House Lights Up
Alex Wilson
Description
A raw and anthemic alt-pop track that peels back the layers of a performer's life on stage and on the road, revealing vulnerability and a desperate need for authentic connection. 'House Lights Up' is a plea for honesty, both from the audience and within oneself, set against the backdrop of the fleeting, yet intense, world of live music. The song's driving rhythm and soaring chorus create a communal atmosphere, inviting listeners to shed their pretenses and embrace the shared experience of vulnerability and truth.
Lyrics
Intro (count-in / room tone) Click track, gaffer tape, setlist on the wedge. House smell of beer and lemon polish. Breathe. Verse 1 Call time late and the nerves show teeth, Cracked knuckle bleeding through a sleeve. In-ears hiss with a ghost of the mix, Front row buzzing like a power fix. I say I'm fine to the mirror light, Tie my laces till they feel like right. Pulled tight truth on a borrowed lung— If I fall, I fall sung. Pre-Chorus Kill the haze, raise the blind, Let me see what's on your mind. If we're doing this, no disguise— Meet me with your eyes. Chorus Turn the house lights up—I want to see who I'm singing for. If it hurts, then lift it higher, let it ride across the floor. No confetti for the ache, just a thousand honest throats— Turn the house lights up and aim the truth at all our bones. Post-Chorus (chant) Lights up—hands up—breathe in—speak up. Verse 2 Tour bus bunk with a saint’s old chain, Dad’s voicemail saved under “maybe again.” Coffee shakes and a cut-rate suit, Cheap motel Bible with the page torn loose. Load-in, line check, stickered case, Sharpie name on a rented face. I’ll trade polish for a living scar— Leave the filter at the bar. Pre-Chorus Kill the haze, raise the blind, If we break, we break in time. If you’ve carried it all day— Drop it in this place. Chorus Turn the house lights up—I want to see who I'm singing for. If it hurts, then lift it higher, let it ride across the floor. No confetti for the ache, just a thousand honest throats— Turn the house lights up and aim the truth at all our bones. Bridge (breakdown) I don’t need smoke when the room is real, I don’t need tricks if the chorus heals. Keep your perfect for the TV shows— Give me you, and I’ll give you the most. Down Chorus (half-time) Turn the house lights up—leave the makeup at the door. Name it out loud, I’ll carry what you poured. Final Chorus (full / ad-libs) Turn the house lights up—I want to see who I'm singing for. (I wanna see!) If it hurts, then lift it higher, let it ride across the floor. (Let it ride!) No confetti for the ache, just a thousand honest throats— Turn the house lights up and let the truth come home. (Yeah!) Tag (spoken / band ring) House lights up. Don’t hide.