Fireflies
►Owl City Lyrics
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If ten million fireflies
Lit up the world as I fell asleep
'Cause they fill the open air
And leave teardrops everywhere
You'd think me rude but I would just stand and stare
I'd like to make myself believe that planet Earth turns slowly
'Cause everything is never as it seems
'Cause I'd get a thousand hugs
From ten thousand lightning bugs
As they tried to teach me how to dance
A foxtrot above my head
A sock hop beneath my bed
A disco ball is just hanging by a thread (thread, thread)
I'd like to make myself believe that planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems (when I fall asleep)
Leave my door open just a crack
Please take me away from here
'Cause I feel like such an insomniac
Please take me away from here
Why do I tire of counting sheep?
Please take me away from here
When I'm far too tired to fall asleep
To ten million fireflies
I'm weird 'cause I hate goodbyes
I got misty eyes as they said farewell (they said farewell)
But I'll know where several are
If my dreams get real bizarre
'Cause I saved a few and I keep them in a jar (jar, jar, jar)
I'd like to make myself believe that planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems (when I fall asleep)
I'd like to make myself believe that planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems (when I fall asleep)
(I'd like to make myself believe that planet Earth turns slowly)
(It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep)
(Because my dreams are bursting at the seams)
The lyrics of "Fireflies" by Owl City are about a dream the singer has about fireflies illuminating the world. The opening line says that if ten million fireflies lit up the world while the singer was falling asleep, they would not believe their eyes. The fireflies fill the open air and leave teardrops everywhere, making the singer feels like they should just stand and stare. The lyrics are captivating and paint a magical, whimsical picture of an imaginative world that is inspiring and surreal.
The second verse is about the singer learning to dance with the fireflies. They describe getting a thousand hugs from ten thousand lightning bugs who are trying to teach them how to dance. A sock hop beneath their bed, a disco ball hanging by a thread, and a foxtrot above their head are all part of the dream sequence. The singer is lost in this dream and wants to make themselves believe that the Earth turns slowly.
The bridge has the singer feeling like an insomniac and requesting someone to take them away from here. They are tired of counting sheep and can’t fall asleep. The last verse ends with a sad farewell to the fireflies, and the singer feeling like they have saved a few and kept them in a jar as a reminder of this magical dream world.
Line by Line Meaning
You would not believe your eyes
The witness is seeing something that's hard to believe
If ten million fireflies
The number of fireflies is immense and unbelievable
Lit up the world as I fell asleep
Everything around me was bright and beautiful as I drifted into sleep
'Cause they fill the open air
The fireflies are abundant and filling the atmosphere
And leave teardrops everywhere
The fireflies are beautiful and mystical, appearing like teardrops
You'd think me rude but I would just stand and stare
The witness is so captivated by the sight that they can't help but stare
I'd like to make myself believe that planet earth turns slowly
The witness wishes to believe that the world is calm and steady
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
The witness is conflicted about being asleep or awake in this moment
'Cause everything is never as it seems
Things are not always what they appear to be
'Cause I'd get a thousand hugs
The fireflies are surrounding the witness, creating a warm embrace
From ten thousand lightning bugs
There are a large number of fireflies, making the experience even more amazing
As they tried to teach me how to dance
The fireflies are moving in a way that seems like a dance
A foxtrot above my head
The fireflies are moving in a pattern that looks like a foxtrot dance above the witness
A sock hop beneath my bed
The fireflies are moving in a pattern that looks like a sock hop dance underneath the witness' bed
A disco ball is just hanging by a thread (thread, thread)
The witness is imagining a disco ball hanging from a thread, adding to the magical atmosphere
Leave my door open just a crack
The witness wants to feel connected to the outside world
Please take me away from here
The witness wants to escape the current situation
'Cause I feel like such an insomniac
The witness is having trouble sleeping and feels restless
Why do I tire of counting sheep
The witness has tried to sleep but has grown tired of traditional methods
When I'm far too tired to fall asleep
The witness is exhausted but still unable to sleep
To ten million fireflies
The witness is directing their attention back to the fireflies that are causing their awe
I'm weird cause I hate goodbyes
The witness doesn't want the experience to end and feels strange about saying goodbye
I got misty eyes as they said farewell (said farewell)
The witness is feeling emotional as the fireflies begin to disappear
But I'll know where several are
The witness has saved a memory of a few fireflies to carry with them
If my dreams get real bizarre
The witness wants to hold onto the memory of the fireflies in case their dreams turn strange
'Cause I saved a few and I keep them in a jar (jar, jar)
The witness has literally saved a few fireflies in a jar to remember the moment forever
(Because my dreams are bursting at the seams)
The witness is feeling emotionally overwhelmed with the experience and wants to keep it close
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Adam R. Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind