i believe you mean lamps a bulb is what you plant in the ground.
In order to have the electricity or the flow or electrons going around the circuit, the circuit must be closed. If it is not closed then electrons cannot flow.
Light and heat energy
A electric current can only flow in a closed path so you need a open path.
A bulb does not light up if there is no voltage available across the bulb, or if the bulb is burned out.