Lyric discussion by bravely 

Cover art for Brill Bruisers lyrics by New Pornographers, The

Well, I've been trying to post the correct lyrics for a few weeks with no success, so, for anyone interested in knowing what's actually being sung:

Out on the waves, Over the railing, asking the crowd To send you back To stage instead of sailing away They* left behind, looking for searchlights leading the charge The mass appeal To brilliant bruisers taking the wheel

And the sea was all lighters, it was all lighters It’s how we know, now, to never go back

Like a grenade I have mere seconds before the bang Wanted to keep My job as the leader of your gang Wanted the hearts Of brilliant bruisers, where do we find them? Until we do, we’ll have to drift until we divine them

And the sea was all lighters, it was all lighters It’s how we know, now, to never go back

With the junkyard science To hang on We do a bang on impression Of the young sorrow It’s tied in, the firing of the sirens Going from fighting, to crying, to rising star dying From its* own virus It’s tied in, the firing of the sirens

And the sea was all lighters, it was all lighters And now we know how to never go back And the sea was all lighters, it was all lighters That’s how we know, now, to never go back

*not 100% certain of these words

@bravely You are right about it being lighters. I heard AC Newman say it in an interview. It is about looking out into the crowd at a rock show and seeing a sea of lighters.