Lights ( Journey song ) - wikipedia Lights ( Journey song ) `` Lights '' Single by Journey from the album Infinity B - side `` Opened the Door '' Released August 1978 Format 7 '' single Recorded 1977 Genre Soft rock Length 3 : 09 Label Columbia Songwriter ( s ) Steve Perry, Neal Schon Producer ( s ) Roy Thomas Baker Journey singles chronology `` Feeling That Way / Anytime '' ( 1978 ) `` Lights '' ( 1978 ) `` Just the Same Way '' ( 1979 ) `` Feeling That Way / Anytime '' ( 1978 ) `` Lights '' ( 1978 ) `` Just the Same Way '' ( 1979 ) Audio sample file help `` Lights '' is a song recorded by American rock band Journey and written by Steve Perry and Neal Schon, released in 1978. Contents 1 Background and writing 2 Personnel 3 References 4 External links Background and writing The song is a ballad about Journey 's city of origin, San Francisco, although it was actually written in and originally intended to be about Los Angeles. It was one of Steve Perry 's first Journey songs, and was recorded soon after joining the band. In an interview, Perry said, `` I had the song written in Los Angeles almost completely except for the bridge and it was written about Los Angeles. It was ' when the lights go down in the city and the sun shines on LA. ' I did n't like the way it sounded at the time. And so I just had it sitting back in the corner. Then life changed my plans once again, and I was now facing joining Journey. I love San Francisco, the bay, and the whole thing. ' The bay ' fit so nice, ' When the lights go down in the city and the sun shines on the bay. ' It was one of those early - morning - going - across - the - bridge things, when the sun was coming up and the lights were going down. It was perfect. '' Released as a single in 1978, it was originally a minor hit, reaching number 68 on the Billboard Hot 100 at the time. It has, however, become more popular over the years and is now one of Journey 's most popular and easily recognizable songs and is often played in Classic Hits / Oldies radio stations. It is frequently played at San Francisco Giants baseball games ( including versions led by Perry himself at Game 2 of the 2010 World Series and Games 1 and 2 of the 2012 World Series ) and the cross-bay Oakland Athletics after - game fireworks starts. The song is now usually played at Levi 's Stadium when the NFL San Francisco 49ers win a home game. It is sometimes used in promos for the Golden State Warriors. Journey released a live version of the song in 1993 for the Time3 box set. This recording reached # 30 on the Adult Contemporary chart. The song was the last to be played during the Top 40 era of KFRC 610, a legendary San Francisco station, before the flip to a nostalgia / adult standards format in 1986. KIII of Corpus Christi, Texas used this song during their sign offs in the late 1980s. Personnel Steve Perry -- lead vocals Neal Schon -- guitars, backing vocals Gregg Rolie -- keyboards, backing vocals Ross Valory -- bass guitar, backing vocals Aynsley Dunbar -- drums References Jump up ^ `` AM Gold : The Best Seventies Soft - Rock Gems ''. Rolling Stone. June 11, 2014. Retrieved September 15, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Steve Perry `` Off The Record '' w / Joe Benson, December 2000 ``. Steveperryfanclub.homestead.com. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 13. Jump up ^ `` Lights by Journey Songfacts ''. Songfacts.com. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 13. Jump up ^ `` 43,000 + Giants Fans singing Journey 's `` Lights '' with Steve Perry in the audience. Someone on Yahoo... '' McCovey Chronicles. 2010 - 10 - 29. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 13. Jump up ^ `` Latest News, Articles, Photos, Images and Videos on range of topics ''. Firstpost. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 13. Jump up ^ `` Tigers vs. Giants 10 / 25 / 12 MLB.com ''. Sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com. 2016 - 01 - 20. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 13. Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 1993 ). Top Adult Contemporary : 1961 -- 1993. Record Research. p. 126. Jump up ^ `` Bay Area Radio Museum and Hall of Fame San Francisco ''. Sfradiomuseum.com. 1939 - 03 - 14. