Life isn't easy from the singular side
Down in the hole some emotions are hard to hide
It's your decision, it's the chance that you take
It's on your head, it's a habit that's hard to break

Do you need a friend, would you tell no lies
Would you take me in, are you lonely in the dark
In the dark
In the dark
In the dark

You never listen to the voices inside
They fill your ears as you run to a place to hide
You're never sure if the illusion is real
You pinch yourself but the memories are all you feel

Can you break away from your alibies
Can you make a play, will you meet me in the dark
In the dark
In the dark
In the dark
In the dark
In the dark, ah ah ah

Don'tcha need me, hey, hey
Don'tcha need me, oh yea
Don'tcha need me, hey, hey
Don'tcha need me, oh yea

You take no interest, no opinion's to dear
You make the rounds and you try to be so sincere
You guard your hopes and you pocket your dreams
You'd trade it all to avoid an unpleasant scene

Can you face the fire when you see me there
Can you feel the fire, will you love me in the dark
In the dark
In the dark
In the dark
In the dark
In the dark
In the dark
In the dark
In the dark, ah ah ah ah


Lyrics submitted by Major Valor

In The Dark Lyrics as written by Billy Squier

Lyrics © DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

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In The Dark song meanings
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10 Comments

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  • +2
    General CommentBilly Squier is criminally underrated and this is my personal favorite out of all of his music. This really is a great song both musically and lyrically, just like meaningmasta said. It gets me literally every time I listen to it and it NEVER gets old.

    Seriously, Billy Squier is possibly THE most underrated musician of all time. Listening to this and plenty of other songs, it boggles my mind that he never hit it way bigger than he did. Sure, I wouldn't expect him to be ranked up there with bands like Led Zeppelin but I think he at least deserves to be as popular as bands like Def Leppard or Motley Crue, as he's honestly a much better artist than either of them.
    The Firmon June 04, 2009   Link
  • +2
    My InterpretationThis song seems to be about a lover who keeps their relationship a secret. They are taking a "risk" by being involved in a "habit that's hard to break". I'm going to theorize that the relationship probably involves both sex and drugs.

    They seem to fear an unpleasant scene more than they do a life of loneliness as their life is "singular". However, when "down in the hole" (possibly the "rabbit hole", a reference to "Alice in Wonderland" and thus a drug reference) they have a hard time suppressing those things within themselves that they try to keep hidden from others, like their loneliness and lust. The altered state is causing them to lose a little control and become less inhibited. The possible drug reference is further reinforced by the suggestion of hallucination "You're never sure if the illusion is real, You pinch yourself".

    If my theory about the drug reference has any validity to it, then it seems that the subject, being such a guarded person, would probably want to avoid others knowing about what they're doing and WHO they are doing it with. They would be embarrassed to be associated with them publicly. Meanwhile, the artist seems to point out constant facade the subject puts on around others with the lines "You take no interest, no opinion's too dear, You make the rounds and you try to be so sincere."

    The artist asks the subject do they need someone they can trust ("who would tell you no lies"), can they stop making up excuses why they can't ("alibis"), "Will you love me in the dark?".

    The line "will you face the fire when you see me there, will you feel the fire" seems to be more of a reference to passion/lust than it is to pain/persecution. So I think the artist is asking the subject if they will succumb to their desires if no one will know but them.
    Tearlockon March 06, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General CommentI'm afraid.
    Thia007on December 01, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General CommentBest song of Billy Squier's, and no comments?
    Pink_Floyd_fanon February 08, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Commentgreat song, musically and lyrically. billy squier had some great songs, talented, but he is underrated these days.
    meaningmastaon March 07, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Commentyes he is underrated and it piss me off ,fuck them he's very great
    Wicked133on September 06, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI've heard this song many times over the years, but I listened to it recently and was really amazed by the depth of it. Like so much of good art, it is meant to be perceived in different ways. In one sense, it really touches the heart of existential isloation, a compelling invitation to leave the tragic world of human avoidance and find something real in the unknown and uncertain. Just beautiful, the passion and desperation in his voice, really good stuff.
    Robstaon October 23, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General CommentIn the dark...with dark meaning "secret". This is about a proposition of some sort and it's secret. But someone is guarded, timid or scared and has secrets and is afraid or fearful of being exposed. So they will continue even if they have to "trade it all to avoid an unpleasant scene"?

    Being challenged to do something in the dark (secret)? Will they do it and face the fire?

    It's pretty deep....will come back to this one.

    He could come out with this now and it be 100 X's better than the crap out today. Awesome vocals and lyrics...
    soulfreedomon August 22, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My InterpretationRecently rediscovered this gem after growing up in the 80s. Billy is way underrated. My take on this, my fave song of his: it's about the dual nature in all of us, the light side that we try to present versus the dark. There's a dark side that we all have, but we try to keep it in the dark.
    DaveInSFon February 21, 2016   Link
  • 0
    General Commentafter years of hearing this,and the emotion he puts in it, aligned with his image and other songs, I consider that it might mean he's gay. In the DARK?(closet) and this is not judgmental, for I have my own 'in the dark' encounters from time to time
    david16123on May 03, 2016   Link

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