The runway rushed up at him as he felt the wheels touch down
He stood out on the blacktop and took a taxi into town
He got out down on Main Street and went into a local bar
He bought a drink and found a seat in a corner off the dark
Well she called up her mama to make sure the kids were out of the house
She checked herself out in the dining room mirror
And undid an extra button on her blouse
He felt her lying next to him, the clock said 4:00 am
He was staring at the ceiling
He couldn't move his hands

CHORUS
Oh mama mama mama come quick
I've got the shakes and I'm gonna be sick
Throw your arms around me in the cold dark night
Hey now mama don't shut out the light
Don't you shut out the light
Don't you shut out the light
Don't you shut out the light
Don't you shut out the light

Well on his porch they stretched a banner that said "Johnny Welcome Home"
Bobby pulled his Ford out of the garage and they polished up the chrome
His mama said "Johnny oh Johnny, I'm so glad to have you back with me"
His pa said he was sure they'd give him his job back down at the factory

CHORUS

Well deep in a dark forest, a forest filled with rain
Beyond a stretch of Maryland pines there's a river without a name
In the cold black water Johnson Lineir stands
He stares across the lights of the city and dreams of where he's been

CHORUS



Lyrics submitted by oofus

Track duration: 03:51


Shut Out the Light song meanings
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6 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:I agree with pencilneckedgeek. In Springsteen's concert Breathless in Paris in 1985, he says that this song is about "leaving home and not being able to find your way back". It's about a Vietnam vet who came back, but realizes his life is not there anymore. He's still shaken by Vietnam like most vets.
    Flag ddlikens12on April 26, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The title and chorus also evokes Shakespeare's Othello

    "Put out the light, and then put out the light:
    If I quench thee, thou flaming minister,
    I can again thy former light restore,"

    Both ahve themes of anger and betrayal...
    Flag virtualwillon February 06, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I reckon this is all about...
    A vet who comes back, but see's his wife with someone else, hense her undoing an extra button on her blouse and checking the kids are out the house. He's see's this from a dark corner of the bar so she doesn't know. He wanted her to lie next to him at night and be there, but she isn't there and he is up all night. So he goes to his family, who are all happy, but don't realise how much pain he is in.
    So yeahhh..
    Flag MoonPigon January 17, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Yes, this is a vet who has returned but cannot leave Vietnam behind. At night he gets the shakes and nightmares of war, and begs for the lights to stay on so as not to encounter these visions and memories.
    Flag tjtroson June 12, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I have a completely different interpretation of this. I think it's about a vet who makes it home, but his mind is still in Vietnam. He's still haunted by what he's seen, what he's done. He can't connect to his wife or his family. In the end, he's removed himself from everyone and he "dreams of where he's been."
    Flag PencilNeckedGeekon June 22, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Great song. It was sort of the alter ego to Born in the USA. In this song, most likely occurring only in the vet's fantasies, he returns home and everything goes the way he wants it to.

    Contrast with Born in the USA where the hiring man says "son, if it were up to me."
    Flag Pirtyfool22on May 07, 2007   Link

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