“Red Light Fever” is the second track from Liz Phair’s self-titled fourth album. Lyrically, the song criticizes a commitment-phobe who can’t make up his mind what to do with his life but has no trouble telling other people what to do with theirs.
[Verse 1]
Lying wide awake in the dark
Trying to figure out where you are
Always going nowhere
Afraid of going somewhere
And somewhere's a place in your heart
[Verse 2]
Sometimes when I think about you
Why you're always running away
Sitting in your car
Changing who you are
And drowning the thoughts of your life in the music
[Chorus]
Scared the lights will turn green
You'll have to be seen
You'll be like anybody else
Scared the lights will turn red
You're stuck in your head
You can't commit to even her
How you wanna get through the year?
[Verse 3]
You can't
Playin' on both sides of the net
Too many people want too many things
And you only want to forget
[Chorus]
Scared the lights will turn green
You'll have to be seen
You'll be like anybody else
Scared the lights will turn red
You're stuck in your head
Too scared to commit to even her
How you gonna make it through?
[Bridge]
You're always listenin'
You're always listenin'
You're always listenin'
To yourself
You're always thinkin'
You're always thinkin'
You know what everybody else
Should do with their lives
[Verse 4]
I'm wide awake in the dark
Tryin' to figure out where you are
Always goin' nowhere
'Fraid of goin' somewhere
And somewhere's a place in your heart
Somewhere's a place in your heart
[Chorus]
Scared the lights will turn green
You'll have to be seen
You'll be like anybody else
Scared the lights will turn red
You're stuck in your head
You can't commit to even her
Scared the lights will turn green
You'll have to be seen
You'll be like anybody else
Scared the lights will turn red
You're stuck in your head
Too scared to commit to even her
How you gonna get through the year?
Red Light Fever was written by Liz Phair & Gary Clark.
Red Light Fever was produced by Michael Penn.
Liz Phair released Red Light Fever on Tue Jun 24 2003.