You have a poor connection somewhere. When the lights try to come on, the draw is too much for it, every thing goes out. Check the battery cables, especially the one on the starter solenoid. take them apart, clean everything up, and it should work. Check the cable ends, too, sometimes they are internally flawed. You can solder them, but probably better to get a new one. Those repair ends that clamp on to the cable are famous for glitches like yours.