Receiving a hand up in this business of music from the likes of Ray Wylie Hubbard is no small accomplishment, and that mentorship – and sometimes harsh instruction – was not lost on Sam Riggs, who has had the fortunate opportunity to meander through Wylie’s cerebral countryside over the last few years. At the time of their meeting, Riggs was already a commercially-viable songwriter with an impressive root system, having sprung from his family’s musical genes; but he was still feeding off the unripe fruits of his youth. Through the songwriting school of Hubbard, he learned the time-honored virtue of patience and the aptitude for turning the rough and tumble falls to the ground into a steady, recovered gait.
“He opened my eyes to songwriting, and I could see the idiot I had been and the idiot I was going to be, and he helped me to navigate that. He taught me what it really is to be a songwriter.”
Those rough and tumble falls steadily began upon Riggs’ relocation in 2007 from his home base in Florida to Austin, Texas, after some friends brought him a CD from the prominent Texas-based band, Reckless Kelly. Their unprocessed lyrics and raw production hit Riggs squarely between the eyes, like hammer on nail, driving him to plant his personal flag in a place where he could be his own artist. His inception was less than spectacular, as he struggled to imprint himself on the hearts of Texas Music fans while also drawing heavy influence from commercial radio. With hard stares and indifferent responses, Riggs diligently worked to strip down the polish and bring out the more natural shine – a task that resulted from the truth that, as Riggs so accurately put it, “You can’t bullshit a Texan.” The experience was both a breath of fresh air and a simultaneous smack in the face, and it ultimately cultivated the signature collection that is his debut record release, OUTRUN THE SUN.
“The only thing that matters is how you interpret this life. I wanted this to be reflection of my intent and an echo of my soul as songwriter and artist.”
Following the release of the 2012 EP, Lighthouse, OUTRUN THE SUN is a perfectly ripened delicacy that will be available for the picking on October 29, 2013, on Nashville-based Vision Entertainment. Produced by Erik Herbst (Eli Young Band, Bowling For Soup, Josh Abbott Band), the debut album of Sam Riggs & The Night People signals a lyrical comprehension that reaches far beyond Sam’s years, and musical compositions that are both brave and progressive. The driving will in “Longshot”; the matter of abuse in “The Change”; and the love-provoked courage in “Lighthouse” are just a few of the towering giants included in this release.
The record is fully backed by a live show that comes out swinging and keeps the energy high. Having opened for acts that include Chris Knight; Joe Diffie; Kevin Fowler; Pat Green; the Eli Young Band; the Randy Rogers Band; and, of course, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Sam Riggs & The Night People have become well-educated in the art of working a crowd. Riggs himself never fails to dazzle with his “musical chair” performances that never restrict him to one location on the stage. Vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, banjo, fiddle, and even drums are all part of the magic that he hypnotically spins on a nightly basis.
“Your audience is like a dreamer, and the last thing you want to do is wake a dreamer. We try to draw them in with our music and keep them entranced in that dream.”
When the lights go out
Sam Riggs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
you never had a clue
I stood in the doorway
and you simply walked right through me
just like that.
Never knew that I was back.
It didn't take you long at all to realize I was there.
I picked up my picture and I held in the air
That feeling in the room was me.
Feel that rush
Just remember my touch on your skin
Baby, take it in.
Let it take you back again
Every moment you ever wanted is right there in your hands
Just remember that you can have me back when the lights go out.
You can feel the cold come in
no matter where you stand.
The feeling that someone is there
about to take your hand is too much.
It's close enough to touch.
I can be your shadow,
drive you crazy all day long.
Have you out of your mind by the time that you get home.
Can't you see that's right where I want you to be.
Feel that rush
Just remember my touch on your skin
Baby, take it in.
Let it take you back again
Every moment you ever wanted is right there in your hands
Just remember that you can have me back when the lights go out.
Close your eyes to feel me run my fingers through your hair.
In the darkness of the night
I'll always be right there next to you.
There's nothing you can do.
Cause in your arms I always found
the things I love the most.
That remains the same even though I am a ghost
It's True.
I'm still in love with you.
Feel that rush
Just remember my touch on your skin
Baby, take it in.
Let it take you back again
Every moment you ever wanted is right there in your hands
Just remember that you can have me back when the lights go out.
"When the Lights Go Out" by Sam Riggs is a song about a person who has passed away and is visiting a loved one as a ghost. The lyrics describe feeling unnoticed by the loved one at first, but eventually making their presence known in a subtle way. The ghost reminisces about past moments with the loved one, and how they can still be together in spirit when the lights go out.
The opening lines, "First time that I came to you, you never had a clue," set the tone for the rest of the song. The ghost feels unseen and unheard by the living, but still yearns to be with them. The chorus, "Just remember my touch on your skin, baby take it in, let it take you back again," emphasizes the power of memory and how it can transport a person back to a specific moment. The ghost knows that they can never physically touch the loved one again, but hopes for them to remember the feeling of being together.
Line by Line Meaning
First time that I came to you,
you never had a clue
I stood in the doorway
and you simply walked right through me
just like that.
Never knew that I was back.
It didn't take you long at all to realize I was there.
When I first returned to you, you were oblivious to my presence. I was standing in the doorway, but you walked right through me, not even knowing I was back. But then you quickly became aware of my presence as I held up my picture for you to see. The feeling in the room was me.
Feel that rush
Just remember my touch on your skin
Baby, take it in.
Let it take you back again
Every moment you ever wanted is right there in your hands
Just remember that you can have me back when the lights go out.
Let yourself get lost in the feeling of our past love. Remember the way my touch felt against your skin and let that feeling take you back again. All of the moments and memories you ever desired are at your disposal if you recall that you can have me back when the lights go out.
You can feel the cold come in
no matter where you stand.
The feeling that someone is there
about to take your hand is too much.
It's close enough to touch.
I can be your shadow,
drive you crazy all day long.
Have you out of your mind by the time that you get home.
Can't you see that's right where I want you to be.
No matter where you are, you feel a chill when I am near. The feeling that someone is there, about to touch you, becomes overwhelming. I can be your constant companion and drive you crazy all day long, consuming your every thought. By the time you get home, I want you to be completely out of your mind, obsessed with me.
Close your eyes to feel me run my fingers through your hair.
In the darkness of the night
I'll always be right there next to you.
There's nothing you can do.
Cause in your arms I always found
the things I love the most.
That remains the same even though I am a ghost
It's True.
I'm still in love with you.
Allow yourself to imagine I am there, running my fingers through your hair as you close your eyes. In the darkness of the night, I will always be there beside you, and there's nothing you can do to stop it. When I was with you, I found the things I loved most in the world in your arms, and even though I am gone, this remains true. I am still in love with you.
Contributed by Camden Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@kariharlow552
If you ever have the chance to Sam Riggs live....GO!! Sam puts on one hell of a show!!
@marythrall1108
Kari Harlow I have seen him 5 times he is amazing
@moonbabe612
This is a beautiful song and video!
@kadibaize717
This song. I lost a true love and when I was visiting him it played for the first time. I took it as a sign and now I play it on the anniversary of his death every year. I miss him more than words could ever explain. But this song brings me back to him. Thank you.
@tiapurmal9590
Same thing happened to me
@edgcomb79
Such a bad ass song....country radio is missing out!
@lucius_cursor
The Ranch plays this all the time!
@edgcomb79
Thomas Farral the ranch is the greatest station ever!
@sandysommer1101
Yeah... I love the ranch!
@arianaholland4673
This is one of by far my favorite songs by him now