They say the world must end somehow,
They say the end’s not far from now;
I think they’re wrong,
Don’t worry your life away,
Start living for today,
(Don’t) think about tomorrow.

And if the lights go out on all of us,
In just a year or two.
And if the sky falls down like pouring rain,
Then I’ll be here with you.
I’ll go down with you.

Well I’m gonna try for all I’m worth,
To stay with you till the end of the earth.
Don’t let me down,
Don’t let your feelings win.

Don’t give out, and don’t give in,
(Don’t) think about tomorrow.

Cause if the lights go out on all of us,
In just a year or two.
And if the sky falls down like pouring rain,
Then I’ll be here with you.
I’ll go down with you.

And if the lights go out on all of us,
In just a year or two.
And if the sky falls down like pouring rain,
Then I’ll be here with you.
I’ll go down with you.

I’ll go down with you

Katie Melua - If The Lights Go Out

Length 3:14
Writer Mike Batt
Producer Mike Batt

This song becomes more and more a favourite of mine

I never will agree with the changing from



in

.

If The Lights Go Out is the third single from Pictures. It topped at #96 on the UK singles chart upon release.

Official music video:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=_ad0llPCw8Q


Katie Melua 'If The Lights Go Out' Interview & Preview
http://youtube.com/watch?v=rzeDKb8bCTI

"If The Lights Go Out is a song that's about living for the moment and also swearing to the person that you love that you want to spend everyday of your life with them, including the last moment."

The change in lyrics changes the song from blind love, to global awareness of nuclear proliferation. In the age of political correctness, it seems the sensible thing to do.

Indeed these are the words used by Katie to present the release of the song.




The song is not about "blind" love, it's just a love song which describes the deep love of someone for someone. Mike Batt was about 30 years when he wrote it.



People was aware much more about it in the 80ies of the last century than today. Maybe you're too young to know that (or too old?), I don't know. The awareness of a possible nuclear holocaust was the Leitmotiv of the 70ies/80ies generation's feeling, and it was just what made people living for today not thinking about tomorrow.
If you see some possibility that the nucelar nightmare won't come true, than you might be able to turn thinking about tomorrow.
On her 2008 tour I saw Katie introducing the song referring to her homecountry which, after long times of war and troubles, now sees some hope for a better future. And and this way the change makes a sense. At least Katie has given this sense to it, your interpretation is wrong.
I don't know if she made that comment also on the concerts available on bootlegs, the one I saw where she made it (Strasbourg), has not been taped



"Political correctness" is the evil of our days, it figures out for things like "collateral casuals", "serious consequences" or "human ressources". I hate political correctness. And the changing of the lyrics has nothing to do with it.

!!!



One day I asked a 94 old woman how she did manage to reach that age in such a physical and mental healthy condition. Her answer was: Guy, never think about tomorrow!

@ Katie: For me these two lines are a contradiction -- in any sense: If you want to manage the future you must just start living for today, tomorrow will come stand-alone, that's for sure, thinking about it is pointless if you don't act in the present.

On the subject of thinking about tomorrow, here's a phrase I've heard before:

If you want to know what you did in the past, look at your body now.
If you want to know what you will be doing in the future, look at your mind now.

A favourite of mine when I first heard Pictures and still is. Closest thing to rock that Katie has done so far, with a 60's pop twist. Very nice!!!
Shame it was a disappointment on the charts, Should have done WAY better!!!

(My 600th post )

I have to say I also like the video to this song. The german musicvideo-clip channel HIT24 shows it nearly every day (!!!) alternating with the videoclip to the song 'The Closest Thing To Crazy' (!!!!)

It's a song of the 80ies!

When I first listend to this song I thought that it´s only an average song of Katie. But then, after listening the 3rd or 4th time, I began to like it and today I´d say it´s a great song.

Well, my first impression was that it reminded me of late 60's pop rather than 80's (see LFC for the latter). It was only during a discussion on Youtube that I discovered it wasn't an original tune.

the song also grow on me. At the start I liked it, but I didn't loved it, but now I do looooooooove it. It just makes me feel fine. Unbelieveable how Katie sings it. For me it is an optimistic song.

i like the song a lot, only thing i dont like is the word dont had been removed.. i just want to sing it, cause its on the cd version... love the colourful video for it.

I love lyrics and song too!

which word should have been removed, Mariska

the single version is think about tomorrow
and the cd version is dont think about tomorrow.. im used to the cd version,thats what i meant

Strange they removed that word out of the song

That happens, when only listening to the album and live version, which are identical!!!

Oh that's why I didn't understand the meaning of the lyrics

This was my favourite Katie Melua song. I knew it was written by Mike, but was shocked to find out he wrote it in the 80s for "The Hollies". To be honest it kind of ruined my favourite KM song. The fact that it was a new and specially unique song of hers made it even better,