Invited to perform an opening set for Nico Vega, Dan Reynolds met Aja Volkman in 2010. He invited her to help him finish some demos he was working on. The two began a collaborative process which they titled Egyptian. They recorded, produced, and released independently a four track digital EP.
Colorblind
Egyptian Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We believe In the same ideals
But it's harder to leave
When we've come this far
And the end is near
Tell me what made you love
Just the way you do
And I wanted it too
But it seems this world won't let it be
And so will you write this down
When the siren sounds
You'll remember me
Cause this isn't meant to be
Turned into a memory
That stays until it fades
Away
Three hundred miles away
A different night
But the sky's the same
Nobody knows where you escape
That you are stranger
Show me love, I'm broke
I can't stand here on my own
If I'm going to live then I have to go
I'm danger
And so will you write this down
When the siren sounds
You'll remember me
Cause this isn't meant to be
Turned into a memory
That stays until it fades
And so will you write this down
When the siren sounds
You'll remember me
Cause this isn't meant to be
Turned into a memory
That stays until it fades
And so will you write this down
When the siren sounds
You'll remember me
Cause this isn't meant to be
Turned into a memory
That stays until it fades
Away
The lyrics to Egyptian's song "Colorblind" tell a story about love and the obstacles that prevent it from flourishing. The opening line, "Rise in the morning sun," sets the tone for a hopeful and optimistic outlook. The singer believes in the same ideals as their partner, but recognizes the difficulty of leaving when they have come so far. The end is near, and the fear of losing what they have built together is real.
The second verse focuses on the purity of love, and the desire to hold onto it. The singer asks their partner what made them love them in the first place, and desires that pure touch again. But the world they live in is not conducive to that kind of love, and the fear of losing it is all too real. The bridge is a plea for their partner to remember them when they are gone, and not to let their love turn into a memory that fades away.
In the final verse, the singer is miles away from their partner, hiding from the world as a stranger. They are broke and can't stand on their own, but they know they have to leave if they want to live. The urgency of the situation is palpable, and the fear of losing their love is all-encompassing. The final plea is once again for their partner to remember them, to hold onto what they had together, and not let it turn into a distant memory.
Overall, "Colorblind" is a beautiful and haunting song, filled with emotion and passion. It speaks to the universal struggle of holding onto love in a world that often doesn't value it.
Line by Line Meaning
Rise in the morning sun
Starting a new day with the hope of achieving our goals
We believe In the same ideals
We have similar beliefs and are on the same page
But it's harder to leave
Making a tough decision to leave something behind
When we've come this far
After all the hard work put in, it's difficult to walk away
And the end is near
The end is approaching, and it's time to make a choice
Tell me what made you love
Asking for reasons behind someone's love
Just the way you do
The specific way someone loves that person
It's the purest touch
The love is genuine and untainted
And I wanted it too
Expressing a desire for that type of love
But it seems this world won't let it be
Obstacles prevent the love from being fully expressed
And so will you write this down
Asking someone to remember and record a message
When the siren sounds
At a time of urgency or distress
You'll remember me
Asking to not be forgotten
Cause this isn't meant to be
Acknowledging that something isn't meant to happen
Turned into a memory
Avoiding turning something into a distant memory
That stays until it fades
Trying to hold onto a memory before it fades away
Three hundred miles away
Physically far from a familiar place or person
A different night
A different time, possibly unfamiliar or uncomfortable
But the sky's the same
Although things may seem different, the sky is a constant
Nobody knows where you escape
Going unnoticed while trying to escape
That you are stranger
Identifying as a stranger or outsider
Show me love, I'm broke
Asking for love and support during a difficult time
I can't stand here on my own
Feeling alone and unable to handle things alone
If I'm going to live then I have to go
Making changes to survive and thrive
I'm danger
Feeling uncertain and vulnerable
And so will you write this down
Reiterating the request to remember and record a message
When the siren sounds
At a time when it's important to act quickly
You'll remember me
Requesting to be remembered long after they are gone
Cause this isn't meant to be
Acknowledging that something isn't meant to happen
Turned into a memory
Avoiding turning something into a distant memory
That stays until it fades
Trying to hold onto a memory before it fades away
And so will you write this down
Once again, emphasizing the importance of remembering and recording a message
When the siren sounds
During moments of emergency or crisis
You'll remember me
Requesting to be remembered long after they are gone
Cause this isn't meant to be
Acknowledging that something isn't meant to happen
Turned into a memory
Avoiding turning something into a distant memory
That stays until it fades
Trying to hold onto a memory before it fades away
And so will you write this down
One last time reminding someone to record and remember a message
When the siren sounds
During moments of crisis, action is necessary
You'll remember me
Hoping to be remembered long after they are gone
Cause this isn't meant to be
Acknowledging that something isn't meant to happen
Turned into a memory
Avoiding turning something into a distant memory
That stays until it fades
Trying to hold onto a memory before it fades away
Away
End of the song
Contributed by Violet S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.