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 13. External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Journey Neal Schon Ross Valory Steve Smith Jonathan Cain Arnel Pineda Studio albums Journey Look into the Future Next Infinity Evolution Departure Escape Frontiers Raised on Radio Trial by Fire Arrival Generations Revelation Eclipse EPs Red 13 Live albums Captured Greatest Hits Live Live in Houston 1981 : The Escape Tour Soundtrack albums Dream, After Dream Compilation albums In the Beginning Greatest Hits The Ballade Time The Essential Journey Greatest Hits 2 Videos Journey 2001 Greatest Hits 1978 -- 1997 Live in Houston 1981 : The Escape Tour Revelation Live in Manila Documentaries Do n't Stop Believin ' : Everyman 's Journey Tours Departure Tour Escape Tour Frontiers Tour Raised on Radio Tour Revelation Tour Eclipse Tour Def Leppard & Journey 2018 Tour Games Journey Escape Journey Related Articles Discography Members Bands Santana Frumious Bandersnatch Bad English The Storm Vital Information Hardline Abraxas Pool Planet Us Soul SirkUS Revolution Saints People Walter `` Herbie '' Herbert Irving Azoff Kevin Chalfant Jimmy Barnes Michael Bolton Jeremey Hunsicker Former band members Lead vocalists Gregg Rolie Robert Fleischman Steve Perry Steve Augeri Jeff Scott Soto Rhythm guitarists George Tickner Steve Augeri Bassists Randy Jackson Keyboardists Gregg Rolie Robert Fleischman Steve Perry Drummers Prairie Prince Aynsley Dunbar Mike Baird Deen Castronovo Omar Hakim Book Category Journey singles discography 1970s `` To Play Some Music '' `` Of a Lifetime '' `` In My Lonely Feeling '' `` Mystery Mountain '' 1976 `` Midnight Dreamer '' `` On a Saturday Nite '' `` I 'm Gonna Leave You '' `` She Makes Me ( Feel Alright ) '' `` Anyway '' `` You 're on Your Own '' 1977 `` Look into the Future '' `` Spaceman '' `` People '' `` Nickel and Dime '' `` I Would Find You '' 1978 `` Wheel in the Sky '' `` Feeling That Way '' / `` Anytime '' `` Lights '' 1979 `` Just the Same Way '' `` Lovin ', Touchin ', Squeezin ' '' `` Lovin ' You is Easy '' 1980s 1980 `` Too Late '' `` Any Way You Want It '' `` Walks Like a Lady '' `` Good Morning Girl '' / `` Stay Awhile '' 1981 `` The Party 's Over ( Hopelessly in Love ) '' `` Dixie Highway '' `` Who 's Crying Now '' `` Stone in Love '' `` Do n't Stop Believin ' '' 1982 `` Open Arms '' `` Still They Ride '' `` Only Solutions '' `` Separate Ways ( Worlds Apart ) '' `` Faithfully '' `` After the Fall '' `` Send Her My Love '' `` Ask the Lonely '' 1984 `` Chain Reaction '' 1985 `` Only the Young '' 1986 `` Be Good to Yourself '' `` Suzanne '' `` Girl Ca n't Help It '' `` Raised on Radio '' `` I 'll Be Alright Without You '' `` Why Ca n't This Night Go on Forever '' 1989 `` Who 's Crying Now '' ( re-issue ) 1990s 1993 `` Lights '' ( live ) `` Natural Thing '' `` When You Love a Woman '' `` Message of Love '' `` Ca n't Tame the Lion '' `` If He Should Break Your Heart '' 2000s 2001 `` Higher Place '' `` All the Way '' `` With Your Love '' 2005 `` The Place in Your Heart '' 2008 `` After All These Years '' `` Never Walk Away '' `` Where Did I Lose Your Love '' 2010s 2011 `` Anything Is Possible '' `` City of Hope '' `` Human Feel '' Book Category Major League Baseball on ABC Related programs Major League Baseball Game of the Week ( 1953 -- 1954 ; 1960 ; 1965 ) Monday Night Baseball ( 1976 -- 1988 ) Thursday Night Baseball ( 1989 ) Baseball Night in America ( 1994 -- 1995 ) ESPN Major League Baseball ( broadcasters ) Non-MLB programs Little League World Series ( broadcasters ) Wide World of Sports Related articles The Baseball Network World Series television ratings Television contracts List of events on Wide World of Sports 1953 season Chicago White Sox Cleveland Indians Philadelphia Athletics ABC 's owned & operated TV stations WABC 7 ( Brooklyn Dodgers, August 17, 1953 - October 1, 1953 ) WLS 7 ( Chicago Cubs, 2015 - present ) KTRK 13 ( Houston Astros, 1962 - 1972 ) WFIL 6 ( later WPVI ) ( Philadelphia Athletics, 1949 - 1954 ; Philadelphia Phillies, 1959 - 1970 ) Sponsors Falstaff Brewing Corporation L&M Commentators The Baseball Network All - Star Game ALCS ALDS NLCS NLDS World Series Key figures Gary Bender Jack Buck Ken Coleman Dizzy Dean Bob DeLaney Don Drysdale Curt Gowdy Merle Harmon Keith Jackson George Kell Gene Kirby Jim Lampley Al Michaels Brent Musburger Bob Prince Chris Schenkel Gary Thorne Pete Van Wieren Jack Whitaker Steve Zabriskie Color commentators Johnny Bench Buddy Blattner Lou Brock Steve Busby Norm Cash Howard Cosell Larry Dierker Don Drysdale Leo Durocher Carl Erskine Tommy Hutton Jim Kaat Reggie Jackson Bob Gibson Tommy Henrich Tim McCarver Joe Morgan Jim Palmer Jackie Robinson Steve Stone Bob Uecker Earl Weaver Bill White Warner Wolf Guest commentators Johnny Bench Rick Dempsey Mark Fidrych Tommy John Tommy Lasorda Billy Martin Ross Porter Tom Seaver Hosts & field reporters Jack Arute Tim Brant Dave Diles Corey McPherrin John Saunders Al Trautwig Lesley Visser `` Inside Pitch '' scouting analysts Tony Gwynn Paul