Misinterpreting "Green Light"

Last year I discovered Lorde's "Green Light," and it won me over instantly. The song's beat and melody feel so bright, so joyful, and the effect is buoyed by the singer's barely contained furious energy. According to my YouTube Music year-end wrap-up, it was the song I played most in 2023. 

But when I investigated the genesis of "Green Light," I found that I had completely misinterpreted Lorde's message--and the discovery made me ruminate on the male gaze. 

When I first heard "Green Light," I heard the music and lyrics as barely contained excitement over a young woman's determination to pursue a new love interest. She sings: 

I do my makeup in somebody else's car
We order different drinks at the same bars
I know about what you did and I wanna scream the truth
She thinks you love the beach you're such a damn liar

By this point, you might wonder how I could have mistaken Lorde's intent, because the last two lines of this stanza clearly indicate the nameless man may have some character deficiencies. But she goes on: 

Those great whites, they have big teeth
Hope they bite you
Thought you said that you would always be in love
But you're not in love no more
Did it frighten you
How we kissed when we danced on the light up floor?
On the light up floor

I thought the "great white with big teeth" was the other woman referenced in the previous stanza, and that Lorde's character was reacting with jealousy. Then, she reveals the man isn't in love anymore--presumably, his relationship with the "great white" has ended, and the singer's character has a chance: "Did it frighten you, how we kissed when we danced on the light-up floor?" 

The song's tempo and beat climb exuberantly, and she sings: 

But I hear sounds in my mind

Brand new sounds in my mind

But honey I'll be seein' you 'ever I go

But honey I'll be seein' you down every road

I'm waiting for it, that green light, I want it

I read this as excitement and joyous anticipation; the singer thinks she's on the verge of connecting with this man, and all she's waiting for is the green light (from him). 

This is followed by: 

'Cause honey I'll come get my things, but I can't let go

I'm waiting for it, that green light, I want it

Oh, honey I'll come get my things, but I can't let go

I'm waiting for it, that green light, I want it

Yes, honey I'll come get my things, but I can't let go

I'm waiting for it, that green light, I want it

Oh, I wish I could get my things and just let go

I read this as yearning for consent to connect. The singer goes on: 

Sometimes I wake up in a different bedroom
I whisper things the city sings them back to you
Those rumours they have big teeth

Hope they bite you
Thought you said that you would always be in love
But you're not in love no more
Did it frighten you
How we kissed when we danced on the light up floor?
On the light up floor

I read this as jealousy at the prospect of other potential partner for her man, followed by a reaffirmation that she thinks he's scared of the intensity of their nascent love. 

But I hear sounds in my mind
Brand new sounds in my mind
But honey I'll be seein' you 'ever I go
But honey I'll be seein' you down every road
I'm waiting for it, that green light, I want it

Again, I read this as reaffirmation of her desire. The song concludes in this vein, with Lorde's character singing about how she'll get her things as soon as she gets her green light. I was left hoping that the song's character would soon get that green light, and she and her beau would live happily ever after. That first, problematic stanza? Given the tone of the rest of the song, I thought perhaps the guy had been a jerk in some mild way, and that Lorde's character hoped that minor sin would be enough to foul up the prospects of his hookup with the song character's rival. 

After listening to the song about a dozen times, I searched for information about the origins of "Green Light." And to my surprise and embarrassment, I found I had turned the song completely on its head. In interviews, Lorde has said "Green Light" is about heartbreak and finding the strength to move on. She's "seeing (him) 'ever I go," so she can't go forward; the green light she needs isn't from a man, it's from herself. 

Missing the intended meaning of a song might not seem like a big deal, but I thought I was brighter than this. It makes me wonder, not for the first time, how many times I've misinterpreted women's stories, particularly the stories of women close to me. It's a daunting prospect. 

For what it's worth, my relationship with "Green Light" began with empathy and well-wishes for Lorde's character, even if my thoughts were misplaced. My good feelings and hopes remain, though for different reasons. 

Sorry, Lorde! And sorry, the many other women who I've doubtlessly read wrong over the years.