Story Behind The Song

I wrote the first half at age 14. It was mostly autobiographical - I had been trying to keep myself on track, and looking into various religions for guidance. The rest of the song was written in my early 20s, while I was still searching for my own identity, through the haze of drugs and bad relationships. The recording was made in NYC in 2002, with the late great jamband guitarist Mike Jaimes (Gent Treadly, Vince Welnick Band). It was shelved for many years, and finally completed and released in 2008 in tribute to Jaimes.

Song Description

A young man looks in the mirror and is frightened by the image he sees: a fearful person, slowed down by negative tendencies, in need of spiritual guidance.

Lyrics

Yellow Light
Words and Music by Doug Yoel


Verse:
In the yellow light that shines upon me
I see the very same young man that god sees
The yellow light is now a mirror
I need a shave and I seem thinner


Though I couldn't say just what has scared me
Only my mind has turned me 'round and dared me
This mindless fear is going to kill me
The yellow light has all but filled me

Chorus:
Here's something that Jesus didn't say
"My god has up and gone away"
Why should I believe?

Verse:
We fight for hours and still forget the reason
Either love is gone or I've committed treason
In a lifetime I don't think we'll find it
The yellow light has got us blinded

Still I believe somewhere there is a spirit
If you shut your mouth for a minute you might hear it
It's half good and its just as evil
And real good at controlling people

Chorus:
Here's something that Jesus didn't say
"My god has up and gone away"
Why should I believe?

Look what I've already done to me
In the yellow light
In the yellow light


© 1999 Doug Yoel (Highwoods House Music - ASCAP)