Annotated lyrics for The Hold Steady song 'Hot Soft Light' - I was not involved at the Northtown Mall. / As a matter of fact I didn't even know that's where it happened. / I was France Ave when they came out dancing. / I was Lyndale South. I was kicking it with cousins. / We were talking about going clubbing. / Instead we just started drinking. / I've been straight since the Cinco de Mayo. / Before that I was blotto. / I was blacked out. I was cracked out. / I was caved in. / You should have seen all these portals / That I've powered up in. / We started recreational. / It ended kinda medical. / It came on hot and soft and then / It tightened up its tentacles. / I wasn't there / I was blind high. I was scared. / I was Lake and Columbus. / I was cutting off all my hair. / I was unfurling a flag of defiance / Aimed at my guidance guy. / So this is it. / This is the end of the session. / I ain't gonna be taking any more questions. / I think my attorney's gonna second that notion. / It started recreational. / It ended kinda medical. / It came on hot and soft and then / It tightened up its tentacles. / The band played 'Screaming for Vengeance' / And we agreed this world is mostly manacled. / It started ice cream social nice. / It ended up all white and ecumenical. / There are guys / With wild eyes when they ask to get you high. / There are girls / That will come to you with comfort in the night. / That's right. / We started recreational. / It ended up all medical. / It came on hot and soft and then / It tightened up its tentacles. / The band played 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath' / You thought it was stony and adorable. / It started in the vestibule. / It ended in the hospital. / There are guys / With the wild eyes when they ask to get you high. / There are girls / That will come to you with comfort in the night. / There are nights / Where it all comes on a little bit too bright. / There's a cross / And in the center there is a hot soft light. /