The phrase "when the lights go down in the city" is popularly known from the song "Lights" by the band Journey. The song originally referred to the city of Los Angeles, as songwriter Steve Perry wrote it while living in L.A., observing the city lights going down at sunrise. However, the song was later adapted to reference San Francisco, the band's home city, changing the lyrics to "when the lights go down in the city and the sun shines on the bay." The phrase poetically describes the transition from night to day in the city, capturing a moment of introspection and longing as the city lights dim and the sun rises over the bay area.
