Wake Up
Arcade Fire Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning

(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)

Somethin' filled up
My heart with nothin'
Someone told me not to cry

Now that I'm older


My heart's colder
And I can see that it's a lie

(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)

Children, wake up
Hold your mistake up
Before they turn the summer into dust

If the children don't grow up
Our bodies get bigger but our hearts get torn up
We're just a million little god's causin' rain storms
Turnin' every good thing to rust
I guess we'll just have to adjust

(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)

With my lightnin' bolts a-glowin
I can see where I am goin' to be
When the reaper he reaches and touches my hand

(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
(Oh-oh-oh-oh)
(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
(Oh-oh-oh-oh)

With my lightnin' bolts a-glowin'
I can see where I am goin'
With my lightnin' bolts a-glowin'
I can see where I am go, goin'


You better look out below

Overall Meaning

The song "Wake Up" by Arcade Fire is an anthem that captures the disillusionment of young adults as they come to grips with the reality that their childhood was full of lies. The first verses describe the speaker's early life as being filled up with nothing and not understanding why. Someone told them not to cry, but now that they are older, they understand that it was a lie.


The chorus then switches to addressing the children of the world. The hook "Children, wake up, Hold your mistake up, Before they turn the summer into dust" implores children to take responsibility for their actions and not let society destroy their youthful spirit. The second part of the chorus describes how, as adults, we grow physically but our hearts get broken. We are all little gods causing rainstorms and turning every good thing to rust. And since we are the cause of the problem, we must adjust to deal with it.


The last lines of the song paint a picture of the speaker seeing where they are going in life with their "lightning bolts a-glowin'" but warning others to "look out below." It suggests that as we ascend into the future, others should be wary of the potential collateral damage left behind.


Overall, "Wake Up" is a powerful call to action that speaks to young adults and the disillusionment they face when they realize they have been fed lies their whole life. The song urges them to wake up and take control of their destinies before society grinds them down.


Line by Line Meaning

Somethin' filled up My heart with nothin' Someone told me not to cry
A feeling of emptiness crept up on me, and even though it hurt me, someone prohibited me from showing my emotions


Now that I'm older My heart's colder And I can see that it's a lie
As I grew up, I became more disillusioned and cynical, realizing that what I had been told earlier was not true


Children, wake up Hold your mistake up Before they turn the summer into dust
Kids, snap out of it, own up to your errors before they ruin all the good things about life


If the children don't grow up Our bodies get bigger but our hearts get torn up We're just a million little god's causin' rain storms Turnin' every good thing to rust I guess we'll just have to adjust
If youngsters remain immature, they may become physically older but emotionally damaged, making the world a terrible place to live. We, as humans, can be destructive in our tiny ways, and it is up to us to deal with the aftermath


With my lightnin' bolts a-glowin I can see where I am goin' to be When the reaper he reaches and touches my hand
Even in the face of death, I can see where my life is heading because of the way I have lived it


You better look out below
Be cautious and aware of the trouble that lies beneath




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: William Butler, Win Butler, Regine Chassagne, Tim Kingsbury, Richard R Parry

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comments from YouTube:

2nd_snideelf

Somethin' filled up
My heart with nothin'
Someone told me not to cry
Now that I'm older
My heart's colder
And I can see that it's a lie
Children, wake up
Hold your mistake up
Before they turn the summer into dust
If the children don't grow up
Our bodies get bigger but our hearts get torn up
We're just a million little god's causin' rain storms
Turnin' every good thing to rust
I guess we'll just have to adjust
With my lightnin' bolts a-glowin
I can see where I am goin' to be
When the reaper he reaches and touches my hand
With my lightnin' bolts a-glowin'
I can see where I am goin'
With my lightnin' bolts a-glowin'
I can see where I am go, goin'
You better look out below



Datavenia

Somethin' filled up
My heart with nothin'
Someone told me not to cry

Now that I'm older
My heart's colder
And I can see that it's a lie

Children, wake up
Hold your mistake up
Before they turn the summer into dust

If the children don't grow up
Our bodies get bigger but our hearts get torn up
We're just a million little god's causin' rain storms
Turnin' every good thing to rust

