The song "By God" by Houndmouth tells a story of a troubled relationship and the struggle for independence. The protagonist, who goes by the name By God, pleads for his partner, Suzanne, to turn off the lights and let him be. The opening lines suggest a sense of frustration and a desire to draw a line between different aspects of life. By asking Suzanne to distinguish between "floozy women" and enjoying life's simple pleasures like cigarettes and wine, By God is seeking clarity and a sense of boundaries. By God feels that there is no room for his laughter in the current situation, but acknowledges that Suzanne never seemed to mind his presence in the past. This could imply that their relationship has changed or that By God's behavior has somehow become less desirable. The chorus, "By God, won't you please just cut out the lights, but whatever you do, won't you leave my candle burning," expresses the desire to be freed from the current situation while also holding on to a small glimmer of hope. By God wants Suzanne to let go and move on, but also hopes to retain a symbolic light or connection between them. The verses describe By God's work at the armory, where he is struggling to sustain a certain lifestyle. The bossman's demanding attitude adds to By God's frustration, as he feels unappreciated despite being the boss's only son. This could also imply a theme of feeling trapped or unfulfilled in his current circumstances. The lyrics "Count your money out on your own time, you stole somebody's heart my dear but it sure as hell wasn't mine" express By God's resentment towards Suzanne, suggesting that she may have deceived him or betrayed his trust. The reference to stealing someone's heart implies that Suzanne may have played with emotions or caused damage in another relationship. The song concludes with By God demanding that Suzanne pick up her belongings from his bedroom floor, asserting that she is no longer welcome in his life. Despite this, he still asks her to leave his candle burning, symbolizing a small flicker of hope for their relationship to be rekindled. Overall, "By God" explores themes of frustration, longing for independence, and the complexities of relationships. It portrays a character named By God who is seeking clarity and freedom, while still holding on to a glimmer of hope and a connection to his past love, Suzanne.
