Two could be complete without the rest of the world
Two could be complete without the rest of the world
Do it for the people that have died for your sake
An entire generation that has nothing to say
How'd you make your way to me?

Oh, let's say you made a deal with me
And I got your name and your home address
Oh, you're all trashed up with your big red belt
And you almost say that you might need help
I could drop you off at the next red light
If it don't make sense or it don't feel right
All the girls could never make me love them the way I love you

Can't you see the sky is not the limit no more?
I can see the elevator crash through the floor
I can still see yesterday sailing away
Seven billion people who got nothing to say
Are you comin' on to me?

Well, I saw your face, then I heard that song
It was so inviting, it hurt my bones
Well, it looks like you but your eyes are gray
And your hair is gone but your mind's okay
Yes, I like your smile but your forehead's cold
I don't want you to be afraid and go
I would cheat and lie and steal, now I'll stay at home and kneel for you

I was waiting
For my baby to arrive
Right by my side
Oh, please, leave me alone tonight
Forget the past

Two could be complete without the rest of the world
Oh, you know I said it just to get you to laugh
Do it for the people that have died for your sake
An entire generation of entertainers to blame
The light is red, the camera's on

Get yourself a lawyer and a gun
Hate your friend's new friends like everyone
Childhood's end can be so competitive
Oh, the sky's not the limit and you're never gonna guess what is
Oh


Lyrics submitted by electricityscape

Red Light Lyrics as written by Julian Casablancas

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Red Light song meanings
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48 Comments

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  • +3
    General Comment

    i think this song is a good way to end the album..the entire album seems to go through to process of someone getting into a wild relationship (You only live once, Juicebox) then to the point when the relationship hits a rocky patch and he begins to have doubts about the whole thing (heart in a cage, Razor Blade) then realizing that the relationship issues are steming from himself and not the other person and going into a sort of depression and self examination because of it (On the Other Side).

    Vision of Division strikes me as a the time in the relationship when he is just completely fed up and is looking for little excuses to break things off (him not standing her friends)

    Ask Me Anything relates to him realizing his errors and wanting to change but not being able to find the words, or the proper way to do it.

    Electricityscape is when he is realizes that while the relationship is still salvageable the two lovers have now grown worlds apart, "i know you belong on the radio" in this song he realizes her worth and decides to save the relationship.

    i believe that killing lies is the result of his trying to mend the situation. he has now realized the flaws in the relationship but because of the way he acted earlier she does not want to cooperate resulting in the eventual break up..however now he has begun to mature and the song ends on a hopeful note as he still sees her as a friend.

    Fear of Sleep and 15 minutes i think both deal with his paranoia and the stress in his life and his need to put the past behind him even though it keeps coming back into his life.

    Ize of the World is the real turning point in the cd as it shows how much sould searching he has done. showing a more mature side to him.it is the climax of the cd and it is the point where he begins to search for the meaning of his life " how do you wake someone up from inside a dream" the first set of Ize words show what he must change about his life while the second set mark his realization that the world in general needs to mature and change from the way it is currently acting..

    Red Light is the last song and one of the best as it puts together everything from the album. he has now found someone new and instead of getting into a crazy and wild relationship like he did previously he chooses to look past her looks and sees the real person..he for the first time chooses to enter into a real relationship of respect and love etc..marking that he has truly matured hence the upbeat tempo of the song

    well i think i have blabbered enough this was just my interpretation of the cd i would like to hear what you guys think about my ideas...just be nice :)

    geo_thestrokeson January 05, 2007   Link
  • +1
    Song Meaning

    I think this song is and isn't what some of you have mentioned. But for the deeper meaning, I know that Julian does write alot of lyrics that kind of reflect whats going on in his life/with the strokes. That being said, here's what I think the song is REALLY about...

    In short, Red Light is kind of like Julian talking to the rest of the band. Kind of letting them know that he still cares for them and doesn't want anything bad to happen between them despite some of the issues they've been having.

    "Two could be complete without the rest of the world. Two could be complete without the rest of the world."<<<We can make it on our own without all this fame/publicity/partying "Do it for the people that have died for your sake. An entire generation that has nothing to say."<<<<<Let's do this for all those who've been through this before(Bands that have pushed themselves to the breaking point without realizing it)

    "How'd you make your way to me?"<<<<<Remember how we first got started?

