Album: Pat Travers (1976)

License This Song 

Songfacts®:

• Studio and live versions of "Boom Boom (Out Go The Lights)" were recorded by Pat Travers, both uptempo with some fine axework, and, one might think, this was a happy sort of song. In fact it has a somewhat dark origin. Written by harmonica player Stan Lewis, it was recorded by another harmonica player, Little Walter, on Chess Records in 1957. Little Walter (real name Marion Walter Jacobs, 1930-'68) was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2008.
  
  Listening to the song with a bit of nous reveals that it is actually about a taboo subject: spousal abuse. The boom is the punch, and out go the young lady's lights. Oops! >>>

  Suggestion credit:
  Alexander Baron - London, England
• Pat Travers, a Canadian guitar slinger, first released this song on his debut album in 1976, replacing Little Walter's harmonica-heavy arrangement with guitar and piano. It became a favorite in his live repertoire as Travers would summon up a call-and-response, with the crowd answering "Out go the lights!" after his "Boom boom."
  
  He released a 5-minute-long live recording (two minutes longer than the studio version) on his 1979 album Live! Go for What You Know in 1979, where he distances himself from the lyric by introducing it as a "party song." This version got some airplay on Rock radio and survived as a deep cut years later on some Classic Rock stations.

Comments: 8

• Boffo from New Mexico UsaI think it was a cleverly written song and the idea of letting the crowd in to share!!!
  A beautiful thing!!; a man and his woman boffin with the light soff!!! Such fun brilliant!!!
• Jen from VamcouverYa it's a catchy tume for sure but I always thought it was f--king gross, because it is. Not a big surprise all the losers on here making up new meanings and being like oh if you want soft s--t go listen to Bieber. It's about a full grown man having a baby little tantrum and threatening to knock out his ex girlfriend if he sees her. You are a complete loser if you think it's cute or ok. I hope you all get knocked out by a real man if think that's ok. Muppis feunde
• Jpo from AtlantaI think the song on it's surface would seem to be about him finding his baby and beating her up. I took this to be a play on words. Boom Boom Out Go The Lights being figurative for him finding her and the two of them turning the lights out. You can certain see that wink and nod from Pat when he performs it.
• Stukka63 from St.augustine,fla.So I’m 16 and I had just convinced my parents I’m not smoking pot.
  We went to a Pat Travers show in Casselberry, Fla. a few nights before.
  So after eating dinner we were all sitting around watching the tv. (I’m like omg)
  There was a local show called pm magazine.
  N tonights episode was about local drug abuse.
  Straight on film, there i was suckin that joint at the PT concert. Right on tv.
  Little did they know I was the biggest qualude dealer in central Fla.
  The great daze.
• Rob from Wilmington, NcWell now, come on Ken, it's just a song, and not even written by Pat. How many blues songs are written about bad things? What about Hey Joe by Hendrix? Do you think he's really going to go "shoot his old lady"? Does that make Jimi a murderer? Not saying that I approve of domestic violence of even tacitly stay silent about it, but context man, context.
• Paul from Cypress, TxDude, if your looking for politically correct blues/rock & roll, try the Beiber. Or go chirp about rap crap.
• Willie from Scottsdale, AzSame guy who wrote "Snortin' Whiskey, Drinking Cocaine." Class act all around.
• Ken from Pittsburgh, PaSo the song is basically promoting domestic violence? I feel sorry for the women who cross paths with this "man", Mr Travers.

More Songfacts:

Beverly HillsWeezer

Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo wrote "Beverly Hills" after seeing a photo of the group Wilson Phillips and imagining what it would be like to marry someone famous.

TeardropMassive Attack

"Teardrop" by Massive Attack has vocals by Elizabeth Fraser of The Cocteau Twins, who wrote the lyric after learning that Jeff Buckley had died.

Last NiteThe Strokes

The Strokes admitted to purloining Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers' "American Girl" for their hit "Last Nite."

Walking On Thin IceYoko Ono

John Lennon's lead guitar work on Yoko Ono's "Walking On Thin Ice" proved to be his final creative act. It was upon their return home after completing laying down the track that Lennon was murdered by Mark David Chapman.

Everybody Have Fun TonightWang Chung

"Everybody Have Fun Tonight" is a rare hit with the band's name used as a verb: "Everybody Wang Chung tonight." The band says it can mean whatever you'd like it to.

At This MomentBilly Vera & the Beaters

"At This Moment" was first released by Billy Vera & the Beaters in 1981, and hit #79. After it was used in two episodes of Family Ties in 1985-1986, it went to #1.

Editor's Picks

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.

Rock Stars of HorrorMusic Quiz

Rock Stars - especially those in the metal realm - are often enlisted for horror movies. See if you know can match the rocker to the role.

Frankie ValliSong Writing

An interview with Frankie Valli, who talks about why his songs - both solo and with The Four Seasons - have endured, and reflects on his time as Rusty Millio on The Sopranos.

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney PrincessesSong Writing

From "Some Day My Prince Will Come" to "Let It Go" - how Disney princess songs (and the women who sing them) have evolved.

Kip WingerSongwriter Interviews

The Winger frontman reveals the Led Zeppelin song he cribbed for "Seventeen," and explains how his passion for orchestra music informs his songwriting.

Stephen Christian of AnberlinSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer/lyricist for Anberlin breaks down "Impossible" and covers some tracks from their 2012 album Vital.