NF - Green Lights Lyrics
Lyrics
Yeah
My name buzzin', ain't no way you could ignore it
I did not come this far so they could ignore me
I am not the one to say, "I'll do it in the mornin'"
I'd rather get it done, don't focus on what's not important
They try to talk to me like they been nothin' but supportive
Appreciate the love, but do not show up on my doorstep
If you ain't about that real, I suggest that you avoid me
If we ain't on the same page, that's the end of story, ah!
Hey, you are not a baller 'cause your closet's full of Jordan's
You are not a rich man 'cause you're on the Forbes list
First, I dropped a record, then you know I gotta tour it
Real's still the slogan, only difference is there's more of us
The story of my life feels like it's just beginnin' now
I ask you a question, I want answers, not the run-around
You the one that brought it up, but I'm the one to shut it down
If you ain't got the album yet, I brought you one, I'm at your house
Hey!
All I see is green lights
All I see is green lights
All I spit is real life
Bet you don't know what that's like (huh?)
All I see is green lights, woo
All I see is green lights, yeah
All I spit is real life
I bet you don't know what that's like
Yeah
I know where I'm goin', I don't let no one distract me
I don't need directions from nobody in the back seat
I don't need these people in my corner tryna gas me
I'd rather have people in my corner tryna check me
Yeah, I walk off the bus a different city than the last week
Let the fans speak, they gon' tell you 'bout the past me
If I'm bein' honest, last year I was in a bad place
Wouldn't say I'm out of it, but don't feel like I can't be, ah!
Who you know droppin' clean records, but they nasty?
I was made for this, I could tell when mama had me
I hopped right off the table, told my doctor, "I ain't average."
He asked me, "What does that mean?"
I told him, "Get the pen and pad, please."
Who'd a known I'd write something that could change lives?
I don't think y'all fully understand the way you changed mine
I look at the future that's in front of me with both eyes
Three records, three years, I don't like to waste time
Oh yeah!
All I see is green lights, yeah
All I see is green lights, haha
All I spit is real life (real life)
Bet you don't know what that's like (you don't know!)
All I see is green lights (green lights), woo
All I see is green lights (green lights), yeah
All I spit is real life (oh!)
I bet you don't know what that's like (no!)
Haha
All I see is?green lights!
Yeah
Oh my!
Video
NF - Green Lights
Meaning & Inspiration
NF's "Green Lights," released in the thick of summer 2017, isn't just a track; it's a visceral cry for progress, a powerful anthem born from a place of intense personal struggle and a deep yearning for forward momentum. The song speaks to a universal human experience: the feeling of being stuck, battling internal demons, and desperately seeking the permission, the "green light," to move past obstacles and into a brighter future. NF lays bare his own journey, sharing a raw vulnerability that resonates with anyone who has wrestled with doubt, anxiety, and the fear of not being good enough. He confronts the self-imposed limitations and the mental hurdles that often prevent us from stepping out in faith and pursuing the path laid before us.
This struggle for forward motion finds a profound echo in Scripture. The desire for "green lights" is akin to the biblical narrative of seeking God's direction and favor. Think of Joshua, repeatedly encouraged to be strong and courageous, to not be afraid or discouraged, because the Lord God was with him wherever he went (Joshua 1:9). This is the very essence of what NF is reaching for: the confidence that comes from knowing you're not alone in your battles and that there is indeed a path forward. The song grapples with the internal voices that whisper "no," the doubts that paralyze action, much like the Israelites in the wilderness, often allowing fear and unbelief to dictate their journey instead of the promises of God. The "green lights" NF sings about can be interpreted as the divine affirmation, the confirmation that it's time to move, to trust the process, and to step into what God has ordained.
"Green Lights" powerfully illustrates the human side of faith, the effort required to align our will with God's. It’s not about passively waiting for signs, but actively striving, pushing through the mental barriers that tell us we can't, or shouldn't. The Bible encourages perseverance, reminding us that through faith and patience, we inherit the promises (Hebrews 6:12). This is the underlying spirit of "Green Lights" – a relentless pursuit of breakthroughs, a refusal to be defined by past failures or present anxieties. The song encourages listeners to acknowledge the internal resistance, the "red lights" we ourselves often create, and to actively seek the courage to push past them. It’s about understanding that sometimes, the biggest obstacles aren't external circumstances, but the limitations we place upon ourselves, echoing the wisdom of Proverbs 4:23, which urges us to guard our hearts, for out of them flow the springs of life. NF’s message is ultimately one of hope and agency, a call to believe in the possibility of change and to take that first, often difficult, step towards the "green lights" that beckon us onward.