Take Me To The Light

Album: Take Me To The Light (2020)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Here, Francis and the Lights, the band of Francis Farewell Starlite, is joined by Kanye West, Bon Iver and Chance the Rapper. Violinist and composer Caroline Shaw also receives a credit.
  • The song explores spirituality, redemption and the promise of paradise for the blessed in the afterlife. The Staple Singers' 1972 "I'll Take You There" has a similar motif.
  • Kanye West handles the chorus, Starlite the first verse, and Chance the Rapper the second verse. During Chance's verse he raps about his relationship with God and not wanting to miss out on Heaven.
  • West and Starlite first became friendly in 2016, when both worked on the Chance the Rapper song "All We Got." That same year, Francis recruited Bon Iver and an uncredited West for his single "Friends." All four artists have since worked with other on other occasions.
  • Francis and the Lights released a demo of the song without Chance the Rapper's verse in September 2019. Starlite posted the final version to his personal website on June 8, 2020 and released it as the lead single from his group's second album.
  • West and Starlite produced the track along with pop hitmaker Benny Blanco, electronic producer Cashmere Cat, frequent Kanye collaborators Jeff Bhasker and Noah Goldstein, and BJ Burton, best known for working with Bon Iver.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Pam Tillis

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

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

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TV

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TVSong Writing

Shows like Dawson's Creek, Grey's Anatomy and Buffy the Vampire Slayer changed the way songs were heard on TV, and produced some hits in the process.

Chris Fehn of Slipknot

Chris Fehn of SlipknotSongwriter Interviews

A drummer for one of the most successful metal bands of the last decade, Chris talks about what it's like writing and performing with Slipknot. Metal-neck is a factor.

Real or Spinal Tap

Real or Spinal TapMusic Quiz

They sang about pink torpedoes and rocking you tonight tonight, but some real lyrics are just as ridiculous. See if you can tell which lyrics are real and which are Spinal Tap in this lyrics quiz.

Brenda Russell

Brenda RussellSongwriter Interviews

Brenda talks about the inspiration that drove her to write hit songs like "Get Here" and "Piano in the Dark," and why a lack of formal music training can be a songwriter's best asset.

Divided Souls: Musical Alter Egos

Divided Souls: Musical Alter EgosSong Writing

Long before Eminem, Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj created alternate personas, David Bowie, Bono, Joni Mitchell and even Hank Williams took on characters.