(written by Kristin Hersh)

A high

That's a swell take on this situation

I was trying to rectify

I was trying to skip out on this high

Keep away from the freaks on the fringe

They only talk to you 'cause

You give them a good excuse to cry

But in a cleaner light, it's ok

In a cleaner light, it's ok

In a better light, it's ok

In a better light, it's ok

This strange old sunshine beats me senseless

But it's supposed to be

Keeping me healthy

It's a lie

You're a strange old thing

That keeps me senseless

But you're supposed to be

Keeping me company

But in a cleaner light, it's ok

In a cleaner light, it's ok

In a better light, it's ok

In a better light, it's ok

I wake up feeling fragile

It's nothing the TV couldn't cure

Or lying here for my whole life

But in a cleaner life, it's ok

In a cleaner life, it's ok

In a better life, it's ok

In a better life, it's ok

They only talk to you 'cause

You're there

- (Re: Works In Progress version) "This is literally a "bedroom demo." My home studio is actually an alcove off of our bedroom. I wrote "A Cleaner Light" the night before I flew to New Orleans to begin recording Sky Motel. That night, in the middle of packing, I handed Billy the baby and rushed upstairs to put down this demo so I wouldn't forget it. Sometimes a song changes a lot in the studio. "A Cleaner Light" turned out to be one of those songs."