Lorde - Green Light Meaning

Song Released: 2017

Green Light Lyrics

Lyrics
Night, midnight
Lose my mind
Night, midnight
Lose my mind
Night, midnight
Lose my mind
Night, midnight
Oh god, I'm clean out of air in my lungs
It's all gone
Played it so nonchalant
It's time we danced with the truth
Move along...

1. anonymous

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   Apr 9th 2023 !⃝

   i think lorde wrote this from the perspective of jay gatsby. (“the great gatsby” spoilers ahead!!!)
   
   so in the novel, gatsby sees the green light across from his house, but its so much more than that, its the distant future. its a future with so many possibilities, with some elusive idea of success; this green light is what he’s been working towards his entire life.
   and really, his vision of the green light never falters because he STILL hasn’t achieved the success he envisioned for himself during his entire life . . . he hasn’t married daisy.
   and daisy’s house, from where he sees the green light, is JUST in reach. he knows because he’s had it before, and he has everything people thinks he would want — a life of mystery and intrigue, legendary parties, a giant mansion — but he doesn’t have HER.
   
   and that’s exactly the sentiment expressed in lorde’s song. she hates the love she feels for this person, she hates him, but really, she doesn’t hate anything at all. she sees him EVERYWHERE. and she sees the elusive green light in him, and she chases it, because it’s not really that elusive at all. and for her, he is worth spending her entire life trying to repeat the past.
2. niki

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   Apr 9th 2023 !⃝

   i think it’s from the point of view of jay gatsby. (spoilers coming!!)
   
   
   in “the great gatsby,” everything he did was for that green light that he saw. he saw this better life for himself in the elusive green light across from his house, he saw everything success and the american dream stood for in that light. he saw the green light and thought that if he made a big enough name for himself, it would let him repeat the past.
   and just like lorde alludes to in her lyrics, he split apart from daisy, the love of his life. in the song, lorde is so mad at him in the beginning, but it’s hard to stay mad because she sees him EVERYWHERE. she wants to move on (“i wish i could get my things and just let go”) but it’s impossible, because hes literally. the love of her life.
   and sometimes, it isnt a person, but rather the green light is the feeling that you can make a better life for yourself and your family. and change the world. and you want it so badly that you might spend the rest of your life chasing this elusive success . . . because at the end of the day, it’s not so elusive at all.
3. dodger93

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   Nov 16th 2020 !⃝

   This song is about someone scorned. The partner has ended things leaving you angry,
   upset and ultimately seeking closure - however everything is very fresh.
   
   "I know about what you did and I wanna scream the truth" - wanting to out the truth on the drama and call them out on what happened
   
   "Those rumours they have big teeth, hope they bite you" - wanting to see the other person to lose their reputation
   
   "'Cause honey i'll come get my things but I can't let go, (I'm waiting for it, that green light, I want it)" - wanting and ready to move on. Wanting the go ahead from the partner to get their stuff and finalise things - but emotionally not ready to let go yet.