Tegan and Sara – Light Up

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  My Interpretation:I think that it's about how people say stuff about Tegan and/or Sara and there girlfriends (do they have any at the moment??). How people, mainly mothers (What would I do differently? With two kids on my hip.), act differently when they walk by with their girlfriends. But they dont care.
  

  Flag AFI4everzon June 17, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:i thought this song was about their disapproval of their mother's smoking (cigarettes/weed) around them, either while she was pregnant or while she was taking care of them as children. She neglected them by doing so, but didn't seem to care. Maybe i'm taking the "light up" line too literally.

  Flag instantclassicon June 14, 2010   Link

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    I thought I had taken that line too literally as well, but I'm starting to think that the song does have something to do with that. Otherwise they would have titled it something else.

    Flag Sshhh_STFUon December 02, 2010  

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    I can see what you mean. But to me, light up doesn't literally mean to light up. I see it more as doing something that society disapproves of. I think Sara is commending her mother for the work she did and reassuring her that even though she might not have been perfect, she did an excellent job raising them, so she shouldn't worry about doing things that society might not approve of because people will still judge and criticize no matter what.

    Flag cheex23on December 16, 2010  
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  General Comment:i always thought this was being about being a gay parent. and the stress of having kids in the world who will be picked on.

  Flag ariseandbeon June 12, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:I actually hear, "What would I do to find relief, with two kids on my hips?"

  Flag youisapunkon December 24, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:stop reposting the lyrics over and over wtf.

  Flag ahaaaon December 10, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:i'd like to posit my translation... it only so slightly differs...
  
  what would i do differently
  with two kids on my hip
  
  let them say what they will
  'cause they will anyhow
  let them say what they will
  'cause they will anyhow
  
  i'm the age you were then
  what goes through your mind
  find some success
  and reduce the worry
  on your babies' minds
  
  let them say what they will
  'cause they will anyhow
  let them say what they will
  'cause they will anyhow
  
  lay, lay back and light up
  lay, lay back and light up
  without any guilt
  lay, lay back and light up
  lay, lay back and light up
  without any guilt
  
  credit my weak heart and strong mind
  to that bad circumstance
  oh/with (??) that terrible time
  would i've searched for myself
  what would i find
  
  let them say what they will
  'cause they will anyhow
  let them say what they will
  'cause they will anyhow
  
  we're eggshells and not easy to hold
  we uncurl and unwind when we sleep side by side
  
  let them say what they will
  'cause they will anyhow
  let them say what they will
  'cause they will anyhow
  
  lay, lay back and light up
  lay, lay back and light up
  without any guilt
  lay, lay back and light up
  lay, lay back and light up
  without any guilt
  lay, lay back and light up
  lay, lay back and light up
  
  

  Flag TheWrongGirlon December 01, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:yes, i find that i've been confronted with ideas like this lately. i was much more angsty when i was younger. i used to think about all the things i would've done differently if i were my parents, and sometimes even wonder, if i were my mother, how i would be able to live with myself. and i sometimes think about the right circumstances under which i'd prefer certain things to occur now (say, for instance, i were to have a kid of my own). however, as i've grown a bit older, i see that my parents are not by any means perfect, and there are many things i wouldn't have done and many ways i disagree with how they did things... but, i think, they mostly did the best that they could do, the best they knew how to. and we can't dwell in how we would've done things or in our wrongs, or else we'll drown in them. nobody has it all figured out, or knows what to expect. you just do what you can under the circumstances. the responsibility that comes in being responsible for another/others is somewhat incomprehensible to me. i can barely deal with merely being responsible for myself. people are sensitive, and unpredictable, and very fragile... honestly, it can be kind of scary, because there's nothing beyond us; we hold each other together. as children, we regard our parents as this ideal... as the care takers, the protectors... the ones who have it and keep it together. at some point, i think we become aware that everyone's susceptible to the same things, and that we're all sort of the same.
  
  by the way, i've digressed to an absurd degree... as for the song, whenever i listen to it, i think it's sort of heartbreaking. the feeling sort of epitomizes nostalgia for me -- calming and comforting, yet sad and aching, at the same time. bittersweet. that's the word.

  Flag TheWrongGirlon November 26, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:the way i see it, it's about her mum and having to grow up and raise them (tegan and sara) at such a young age and making sure that they were alright and safe, regardless of what other people said about her or them, or the situation or whatever.
  
  and Sara is contemplating over what her life would have been like had she been through that while giving credit to her mum for doing what she did and getting through everything with them because well, raising kids on your own is by no means easy.
  
  "What would I do differently
  With two kids on my hip
  Let them say what they will, 'cause they will anyhow"

  Flag brokenxwristson November 01, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:Thanks. Yes, this is my favorite song on Sainthood as well.

  Flag nylon1979on November 01, 2009   Link

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  My Opinion:favorite song on sainthood.

  Flag ahaaaon October 31, 2009   Link

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