How many lights do you see?
How many lights do you see?

There's one to say that night has come
And there's one that guards this jagged shore
And there's one to call the children home
And there's one to light the path they take

How many lights do you see?
How many lights do you see?

There's one to keep the shadows off
And there's one that tells me she got home
And there's one to read his novel by
And there's one that warms this dreary room

And there's one to watch the baby sleep
And there's one to count the blinking stars
And there's one that I just can't forget
And there's one that I remember, too

How many lights do you see?
How many lights do you see?

There's one that waits for closing time
And there's one that gets left on all night
And there's one that marks the western sky
And it shines down on the quiet street

And there's one that floods the darker parts
And there's one that hurts my tired eyes
And there's one that says she's not asleep
And there's one that waits for her to wake

How many lights do you see?
How many lights do you see?

There is one that spills out on the beach
And it sparkles on the jetting rocks
And there is one that waits for tired ships
That sleep within this tired port



Lyrics submitted by PLANES

Track duration: 03:31


How Many Lights Do You See? song meanings
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13 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:aw, yesterday was his birthday. I love Conor with all my heart. He's a great poet.
    Flag ronmascaraon February 16, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song's so nice, i wish i could hear it right now. It's tearing me.
    Flag Si_dufferson August 27, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:one of my friends is a photographer, and she is doing a project in correspondance for "i must belong somewhere" and trying to photograph each of the items in the song.

    i think it'd be neat to do that with this song, especially the way lights are hard to capture. the way that can be too bright, or glare, and distort the picture. i think i would like to do that very much.
    Flag blueoftheskyon May 26, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I can't stand this song.
    Flag cheimatophobiaon March 23, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Amazing song...
    I love listening to this as I drift off to sleep.
    His voice sounds very hypnotic in this song.
    I agree with swanstreet on that Conor has managed to grasp how everyone has a different form of light...
    Flag anaesthetiseon August 11, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:im sorry but this album is pretty bad, i love bright eyes, but this album is not good, there are a few good ones, but its still a bad album
    Flag fevers + mirrorson February 24, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:very young conor.

    he still has an amazing perspective in life.

    he knows people well.
    Flag seashell shipson February 10, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:he has taken something we see every day/night something very simple and made it really in depth very clever.and theres one that tells me she got home favourite bit!i love everything he does collection of songs was a very good album and i really like how the recording was really shitty conors friend complained about it i think it gave more real feeling to the whole album
    Flag you will you willon January 17, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I love these lyrics... the way Conor talks about lights in terms of what they mean to different people. "how many lights do you see? there is one that spills out on the beach and it sparkles on the jetting rocks and there is one that waits for tired ships that sleep within this tired port." Wow.
    Flag swanstreeton May 21, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:a collection of songs is the best. this song is good but not the best.
    Flag a subtle allegoryon May 16, 2004   Link

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