Last Night A DJ Saved My Life

The song "Last Night A DJ Saved My Life" by Indeep is an ode to the transformative and healing power of music, particularly as channeled through the skills of a DJ. The lyrics tell the story of someone who is feeling down and out, possibly due to a romantic issue, as suggested by lines like 'You know you drive me crazy, baby' and 'Baby, why you leave me all alone?' The protagonist is bored and in a state of emotional distress until a DJ plays a song that lifts their spirits and metaphorically saves their life from a broken heart.

The song emphasizes the importance of music as a form of escape and therapy. The DJ is portrayed as a savior, someone who can change the mood and outlook of an individual simply by playing the right song at the right time. This is a common sentiment in music culture, where DJs are often seen as curators of the collective mood, capable of turning a night around with their selections. The repeated phrase 'Last night a DJ saved my life with a song' encapsulates the central theme of the song: music's ability to rescue us from our lowest points.

Moreover, the song touches on the idea of music as a unifying force. The lines 'Hey, listen up to your local D. J / You better hear what he's got to say' suggest that the DJ's influence extends beyond individual listeners to the community at large. The DJ's mix has the power to fix problems and provide a collective catharsis, as indicated by 'There's not a problem that I can't fix / 'Cause I can do it in the mix.' The song, released in the early 1980s, reflects the disco and post-disco era's celebration of DJs and dance music as central to nightlife and culture.