When the Lights Go Off
Unveiling the Shadows: Confronting the Silent Pain
Lyrics
Iʼm so sick of always hiding the truth
I'm tired of constantly concealing the truth.
We all know someone who has dealt with abuse
We all have acquaintances who have faced abuse.
And thereʼs no way we can let it slide
We cannot ignore or overlook the issue.
Oh hey, whatʼs that another bruise to hide?
Reference to hiding physical injuries.
Oh itʼs nothing, I just fell, and if I talk they could spend the night in the cells
Downplaying injuries to avoid legal consequences.
And when they get out thereʼs a price on my head, Iʼll take a few small knocks not to
Accepting minor harm to avoid a more severe outcome.
end up dead
Fearing retaliation, even to the point of risking harm.
So let me tell you loveʼs a dangerous thing
Love can be perilous, masking the darker side of a person.
‘Cause loveʼll hide a side of someone and bring you peace, when all theyʼll bring is
Love may provide a false sense of peace despite underlying pain.
pain
Being unfairly blamed for the situation.
You get the blame
Expressing the undeserved blame received.
So when they tell you that you ainʼt worth a thing
Challenging the notion of worthlessness imposed by others.
But in your mind you can change them to bring you comfort
Seeking comfort in the hope of changing the abuser.
Trust me theyʼll never change
Doubting the possibility of genuine change in the abuser.
They stay the same
Emphasizing the consistent, unchanging nature of the abuser.
It makes me sick to think that when you look at their face you donʼt see the person
Discrepancy between the perceived and actual identity of the abuser.
that I see
Not recognizing the true self of the person facing abuse.
Iʼve seen you cower in fear when they walk too near
Witnessing fear and submission in the face of the abuser.
Now itʼs about time we get ‘em out of here
Advocating for the removal of the abuser from the situation.
Iʼm so sick of always hiding the truth
Repetition of the desire to reveal the truth.
We all know someone who has dealt with abuse
Reiteration of the prevalence of abuse in society.
And thereʼs no way we can let it slide
Emphasizing the necessity of addressing abuse.
Oh hey, whatʼs that another bruise to hide?
Reference to hiding additional injuries.
Oh itʼs nothing, I just fell, and if I talk they could spend the night in the cells
Repetition of downplaying injuries for legal reasons.
And when they get out thereʼs a price on my head, Iʼll take a few small knocks not to
Acknowledging the potential consequences of speaking out.
end up dead
Accepting minor harm to avoid a more severe outcome.
Youʼll never see that side of them
Undisclosed aspects of the abuser only visible in the dark.
(No never in the daylight)
Highlighting the concealment of the abuser's dark side during the day.
Youʼll never see that side of them
Reiterating the hidden nature of the abuser's true self.
(No never in the sunshine)
Stressing the secrecy surrounding the abuser's darker side.
And Iʼll always miss that side of you
Expressing a longing for a lost, genuine aspect of a person.
That they took away
Referring to a part of the individual taken away by the abuser.
It only happened the once and yeah sure I was drunk, man it was all my fault ‘cause
Justifying a traumatic event as a one-time occurrence caused by alcohol.
I talk too much. Thatʼs right, blame yourself, ‘cause they treat you so well they just
Encouraging self-blame due to the seemingly good treatment received.
change when the light goes off
Attributing the change in behavior to the absence of light.
They all change when the lights go…
Repeating the idea that individuals transform negatively when the lights go off.
Ainʼt it funny that we use that excuse?
Commenting on the ironic use of the "lights off" excuse.
Only when someone mentions abuse
Highlighting the tendency to discuss abuse only when prompted.
I say we talk about it like it goes
Suggesting a need to openly address and challenge victim-blaming.
We blame the victims and it really shows
Criticizing societal blame placed on victims of abuse.
This just canʼt go on
Conveying a sense of urgency to end the cycle of abuse.
Comment