2003 Mercury Sable Rear Lights Staying On

Electrical problem
2003 Mercury Sable 6 cyl All Wheel Drive Automatic

The rear lights are staying on. I"ve tried depressing the emergency brake and releasing it, putting it in and out of Park, turning the lights from the "auto " setting and off again. Even the light across the back window is staying on like I have my brakes on. The keys have been removed from the car for over an hour now. The front headlights are not on, it's just the rear lights.