Red Light, Green Light

Album: Red Light, Green Light (2022)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "This song pulled from a relationship I had long ago, involving unrequited love," Vonda Shepard explained in a Songfacts track by track. "The character in the song leads me on and can't make up his mind, so I would never know who/what to expect - Red Light? Green Light? Are we on or off? But the truth is that this relationship never actually fully manifested to the degree I write in this song. My character in the song feels slighted, even though 'you were never mine.'"
  • The powerful piano ballad is the title track of Shepard's ninth studio album, which was produced by her husband, Mitchell Froom. According to the singer, Froom - who's also helmed projects for Fleetwood Mac, Elvis Costello, and Los Lobos - wanted the album opener to have a modern edge: "This is probably the most modern production on the album, and Mitchell felt strongly about going in that direction. It worked!"
  • The album's September 2022 release coincides with the 25th anniversary of Ally McBeal, which featured Shepard's "Searchin' My Soul" as its theme song and gave her a regular gig on the show as a lounge singer.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in Songs

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in SongsSong Writing

Elvis, Little Richard and Cheryl Cole have all sung about Teddy Bears, but there is also a terrifying Teddy song from 1932 and a touching trucker Teddy tune from 1976.

Michael Schenker

Michael SchenkerSongwriter Interviews

The Scorpions and UFO guitarist is also a very prolific songwriter - he explains how he writes with his various groups, and why he was so keen to get out of Germany and into England.

Edwin McCain

Edwin McCainSongwriter Interviews

"I'll Be" was what Edwin called his "Hail Mary" song. He says it proves "intention of the songwriter is 180 degrees from potential interpretation by an audience."

Wang Chung Pick The Top Songs Of The '80s

Wang Chung Pick The Top Songs Of The '80sSongwriter Interviews

'80s music ambassadors Wang Chung pick their top tracks of the decade, explaining what makes each one so special.

Stephen Christian of Anberlin

Stephen Christian of AnberlinSongwriter Interviews

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

Philip Cody

Philip CodySongwriter Interviews

A talented lyricist, Philip helped revive Neil Sedaka's career with the words to "Laughter In The Rain" and "Bad Blood."