City of Electric Light

"I thought you were the moon in the sky, But it turns out you were just a street light"

His initial impression of someone was that this person was a natural, down to earth, beautiful person. He then figures out that this person is actually a synthetic and fake person. Humans create street lights. This person was created, shaped and molded by others... and hasn't their own impression on anything. He is disappointed in this person, let down.

That is my take on it anyhow.

Similar to tifnz's interpretation, this is what the song means to me:

She was just playing pretend, trying to fulfill his expectations of a perfect girl. Eventually, her true characteristics and personality re-surfaces. Bit by bit he realizes that his dream girl is actually drastically different from who she initially seemed to be, leaving him heart broken, and at lost of what to do with the relationship they've built together for so long.

"but it turned out you were just a pair of eyes..." Oosh.

Imaginary song :) Reminds me of my city and a few people in the past. Can't stop wishing things would turn out different. Anyway, another beautiful song anyone could relate to (I guess).

This strikes me more as the definition of infatuation. The moment in a budding relationship when you tend to idolize the unknown. You give your new love an almost god-like status "I thought you were the moon in the sky." The intensity tends to come down a notch, "but it turned out you were just a street light." Flagging them a more finite idea, more human, "burning." Identifying them as a more down to earth and approachable entity, while the same time still a mystery, something that can't be entirely understood "Lurking like a creature in the night", "looking like a city of electric light"

who would you rather be in love with? The moon, or the city?

had to log on just to applaud clemstonsheets. I agree with your definition.

The question you ask in the end - "who would you rather be in love with? The moon, or the city?"

very poignant. Lots of artists and writers mention love of cities and love of nature goes back to the roots of man. Both loves are very true and pure but drastically different. I remember the first time I went to NYC. Flying in at night reminded me of this song - the lights spilling out from the city made me think of Chad Vangaalen's lyrics - this song in particular. Cities have a soul and a life of their own... Personally, I'd rather love a city than the moon because the city you can join in with and be part of.

All of that was said to say that I believe the greatest part of the relationship is when the god status fades into the familiar comfort of electric lights. It's a whole new period of rediscovery in the relationship at that point. The first initial letdown gives way to a new love when you realize that they didn't come down, but you rose to them. Now he is a god as well - "we connect the stars every single one" he's discovering new power and expresses a desire to share it with them. Even the music at this point seems innocent again and pure before it flares with the last verse.

Plus the whole idea of saying that she was just a street light then saying she was burning like a whole city of electric lights and that they connect all the lights to hang like the sun - the sun is obviously more powerful than the moon and he mixes that imagery with the familiarity of a city... It seems like the distant and cold moon has grown to a close life giving warmth.

Just my thoughts, but this makes me think of something growing and exploding into light and life like the rivers of golden cellophane that flow from NYC not something dying down and fading.