There was no message to be found anywhere in sight
Inside or out
I had looked everywhere, but the only lamp
Left on in the house
Was a blue light
A blue light

I was not ready
I'm no enchantress and I was too proud
Go find some Christmas angel then give that to her
If that's what she wants, guardian angel...guardian
If you were wiser you would get out

Downstairs the big old house is mine
Upstairs where the stars still laugh and they shine
Downstairs where the big old house is mine
Outside so the stars still laugh and
Stars still laugh and shine
And the stars still laugh and cry and shine
And the stars still laugh and cry and shine
And the stars still laugh and shine and shine

Don't listen to her, listen through her
Some Christmas angel
Freedom, well, give that to her
Oh, if that's what she wants, guardian angel...guardian
If you were wiser you would get out

And the light that shines through the shining night
Is a lamp that I carried from my mother's home
And the light that burns through the window pane
And the love remains

And the guardian of your "Challenge" does not cry
And the guardian of your "Challenge" does not cry...

---

WEBMISTRESS speculates:

The blue lamp of the title is a blue Tiffany lamp that Stevie's mother gave her. I think this song is a tribute to that unconditional parental love that puts up with all the attitude and defiance of the child and continues in spite of it. In the first verse, Stevie talks about when times were hard, and she couldn't find light anywhere else, that "blue light" was still there, representing the constant of her mother's love.

In the second verse, she admits that when she first got the lamp, she didn't appreciate it...she "was too proud" - she didn't need her mother's love, she could make it on her own, her mother should give a gift like that to an idealized "Christmas angel." She didn't realize she needed a "guardian" - and with all the stuff that guardian has to put up with, if she was "wiser [she] would get out" and just quit. It would be less painful that way, but that doesn't matter to her mother, she'll always be there for her.

Hollywood is full of stars and big old houses, but they don't offer true happiness. Her mother gave her the "freedom" to be herself, and the light will continue to shine - "the love remains."

Note: The entire section from "downstairs, the big old house is mine" to "the stars still laugh and they cry and they shine" is repeated in Welcome to the Room....Sara.

 

KATHRYN speculates:

This is definitely a favourite and one of Stevie's first solo recordings. The tales are true about Stevie's lamp, a gift from her mother.The song creates images of Stevie being alone in her wealth and fame "the big old house is mine"and the only connection to home and the intensity of her love for her mother is the blue lamp shining. Seeing pictures of the lamp over the years, it is not only beautiful but reflects the glorious intensity and comfort of mother daughter love. Inspired by Stevie's song I gave my daughter a blue lamp and when home alone with "no message to be found" the blue lamp gleams with a comforting and connecting intensity.