"Second Go" by Lights

The artist called Lights grew up under parents who were missionaries, and she was constantly traveling the world. Most of her songs are upbeat and poppy with a bit of an electronic feel. The song I will be reviewing today is no different. It's called "Second Go" and generally talks about giving people a second chance. The song begins with an electric keyboard-infused intro and strong lyrics.


"How many times will the clock go around/How many times will my hands hit the ground?"


The first thing that comes to mind with this lyric is running. The stopwatch keeps moving, but you get a quick start and fall forward, having to catch yourself with your hands.


"How many coffins before there's a crown/How far will I go till the alarm sounds?"


How many people have to die for power, royalty or fame? This could also mean martyrdom. How many sacrifices must be made before the real king is put into power? And lastly, how far does Lights herself have to get within her dreaming or dazed state before she is harshly awakened?


"How come you love me when I am ugly?/This I can only hope..."


Sorry Lights, you're clearly beautiful. But seriously, ugly has many meanings, and she could be saying many things here. She could truly feel insecure with the way she looks, but I don't believe that's the case. I think here she's saying when she makes mistakes, or even that she has certain serious flaws, the person the song is directed to may still love her. And so begins the chorus:


"Give me a second go/Don't let me go alone/You saw me at the worst/You caught me falling first/All I wanted to know/Give me a second go."


Someone saved her when she was at her worst. This person showed her the light when she was in darkness, and she wants this person to be with her no matter how she messes up in the future. The second verse is my personal favorite.


"No matter the weather there's never a break/Conquer a ladder, then slip on a snake."

Remember the game shoots and ladders? Or snakes and ladders? Here's a reference to that game. You are so happy when you roll and you get to climb a ladder, but a few minutes later you roll again and have to slide down a snake. Life is like that. There are ups and downs, snakes and ladders, but you have to keep going because that will always be the cycle.


"Cried till my river turned into a lake/And I'm wondering now before it's too late."


This girl has cried a lot. She's been through ups and downs, and in this moment she is down. First she was crying a river, which goes with a flow and has a current, but then the river formed a lake which is stagnant. Is it too late to go back?


"How can you save me when I am angry? Reasons I'll never know."


Again, Lights is questioning the listener. This also hints to her inner flaws, or perceived flaws. She cries, she is angry, she has human emotions. Then the chorus is repeated. After that is a catchy verse despite it's meaning:


"One to five I'm half alive/Six to nine I'm out of line/Ten to twelve I'm not myself/By the millionth time I cry."


Lights is torn. At all hours she feels unworthy of being saved by this person, yet he seems to always give her a second go.


What we can understand from this song is everybody has flaws, yet everybody deserves a second go.


A good bible verse to go along with this is Colossians 1:21-22.
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.