Hit the Lights

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“Hit the Lights” (as we know it) was written in 1982, and is the opening song on the album Kill ‘Em All. In the early years “Hit the Lights” was the song to kick off most… Read More

Jul. 25, 19831 viewer66.3K views

Hit the Lights Lyrics

[Intro]
Wow!

[Verse 1]
No life ‘til leather
We're gonna kick some ass tonight
We got the metal madness
When our fans start screaming, it's right
Well, all right, yeah

[Pre-Chorus]
When we start to rock, we never
Wanna stop again

[Chorus]
Hit the lights!
Hit the lights!
Hit the lights!

[Guitar Solo]

[Verse 2]
You know our fans are insane
We're gonna blow this place away
With volume higher
Than anything today
The only way, yeah

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[Pre-Chorus]
When we start to rock, we never
Wanna stop again

[Chorus]
Hit the lights!
Hit the lights!
Hit the lights!

[Guitar Solo]

[Verse 3]
With all-out screaming
We're gonna rip right through your brain
We got the lethal power
It's causing you sweet pain
Oh, sweet pain, yeah

[Pre-Chorus]
When we start to rock, we never
Wanna stop again

[Chorus]
Hit the lights!
Hit the lights!
Hit the lights!
Hit the lights!

[Instrumental Break]
[Guitar Solo]

About

“Hit the Lights” (as we know it) was written in 1982, and is the opening song on the album Kill ‘Em All. In the early years “Hit the Lights” was the song to kick off most of their concerts.

James Hetfield had written most of the song in his previous band called Leather Charm. When Lars Ulrich and him formed Metallica, they rewrote the song to what we know it as today.

“Hit the Lights” is about the rush of playing metal, and how the love to see their fans go nuts.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What did Metallica say about "Hit the Lights"?

I’m not going to argue with that. The version on Kill ’Em All was basically a marriage of two songs. Hetfield brought in the verses and the chorus, which came from something he had done in a band called Leather Charm, and I brought in the whole back half of it, which was from something I had done before. After three verses and three choruses, it goes into this whole other universe, with a new riff and a fucking half-hour-long jam out.

—Lars Ulrich, Metal Hammer

It was the first Metallica song I played on. I’d only been in the band for three weeks. I flew in the second week of April, under the auspices of auditioning for the band. I arrived on a Monday and played the first show that Friday. We played two or three shows a week, so I was ready to go. I kind of realized I must be in the band because nobody told me otherwise.

—Kirk Hammett, Metal Hammer

Who produced “Hit the Lights” by Metallica?

When did Metallica release “Hit the Lights”?

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