fripodding and sweating: “when the lights go out” the black keys

Confession time, for the following song, I had to do some research to actually find out what the lyrics were before I officially declared love for this song. Not that it mattered if I knew them or not. But no worries, due to the fact that I love countless songs without knowing the lyrics or even comprehending what they really mean. For me, sometimes it’s all about the music/instrumentals/beat/etc.

Such is the case with this song I first heard (as I’m sure many others have) while watching the movie Black Snake Moan. I don’t know if some may remember the song due to what was going on at the time in the movie when the song was playing, but I must also confess, this song fit extremely well for what was being portrayed. To put it another way, this scene, as well as the movie itself, is not intended for kids. And to even post the clip of this movie would put my blog in the NSFW/Rated R category (which probably already passed that mark once I started posting Lady Gaga videos).

What is it about this song that I love? Well that steady driving beat, for one thing. It definitely sets the foundation at the beginning. There’s also the repetitious guitar riff. Is that a violin I hear gently whimpering? And of course the lead singers seemingly lazy yet rough style of singing. I’m tellin’ ya, the vibe this song gives can almost give one a heat stroke… especially if you are thinking of the movie. And I think that has a lot to do with how this song influences me.

The movie takes place in the hot sticky southern country, and by the time the movie ends, you’ll probably be sweating and looking for a glass of homemade lemonade to cool you off. I’m not trying to write a review for the movie, which I’m actually surprised I still don’t own yet, but the music is what makes this movie great. (So check out the soundtrack.) And we must give credit where credit is due, and The Black Keys’ “When the Lights Go Out” help set the stage about who this crazed Christina Ricci is that eventually gets chained up in Samuel L. Jackson’s house for rehabilitation purposes.

don’t it hurt so bad
when you’re standin in the sun
in the bottom of your heart
you don’t love no one

you can be oh so mean
I just can’t see, no in between
you know what the sun’s all about
when the lights go out

what a way to live
back of your class
end of the line
always last

you can be oh so mean
I just can’t see, no in between
you know what the sun’s all about
when the lights go out

see the moon
see the stars
from your lonely seat
in your lonely cars

you can be oh so mean
I just can’t see, no in between
you know what the sun’s all about
when the lights go out

Overall, and it’s been long overdo for me, I need to look into more of what The Black Keys have to offer. Fortunately, they have a number of albums from the past 10 years for me to explore. So once I find some more, I’ll be sure to share more of this blue-rock flavor with y’all.