I guess we'll just have to adjust

With my lightnin' bolts a-glowin
I can see where I am goin' to be
When the reaper he reaches and touches my hand

With my lightnin' bolts a-glowin'
I can see where I am goin'
With my lightnin' bolts a-glowin'
I can see where I am go, goin'

You better look out below



Finn Flix

lyrics

something filled up
my heart with nothing
and someone
told me not to cry

but now that
im older
my hearts
colder
and I can
see that it's a lie

chorus

children
wake up
hold your
mistake up
before they
turn the summer into dust

if the children
dont grow up
our body's get big our
hearts get torn up

were just a million little gods causing rain storm! turning every thing good to rust

I guess well just have to adjust
chorus

with my lightning bolts a glowing
I can see where I am going to be the reaper he reaches and touches my hand
chorus
with my lightning bolts a glowing I can see where I am going
with my lightning bolts a glowing I can see where I am go going

you better look out below!



J O

Somethin' filled up
My heart with nothin'
Someone told me not to cry
Now that I'm older
My heart's colder
And I can see that it's a lie
Children, wake up
Hold your mistake up
Before they turn the summer into dust
If the children don't grow up
Our bodies get bigger but our hearts get torn up
We're just a million little god's causin' rain storms
Turnin' every good thing to rust
I guess we'll just have to adjust
With my lightnin' bolts a-glowin
I can see where I am goin' to be
When the reaper he reaches and touches my hand
With my lightnin' bolts a-glowin'
I can see where I am goin'
With my lightnin' bolts a-glowin'
I can see where I am go, goin'
You better look out below



Nate Haselton

Somethin' filled up
My heart with nothin'
Someone told me not to cry

Now that I'm older
My heart's colder
And I can see that it's a lie

Children, wake up
Hold your mistake up
Before they turn the summer into dust

If the children don't grow up
Our bodies get bigger but our hearts get torn up
We're just a million little god's causin' rain storms
Turnin' every good thing to rust
I guess we'll just have to adjust

With my lightnin' bolts a-glowin
I can see where I am goin' to be
When the reaper he reaches and touches my hand

With my lightnin' bolts a-glowin'
I can see where I am goin'
With my lightnin' bolts a-glowin'
I can see where I am go, goin'



kosong

Somethin’ filled up
my heart with nothin’.
Someone told me not to cry.

But now that I’m older,
my heart’s colder,
and I can see that it’s a lie.

Children, wake up.
Hold your mistake up
before they turn the summer into dust.

If the children don’t grow up,
our bodies get bigger but our hearts get torn up.
We’re just a million little gods causin' rain storms,
turnin’ every good thing to rust.

I guess we’ll just have to adjust.

With my lightnin’ bolts a glowin’,
I can see where I am goin’ to be
when the reaper he reaches and touches my hand.

With my lightnin’ bolts a glowin’,
I can see where I am goin’.
With my lightnin’ bolts a glowin’,
I can see where I am go -- goin’!

You better look out below!



All comments from YouTube:

Daniela Esquivel

I was looking for this song for 12 years, I've heard it once on the radio and never again. Today it's a beautiful day because I finally find it. I'm crying. This song feels like getting back at home to me.

Eriruarito Caradepito

Yo have to heard this song + Rebellion.

Josh Williams

I’m happy you finally found it!

Chele66

I found this song via Patel Patriot live stream. I loved it instantly. :) Great musica!

james crowley

Nothing worse than hearing a song but knowing the artist or title(happened to me often with old dance tunes)have a great day my friend 😊

16 More Replies...

Duo Maxwell

Mom, wherever you are in the afterlife, I want you to know that I miss you. This song was played at your funeral 12 years ago in a video montage of you. I never shed a tear when you passed knowing you're free of pain but finding and hearing this song today, I just couldn't hold my tears anymore.

james leagas

Nice ❤

Charlie S

God bless you and your mom

Chris B

Rest In Peace Dad. I'm disconnected, severed from you but no matter the hell I am in, you still remain.
It was a harrowing honour to watch you pass and a true privilege to have been in your life.
I'll always love you.

Alise Walker

Awwww my goodness 😢

More Comments

More Videos