This story's missing a wishing well
No mirror to show and tell
No kiss that can break the spell
I'm falling asleep

Every prince is a fantasy
The witch is inside of me
Her poison will wash away
The memory

We kill the lights and put on a show
It's all a lie but you'd never know
Your star will shine and then it will fall
And you will forget it all

And after midnight we're all the same
No glass shoe to bring us fame
Nobody to take the blame
We're falling apart

Every story's a waiting game
A flower for every name
Their colors are paling
In the falling rain

We kill the lights and put on a show
It's all a lie but you'd never know
Your star will shine and then it will fall
And you will forget it all

Now you know it's so much better to pretend
There's something waiting for you here
Every letter that you wrote
Has found its way to me, my dear

You can make believe that
What you say is what I want to hear
I'll keep dancing through this beautiful
Delusional career

Faking every tear
Looking like a compromised suicide
Keeping all my dreams alive


Lyrics submitted by GabrielleS

Kill the Lights Lyrics as written by Michael Rainbow Michael Hanmer

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Kill The Lights song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

33 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +5
    General Comment

    Its pretty obvious, well, by my perspective. Fairy tales tell wonderful stories, but they're simply lies. They are usually about beautiful people who from a somewhat tragic beginning fall into a magical trap of paradise being either marrying a "prince" of one's dream, or something like that... But I think the lesson in this song is to ignore trying to mimic or copy a life or story that interests you and just try to make it your own way, or "be yourself"? I know I had something good to say, but that's how I see it. Perhaps you see yourself as a person in a favorite fantasy, but accept the fact you aren't that person. You got something more creative/interesting to explore. "Kill the lights", in my opinion, is like being a actor on stage and you just intentionally broke the lights at top of you, resulting the theater to go black, but the show you were trying to pretend is not on anymore...the "stage" is now yours, and you could do whatever you want without really seeing others (being people or characters) to distract you. XP

    torturedsoulon August 05, 2007   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    This is my intrepertation is in the []:

    This story's missing a wishing well [ the world is missing something ] No mirror to show and tell [ there's no alternate earth to show us the true perspective of things. ] No kiss that can break the spell [ Nothing can make us realize that not everything's good ] I'm falling asleep [ I'm ignoring reality and slipping into my own perfect world ]

    Every Prince is a fantasy [ every male we "love" is a fantasy to us ] The witch is inside of me [ I'm cold hearted ] The poison will wash away the memory

    We kill the lights And put on a show [ We act like nothings wrong and we shut people out. ] It's all a lie But you'd never know [ everyone hides they're true emotions very well ] The star will shine And then it will fall And you will forget it all [ nothing good will last, but you'll shut that thought out ]

    And after midnight We're all the same [ We're all the same (pretty slef explanitory) ] No glass shoe to bring us fame Nobody to take the blame We're falling apart [ your act will falter and someone will see the true you. ]

    Every story's a waiting game [ we're all waiting for something ] A flower for every name Their colors are paling in the falling rain [ the flower represents life and the rain represents death, so if the flowers color is paling that means death is getting closer ]

    We kill the lights And put on a show [ We act like nothings wrong and we shut people out. ] It's all a lie But you'd never know [ everyone hides they're true emotions very well ] The star will shine And then it will fall And you will forget it all [ nothing good will last, but you'll shun that thought ]

    Now you know it's so much better to pretend There's something waiting for you here [ it's better to act like death is waiting to claim us ] Every letter that you wrote Has found its way to me my dear [ I know how you fell and what you're thinking ] You can make believe that what you say Is what I want to hear [ anything you say isn't what i want to hear because it's all a lie ]

    I'll keep dancing through this beautiful, delusional career. [ I'll keep acting like everyone else ] Faking every tear Looking like a comprimise suicide Keeping all my dreams alive [ Faking death and sadness, but truely know what you want. ]

    Anyways, that the way i iview it. your idea is probably different. Just thought everyone would like to know my view on this song. I've loved this song & The Birthday Masscre ever since I heard them on VampireFreaks. n_n

    ToyHeartson October 04, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I think its 'glass shoe', not 'gusher'

    kittylickson January 12, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    and I'm pretty sure its 'the poison will wash away' instead of 'the boys in the washery'

    haha I'm only realizing these because I've had the song on loop for the past two days :x

    kittylickson January 13, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    ^^ Ooh, I agree. It didn't really sound like 'gusher' but I couldn't figure out what it was. Glass shoe fits so much better too!

    mysweetsanityon January 13, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    this song always reminds me of a person riding a unicorn.....

    absolutely no idea why lmao.

    dustybreezeon May 06, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I believe this song has to do with coming of age and the discovery that life can be very cruel at times when it turns it's back on us. the verses:

    This story's missing a wishing well No mirror to show and tell No kiss that can break the spell I'm falling asleep

    I believe signifies a depression or saddened state of mind that the singer is slipping into because not so great things are starting to happen to her and there is "No kiss that can break the spell" and no "wishing well" as there usually is in fairtytails to save the main character(s).