    "Oh, let's say you made a deal with me "And I got your name and your home address."<<<<<We know each other so let's keep in touch "You're all trashed up with your big red belt. "I would almost say that you might need help."<<<<<I can tell that we're all tired from what we've done "I could drop you off at the next red light If it don't make sense or it don't feel right."<<<<<If this doesn't work out, then we can just stop and not force ourselves to go through with this

    "All the girls could never make me love them The way I love you."<<<<<All our fame couldn't keep me from loving you guys more

    "Can't you see the sky is not the limit no more? I can see the elevator crash through the floor."<<<<<Can believe we've already gone this far? "I can still see yesterday sailing away,"I still remember when we first started "Seven billion people who have nothing to say.">>>>>We've made the whole world speechless with what we've done

    "Are you coming on to me?">>>>>Is all this really working out?

    "I saw your face then I heard that song. It was so inviting it hurt my bones.">>>>>I saw how you looked but the music/fame is so tempting "Well it looks like you but your eyes are gray And your hair is gone but your minds O.K. "I like your smile but your forehead's cold.">>>>>You look okay and you seem okay but I know your not okay "I don't want you to be afraid and go.">>>>>I don't want to keep this going if it'll force us to break up.

    "I would cheat and lie and steal Now I'll stay at home and kneel for you.">>>>>With all that we've done to ourselves for the band/for each other, it's time we take a break and recover for each other

    "I was waiting For my baby to arrive Right by my side.">>>>>I was waiting for things to get better, to be how they should be.

    "Oh please leave me alone tonight... Forget the past.">>>>>I don't want this to stop, let's just forget everything we've done.

    "Two can be complete with out the rest of the world. Oh you know I said it just to get you to laugh.">>>>>It may seem impossible, but we can make it on our own" "Do it for the people that have died for your sake. An entire generation of entertainers to blame.">>>>>Let's do it for the other bands in the same position. It's those 'entertainers' who got us in this position.

    "Get yourself a lawyer and a gun.">>>>>[Reference to things ending badly] "Hate your friends's new friends like everyone.">>>>>[Reference to all the petty drama celebrities have just because they're celebrities] "Childhood's end can be so competitive.">>>>>Getting to this point can be so difficult to decide what to do

    "Oh, the sky is not the limit and you're never gonna guess what is...">>>>>We've made it this far, just wait and see what we'll do next

    DukeJCDCon April 02, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I believe its "I would cheat and lie and steal and i would stay at home and kneel for you"

    not "I was cheating lives for you I was there on the nail for you"

    Although im not sure about the part after "cheat and lie and steal"

    Also, this is my favorite song. Simply amazing.

    ilikemusikon December 07, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Yeah, I think you're right, I fixed it. And yeah, this song is awesome. Great pick for an album closer.

    electricityscapeon December 08, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Catchy and clever.. probably my favorite from FIOE. The strokes have done it again!

    analog_sexon December 31, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    at first i thought this was a sweet lil love ditty but now i'm not quite so sure.

    "two can be complete w/o the rest of the world"...awww "i just said it to get you to laugh"...huh???

    reptiliaon January 01, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    :i just said it to get u to laugh" is refering to possibly the "ARE U COMING ON TO ME" ITS NOT HOME BY THE WAY this is obviously about someone who julian just met, yet still cares deeply for. her looks n such were so inviting but getting a closer look he realized her heads on straight.he had"nothin 2 say" to make her want him but now he is willing to go that extra distance to be with her im not sure about the whole red belt thing, could have several meanings behind that. BUT i will say, "i got your name and your home address" STALKER Julian, haha, well looks like he did his research "your never gonna guess what is" that poor girl, julians going after, hes a cumin, i would be scared, hah

    Rockinon January 02, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    forgot to add, "first impressions of earth" i think the title should be "first impressions" in all these songs he seems to be talking about someone he just met and is obviously longing for, haha

    Rockinon January 02, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Lyrcis fixed...

    electricityscapeon January 04, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    every song on this album relates to the next what do you suggest "and you're never gonna guess what is.." hes scheming? definatelY STALKER, julian

    Juiceboxon January 07, 2006   Link

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