Molitor Steve Sax Mike Schmidt Lore Roger Maris ' 61 home run season ( 1961 ) `` The Bird '' ( 1976 ) `` The Double '' ( 1995 ) Tiebreaker games 1959 National League playoff series 1978 AL East Playoff 1980 NL West Playoff LCS games Chris Chambliss ' Walk - Off Home Run ( 1976 ) `` Garvey Home Run '' ( 1984 ) `` Gatorade Glove Play '' ( 1984 ) `` You 're Looking at One for the Ages Here '' ( 1986 ) World Series games `` Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bronx Is Burning '' ( 1977 ) `` Mr. October '' ( 1977 ) `` The Call '' ( 1985 ) 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake World Series 1948 1949 1950 1977 1979 1981 1985 1989 1994 ( cancelled ) 1995 ( Games 1, 4 - 5 ) AL Championship Series 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1995 ( Games 1 -- 2 ) NL Championship Series 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1995 ( Games 1 -- 2 ) AL Division Series 1981 1995 2002 ( ABC Family, coverage produced by ESPN ) NL Division Series 1995 2002 ( ABC Family, coverage produced by ESPN ) All - Star Game 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1995 Music `` Hello Old Friend '' `` Lights '' Seasons Saturday Game of the Week 1953 1954 1959 ( NL tie - breaker series ) 1960 1961 ( prime time games ) 1965 Monday Night Baseball 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1984 1985 1986 1988 1989 ( now on Thursday nights ) The Baseball Network 1994 1995 San Francisco Giants Established in 1883 Formerly the New York Gothams and the New York Giants Based in San Francisco, California ( Bay Area ) Franchise History in New York History in San Francisco Seasons Records No - hitters Players Managers Owners and executives Opening Day starting pitchers First - round draft picks Broadcasters Ballparks Polo Grounds Oakland Park St. George Grounds Hilltop Park Seals Stadium Candlestick Park AT&T Park Spring training : Payne Park Flamingo Field LSU Varsity Baseball Field Al Lang Stadium Phoenix Municipal Stadium Scottsdale Stadium Culture 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake Curse of Coogan 's Bluff `` Do n't Stop Believin ' '' `` Lights '' ( Journey song ) McCovey Cove New York Brickley Giants The Fan The Franchise ( Showtime TV series ) White Flag Trade Willie Mac Award `` You Dropped a Bomb on Me '' Lore 1894 Temple Cup Matt Cain 's perfect game Merkle 's Boner NL tie - breakers 1951 tie - breaker series 1962 tie - breaker series 1998 Wild Card tie - breaker game NL Wild Card Games 2014 2016 `` Shot Heard ' Round the World '' The Catch Rivalries Los Angeles Dodgers Oakland Athletics Subway Series / New York Yankees Retired numbers NY NY 11 20 24 27 30 36 44 42 Pre-World Series Champions ( 2 ) 1888 1889 Temple Cup Champions ( 1 ) 1894 World Series Champions ( 8 ) 1905 1921 1922 1933 1954 2012 2014 National League Championships ( 23 ) 1888 1889 1904 1905 1911 1912 1913 1917 1921 1922 1923 1924 1933 1936 1937 1951 1954 1962 1989 2002 2012 2014 Division titles ( 8 ) 1971 1989 1997 2000 2003 2012 Wild card ( 3 ) 2002 2014 2016 Minor league affiliates AAA Sacramento River Cats AA Richmond Flying Squirrels A Adv. San Jose Giants Augusta GreenJackets Short A Salem - Keizer Volcanoes Rookie AZL Giants Black AZL Giants Orange DSL Giants Seasons ( 136 ) 1880s 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890s 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900s 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910s 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920s 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930s 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940s 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950s 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960s 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970s 1970 1971 1972 1973 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980s 1980 1981 1982 1984 1985 1986 1988 1989 1990s 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000s 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010s 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lights_(Journey_song)&oldid=811611608 '' Categories : 1978 singles Rock ballads Journey ( band ) songs Songs written by Steve Perry Songs written by Neal Schon Song recordings produced by Roy Thomas Baker Songs about San Francisco 1993 singles Live singles Columbia Records singles 1978 songs Hidden categories : Articles with hAudio microformats Talk Contents About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 22 November 2017, at 19 : 39 ( UTC ). Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: who sings when the lights go down in the city
Answer: Journey