Self Control by Laura Branigan Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling the Nocturnal Quest for Freedom

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Laura Branigan's Self controll at Lyrics.org.

Lyrics

Oh, the night is my world

City light painted girl

In the day nothing matters

It’s the night time that flatters

In the night, no control

Through the wall something’s breaking

Wearing white as you’re walkin’

Down the street of my soul

You take my self, you take my self control

You got me livin’ only for the night

Before the morning comes, the story’s told

You take my self, you take my self control

Another night, another day goes by

I never stop myself to wonder why

You help me to forget to play my role

You take my self, you take my self control

I, I live among the creatures of the night

I haven’t got the will to try and fight

Against a new tomorrow, so I guess I’ll just believe it

That tomorrow never comes

A safe night, I’m living in the forest of my dream

I know the night is not as it would seem

I must believe in something, so I’ll make myself believe it

That this night will never go

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Oh, oh, oh (Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)

Oh, the night is my world

City light painted girl

In the day nothing matters

It’s the night time that flatters

I, I live among the creatures of the night

I haven’t got the will to try and fight

Against a new tomorrow, so I guess I’ll just believe it

That tomorrow never knows

A safe night, I’m living in the forest of a dream

I know the night is not as it would seem

I must believe in something, so I’ll make myself believe it

That this night will never go

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

You take my self, you take my self control

You take my self, you take my self control

You take my self, you take my self control

You take my self, you take my self control

You take my self, you take my self control

You take my self, you take my self control

You take my self, you take my self control

You take my self, you take my self control

You take my self, you take my self control

You take my self, you take my self control

In a synth-pop landscape peppered with tales of love, lust, and longing, Laura Branigan’s ‘Self Control’ stands out as an intriguing exploration of the human psyche enchained in the shadowy urban nightlife. Released in 1984, the song, with its driving beat, became the backdrop to many a nocturnal escapade, but beneath the pulsating rhythm lies a deeper tale of liberation and entrapment.

At its core, ‘Self Control’ is more than just another 80s hit; it’s an anthem of inner conflict and the complexities of freedom in the darkness of the night. Reflecting on the dichotomy of empowerment and control, Branigan’s hit is a dance floor paradox that invites us into a world where the night becomes both a canvas for expression and a prison of hedonism.

A Siren in the City’s Labyrinth: Decoding Branigan’s Nocturnal Odyssey

There’s something extraordinarily evocative about the imagery of a ‘city light painted girl,’ moving through the enchantment and dangers of the urban night. The character Branigan breathes to life in ‘Self Control’ is a modern-day siren, lured by the beckoning bright lights and endless possibilities that promise to become a respite from the unforgiving daylight.

The lyrical journey embarked upon within the confines of this song highlights the transformation the night induces, altering perceptions and inflating desires. While the daytime represents normalcy and societal roles, the night emancipates, yes, but also exacerbates the inner longing for a liberation that’s tantalizingly within reach yet perpetually elusive.

The Eroticization of the Night: Seduction, Power, and Escape

With each drum hit and synthesizer swell, ‘Self Control’ propels the listener through an emotional narrative that equates the night with sensuality and escape. The escapism offered by the nightlife is seductive; it’s as if the nightlife itself has a power over the protagonist, offering a treacherously intoxicating form of self-control that is paradoxically out of control.

This eroticization of the night points to a deeper societal commentary on the pursuit of pleasure as a means of coping with the banality or pressures of day-to-day existence. It’s a compelling reminder of the allure of transgressing our boundaries in the name of freedom, where the act of losing self-control becomes ironically liberating.

The Sunset of Reality: The Hidden Meaning of Giving in to the Dark

‘Another night, another day goes by…’ These words serve as a chilling reminder of the cyclic perpetuity of our protagonist’s internal struggle. As the song progresses, it becomes increasingly apparent that ‘Self Control’ isn’t merely about the romanticization of nightlife; it’s about the poignant human condition of seeking meaning in oblivion.

The narrative sheds light on an existential quest, where fighting against the tide of a new, undefined tomorrow seems futile. It’s in this acceptance of indulgence where Branigan’s character finds a twisted form of solace. Surrendering to the night, she eschews the confronting and inevitable arrival of dawn, which brings with it a return to reality and the pressures of the daylight roles.

Enigmatic Anthems: ‘The Creatures of the Night’ as a Lurking Duality

‘I live among the creatures of the night’ is more than a memorable line; it’s a metaphor for an internal dialogue that resonates with anyone who’s felt out of step with the tempo of the day. These so-called creatures—whether they be aspects of the self or fellow seekers of the dark—embody both the excitement and the distress that come with a nightlife lived on the fringes of the ordinary.

The invocation of ‘creatures’ speaks to the hidden, often unacknowledged parts of our identity that emerge when cast in the neon glow of the night. It’s about the dual selves we navigate—the mask of daylight conformity versus the suppressed desires that find their voice in the obscurity of twilight.

Diving Into the ‘Forest of a Dream’: The Night as a Metaphor for the Mind

Perhaps one of the most evocative descriptions in the song, Branigan’s ‘forest of my dream,’ serves as a compelling allegory for the human mind—a place teeming with dreams and fears, each distorted by shadows and illusions. The protagonist’s struggle for self-control is a mirror reflecting the internal tumult of grasping for dreams while fending off the creeping vines of doubt and insecurity.

The assertion that she must ‘believe in something’ to survive the disembodiment of night goes beyond mere fantasy; it is a human imperative, a struggle to maintain an identity amidst a world that often feels as transient and surreal as a dream itself. In the end, the repeated mantra that ‘this night will never go’ becomes a haunting declaration of defiance against the erosion of self amidst the ephemeral nature of time.