 'lightning of love' that strikes one... but going deeper than that, I would almost say that "Lightning Strikes" could be about the 'lightning of inspiration' and that creative spark that gets drab things going again.. I think when Klaus sang it, that meaning came alive within the song.. thanks for reading!
heartbeats_xxx is absolutely right. i love klaus numi. what an amazing voice.
i think that lou christie was singing about his undying love for a woman and that he wants to spend the rest of his life with her. he wants to get married and settle down, even when she is having doubts and he just can't stop himself from kissing her of proclamimng his devotion and complete clarity that she will be his wife. he just sounds mighty smitten.