Lights Please – English Lyrics

• By: J. Cole
• Album: Cole World: The Sideline Story

Lyrics & Translation

Immerse yourself in J. Cole's "Lights Please," a profound hip-hop narrative that offers a unique window into American English, particularly the nuanced language of introspection and social commentary common in rap. This song masterfully balances vivid storytelling with deeper meanings, providing an excellent opportunity to explore contemporary slang, metaphorical language, and heartfelt expression. Discover how J. Cole uses his words to paint a picture of conflicting desires and societal observations, making it a powerful and engaging piece for language learners.

[English]

Yeah

I had this little bad thing, somethin' like them tens

She gave a nigga mad brain, somethin' like the Wiz

But you see, the sad thing fuckin' with her is

Is the chick ain't even have brains, dummy like a bitch

So I tried to show her about the world and about just who we really are

And where we've come and how we still have to go really far

Like, "Baby, look at how we live broke on the boulevard"

But all she ever want me to do is unhook her bra

Then all I really want is for her to go down low

Before you know it, she wet enough to get drowned slow

And all that deep shit, I was previously down for

Replaced by freak shit, I am currently down for

You see, I peeped it, pussy is power

That proud feelin' we get knowin' that pussy is ours

And how it feels to feel that feelin', you're feelin' when you be drillin' that shit

Got her sayin', you be killin' that shit

And all the pain the world cause, she be healin' that shit

And now, that ain't your girl, dog, but you be feelin' that chick

And you just wanna tell her everything she might need

But in the meantime, it's lights, please

Lights, please, lights, please, turn off the lights

For now, everything just seems so right

And how you make the darkness seem so bright?

Feelin' like things gon' be alright

Lights, please, lights, please, turn off the lights

For now, everything just seems so right

And how you make the darkness seem so bright?

Feelin' like things gon' be alright, lights, please

So now we in the hotel, mirrors on the ceiling

She say, she wanna blow L's, I hear her, and I'm willin'

But every time I smoke, well, a nigga mind gone

So that every word I spoke, well, I'm tryna put her on, but she couldn't hear me

I told her all about how we've been livin' a lie

And that they love to see us all go to prison or die

Like, "Baby, look at how they show us on the TV screen"

But all she ever want me to do is unzip her jeans

Then all I really want is for her to get on top

Before you know it, she's workin', jerkin' it nonstop

And all that next shit, I was previously talkin'

Is now that wet shit, that I'm currently lost in

And while that sweat drip, I am reminded

All the times my brother told me that pussy is blindin'

I'm findin' the more I grow, the more y'all seem to stay the same

Don't even know the rules, but yet y'all tryna play the game

And ain't it shameful how niggas blame hoes for givin' birth

To a baby that took two to make? Coward, nigga, you're a fake

How you gon' look in your son's face and turn your back

Then go start another family, dog, what type of shit is that?

She said, it's okay, rub my head, and told me to relax

Laid a nigga down proper like she was recordin' tracks

Said, "I know you wanna change the world, but for the night, please

Just reach over and hit the lights, please"

Lights, please, lights, please, turn off the lights

For now, everything just seems so right

And how you make the darkness seem so bright?

Feelin' like things gon' be alright

Lights, please, lights, please, turn off the lights

For now, everything just seems so right

And how you make the darkness seem so bright?

Feelin' like things gon' be alright

Lights, please, uh, uh, uh

Lights, please, uh, uh, uh

Lights, please, uh, uh, uh

Lights please, turn off the lights

Lights, please

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
lights /laɪts/ A2	noun - sources of illumination; lamps, bulbs, etc.
darkness /ˈdɑːrk.nəs/ B1	noun - the state of being without light
bright /braɪt/ B1	adjective - giving out a lot of light; vivid
turn /tɜːrn/ A2	verb - to rotate or cause to rotate; to change direction
world /wɜːrld/ A1	noun - the Earth and all its inhabitants; a particular sphere of activity
brain /breɪn/ B1	noun - the organ inside the skull that controls thought, memory and the nervous system
show /ʃoʊ/ A2	verb - to cause or allow something to be seen; to display
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - a deep affection or strong feeling of attachment verb - to feel deep affection for someone or something
prison /ˈprɪz.ən/ B2	noun - a place where people are confined as a punishment for crimes
die /daɪ/ A2	verb - to stop living; to cease existence
mirror /ˈmɪr.ər/ B1	noun - a reflective surface that shows an image of whatever is in front of it
ceiling /ˈsiː.lɪŋ/ B1	noun - the upper interior surface of a room
hotel /hoʊˈtɛl/ A2	noun - a commercial establishment offering lodging, meals and other services
unzip /ʌnˈzɪp/ B2	verb - to open a zipper; to open or separate something that is fastened with a zip
jerk /dʒɜːrk/ B2	verb - to pull or move something abruptly and sharply noun - a foolish or contemptible person
blind /blaɪnd/ B1	verb - to deprive of sight; to make unable to see adjective - unable to see; lacking visual perception
shameful /ˈʃeɪm.fəl/ C1	adjective - deserving or causing shame; disgraceful
pain /peɪn/ B1	noun - physical or emotional suffering or discomfort
power /ˈpaʊ.ər/ B1	noun - the ability or capacity to do something or act in a particular way; control or authority

Key Grammar Structures

• So I tried to show her about the world and about just who we really are

  ➔ Past simple + infinitive (try + to verb)

  ➔ The verb "tried" is in the past simple, showing a completed action, and it is followed by the infinitive "to show".

• And where we've come and how we still have to go really far

  ➔ Present perfect (have + past participle) & modal "have to" + infinitive

  ➔ "We've come" uses the present perfect to show a result up to now, while "have to go" expresses necessity with the modal "have to" + infinitive.

• Before you know it, she wet enough to get drowned slow

  ➔ Idiomatic expression "Before you know it" + simple present

  ➔ "Before you know it" is an idiom meaning "very quickly", followed by the simple present "she wet enough..." to describe a present condition.

• I told her all about how we've been livin' a lie

  ➔ Past simple + present perfect continuous (have been + -ing)

  ➔ "We've been livin'" uses the present perfect continuous to show an action that started in the past and continued up to now.

• She said, "I know you wanna change the world, but for the night, please just reach over and hit the lights, please"

  ➔ Reported speech + infinitive (to change)

  ➔ "I know you wanna change" is a direct quote turned into reported speech; the verb "change" appears as the infinitive "to change" after "wanna" (want to).

• How you make the darkness seem so bright?

  ➔ Causative verb "make" + object + bare infinitive "seem"

  ➔ "make" is a causative verb; it is followed by the object "the darkness" and the bare infinitive "seem" to describe the result.

• I am reminded of the times my brother told me that pussy is blindin'

  ➔ Passive voice "am reminded"

  ➔ "am reminded" is the passive form of "remind"; the subject receives the action of being reminded.

• Don't even know the rules, but yet y'all tryna play the game

  ➔ Negative imperative without subject + colloquial "tryna" (trying to) + infinitive

  ➔ "Don't even know" omits the subject (you) and gives a command; "tryna" is a colloquial contraction of "trying to" followed by the infinitive "play".

• Like, "Baby, look at how we live broke on the boulevard"

  ➔ Imperative mood "look at" + direct address "Baby"

  ➔ "look at" is an imperative verb giving a command; "Baby" is a term of address used to get the listener's attention.