City of Light

When I was a young boy,
She used to come to me at night
And wait by my window,
Just begging to come inside.
Now, ever since I was eighteen,
She's been trying to run my life.
When she called me to go to her,
There was no place I could hide.

At the first signs of winter,
I went back to be inside.
Arms reached out to hold me,
And I shunned them with denial,
Said, "I never cared for you.
I was always doing fine.
Why did you come back here
If you knew just what you'd find?"

So I ran through the city at night.
The sound of her voice
Proved a haunting disguise.
Soon I was lost -- caught up in the lights.
And if I felt empty, at least I was high.

Oh, city of light,
City of light,
Oh, city of light.

And in the morning, I felt her breath
Hot against my neck.
Mostly, it never bothered me,
Though sometimes, I'll admit
The feeling, all but surrounding:
I let it come to this.
Darling, do what you promised me
And don't act like you forget.

So I'll run through the city at night.
The sidewalks were empty,
The streets were on fire.
She filled me up -- new kind of desire.
Though I was helpless,
I sure felt alive.

Oh, city of light,
City of light,
Oh, city of light.

Now, if all that defines me
Is a place where I welcome death,
Let my family behold me
When those streetlights came possessed.
The hold that they held on me,
Those nights I wrestled with,
Maybe would finally be
Someplace we both could rest.

So she danced while I covered my eyes;
Made her feel safe
To pretend I was blind.
I had a place
I would go in my mind.
There, you were sober and able to cry.

City of light,
City of light,

You've got some nerve,
Coming back in my life.

City of light,
City of light,

They strung you up here
And left you to die.

Oh, city of light,
City of light,
Oh, city of light.