    The next set of verses goes on to say:

    Every Prince is a fantasy The witch is inside of me The poison will wash away the memory

    The prince could stand for a lost love that the singer realized was nothing but a fraud and added to her realization of the cruelty of life. The which is inside of me signifies a sort of anger or depressive state that is overtaking the singer and causing her to lose her senses and causing her memories to be misconstued in her mind.

    We kill the lights And put on a show It's all a lie But you'd never know The star will shine And then it will fall And you will forget it all

    We kill the lights and put on a show signifies that life must go on and that everyone sooner or later realizes this and bury their pain to continue their show or their life. However the pain leaves scars and doesnt really ever go away and the show put on by people is nothing but a lie to keep people from seeing their pain. The star will shine and then it will fall is talking about the stages of life again in that we shine through our youth and are higly active however no matter what kind of mark we leave in time we are forgotten by those around us sooner or later.

    And after midnight (at the end of our life) We're all the same (we are all in the same position) No glass shoe to bring us fame (we must all work for our place in life there is no shortcut) Nobody to take the blame (no one else will take the blame for what we have done wrong in our lives and we are responsible) We're falling apart (every second we waste is a second closer to death)

    Every story's a waiting game (we do not know what cards we will be dealt in life so we are always wondering what is coming next) A flower for every name (we all start out with so much opportunity) Their colors are paling (innocence and opportunity are slowly rotting away as we grow older and more problems get in the way) in the falling rain

    Now you know it's so much better to pretend There's something waiting for you here (its easy to pretend unrequited love can leave somewhere) Every letter that you wrote (talking to a person that loves her but that she no longer has feelings for) Has found its way to me my dear (confirming that she got the message from him) You can make believe that what you say (however she is not interested in what he has to say and their realtionship is dead) Is what I want to hear

    I'll keep dancing through this beautiful, (could have to do with the person she doesnt feel love for anymore possibly cant bring herself to tell him so she is just faking her love for him) delusional career. Faking every tear Looking like a comprimise suicide Keeping all my dreams alive (could also mean that she is continuing to pretend like her life is what it should be when in reality she is keeping her fairytale dreams alive in her head and holding on to them.)

    mattitude12341on January 12, 2009   Link
  • +1
    My Opinion

    "Every prince is a fantasy" I think that is saying that happy endings happen rarely, if at all. And not to get your hopes up about falling in love and living 'happily ever after' because it most likely wont happen.

    "The witch is inside of me The poison will wash away The memory" I think this says that eventually you will realize that its all a fantasy and that the pain will wash away all the good memories.

    "We kill the lights And put on a show It's all a lie But you'd never know" I think this part says that the person is putting on an act to win your trust over and make you think that he/she truly is in love with you, But truly they are just lying to gain your confidence.

    "The star will shine And then it will fall And you will forget it all" I think that means that they will continue to tell you that they love you and you'll remain in love with this person, Blinded still by their lies and false love.

    "And after midnight we're all the same No glass shoe to bring us fame Nobody to take the blame We're falling apart" at the end of the day you'll still remain a relationship built on lies, and nobody else can take the blame when it begins to fall apart but you.

    " Now you know it's so much better to pretend There's something waiting for you here Every letter that you wrote Has found its way to me my dear You can make believe that what you say Is what I want to hear" Even though you've started falling apart they still continue to tell you what you want to hear, still constantly lying to your face even though they know its beginning to unravel.

    "I'll keep dancing through this beautiful, delusional career Faking every tear Looking like a compromise suicide Keeping all my dreams alive" And after all of it, once they are finished using you for what ever purpose they'll break your heart and move on, continuously using people and throwing them aside as if they where useless toys.

    Well thats my opinion on what it may mean ^^

    bloodfoxon May 15, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    The first verse describes how her life is missing all the elements of a fairy tale, a fantasy. The references are: “Wishing well”: Self explanatory “Mirror to show and tell”: “Mirror Mirror on the Wall” “Kiss to break the spell”: Sleeping Beauty

    The second verse speculates that all romantic interests are fantasies (the idea that a Prince will come to our rescue), and that in reality she is the witch(the antagonist in the story).

    The Chorus seems to be an allusion to the fact that we move through life aimlessly and without meaning.

    The 3rd verse refers to the Cinderella fantasy and that it never comes true and that we always expect it to and are disappointed when it does not. There is no one to blame but ourselves for believing in this fantasy.

    The 4th verse implies that everyone is waiting for someone, something to fulfill or complete them.

    The 2nd Chorus carries the same meaning as the first.

    The final bridge/climax of the singer suggests that it’s better to pretend that there is meaning in our actions than to recognize and live with the fact that nothing matters. The singer clearly recognizes their position but consents to continue the illusion for the sake of their own fantasies and delusions.

    whit_jron December 08, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i love this song!!! i think i have a different version? (the rough mix on their myspace), in which some changes would be:

    no MIRROR to show and tell, every PRINCE is a fantasy, every storys a waiting game,

    & a few more here and there. i can't wait for the new album!!!!!

    tarelysianon January 04, 2007   Link

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

Album art
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Album art
When We Were Young
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Album art
No Surprises
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Album art
Magical
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Album art
American Town
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.