☝️ Key Points
- The singer uses sunglasses as a symbol of concealment and hiding his true feelings or thoughts
- The song tells the story of an unequal relationship in which the singer feels manipulation and deceit from his partner
- The repeated plea 'Don't switch the blade on the guy in shades' and 'Don't masquerade with the guy in shades' is a call to not be hurt or deceived
- Sunglasses are also used as a means to forget uncomfortable realities and distract oneself
- Despite his insecurities and fears, the singer shows the desire to see the truth and confront reality
Interpretation
The song 'Sunglasses at Night' by
Corey Hart plays with the concept of sunglasses as a symbol of mystery and concealment. The constant repetition of 'I wear my sunglasses at night' suggests the singer's intention to hide his true feelings or thoughts, possibly out of fear of vulnerability or rejection.
The song's lyrics tell the story of an unequal relationship, in which the singer feels manipulated and deceived by his partner. 'While she's deceiving me, it cuts my security' shows his insecurity and the feeling of losing control, which is reinforced by the line 'Has she got control of me?'.
The lines 'Don't switch the blade on the guy in shades, oh-no' and 'Don't masquerade with the guy in shades, oh-no' seem to be a plea to his partner not to hurt or deceive him. 'The guy in shades' is another reference to the sunglasses and what they symbolize - his hidden emotions and insecurities.
The singer also uses the sunglasses as a means to forget and distract from unpleasant realities: 'So I can, so I can forget my name while you collect your claim'. Despite his insecurities and fears, the singer seems to have the desire to see the truth and face reality, as hinted by the line 'So I can, so I can see the light that's right before my eyes'.