“Wake Up” was played as the pre-game intro song at New York Rangers games during the 2006-2007 season. It is currently used as the intro song for Premier League club Aston Villa.
This song was played during the beginning of the U2’s Vertigo Tour shows, usually followed by “City of Blinding Lights”. A brief snippet of the song’s pre-concert appearance opens U2’s concert film Vertigo 2005: Live from Chicago.
In 2009, "Wake Up" was predominately used in a trailer for the film adaptation of "Where the Wild Things Are" by Spike Jonze.
In 2010, "Wake Up" was used in promotional material for the National Football League during the television airing of the Super Bowl.
The beginning of "Wake Up" is played every Friday in the last segment of the Dan Patrick Show.
Wake Up
Arcade Fire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(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
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 singer'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 singer 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
@inafridge8573
This song is about recognizing that you were taught fear as a child -- that it was a lie. To hold your mistake up... is to forgive yourself. To open your heart to the world.
@Jayyhawwk
You hit it on the button. You're doing great!
@kennedypage9128
Dig it
@leegoddard1253
End ov chat xxx
@cornbreadpelicanundertake
Corny
@seabear1388
ur mad@@cornbreadpelicanundertake
@danielaesquivel4531
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.
@eriruaritocaradepito5007
Yo have to heard this song + Rebellion.
@pandamandax3797
holy shit dude thats fesgrdthfyj
@joshwilliams8264
I’m happy you finally found it!