Middle
Fifteen Lyrics


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I heard a song once and it was beautiful and it was free and it was my dream
I lost my housing at the sweet young age of fourteen
I heard a song on the radio, it was my dream
I found the value of a song walking in the rain cold and alone with no place to go
I found the value of a song singing to myself
Just make it through the night, keep awake till the sunlight
It don't matter who sold 6 million
It don't matter who made 6 million
What you call success I call excess
What I'd call important is relevance
I heard a song once it was by Husker do
They tried to sell their songs for a million dollars
They probably never knew that they kept one scared kid alive
They traded gold for what they had inside
All my friends now now on TV
All my friends now sold what they love for money




All my friends now are bought and sold so easily
All my friends now think they can afford not to be free

Overall Meaning

The song "Middle" by Fifteen is a poignant examination of the value of art and the plight of the artist. The lyrics describe the singer's struggle to find a sense of home and purpose in a world that often values commercial success over genuine artistic expression. The song opens with a reference to a beautiful and free song that the singer heard once, and how it was their dream. The song was likely a source of comfort and inspiration for the singer during a difficult time in their life. However, despite the power of this song, the singer lost their housing at a young age and was forced to navigate the world alone.


As the song continues, the singer reflects on the value of a song. They note that they found the value of a song while walking in the rain, cold and alone. The song provided a source of comfort and companionship during a dark time. The singer learned to sing to themselves, and to use music as a tool for survival. The lyrics touch on the idea that success is often equated with commercial achievement, but that true artistic relevance cannot be measured in dollars and cents. The singer notes that their friends who have achieved commercial success through music are no longer free -- they are bought and sold easily, and they have lost touch with the genuine artistic expression that brought them to music in the first place.


Overall, "Middle" is a powerful and thought-provoking song that explores the challenges and rewards of pursuing a life in the arts. It challenges conventional ideas about success and encourages listeners to think critically about the true value of art and artists.


Line by Line Meaning

I heard a song once and it was beautiful and it was free and it was my dream
The singer recalls hearing a song that was deeply inspiring, beautiful, and freely available, representing their dream.


I lost my housing at the sweet young age of fourteen
At the age of fourteen, the singer became homeless and lost their housing for reasons unknown.


I heard a song on the radio, it was my dream
Hearing a song on the radio reminded the singer of their dream, motivating them through challenging times.


I found the value of a song walking in the rain cold and alone with no place to go
During a difficult period of being cold, alone, and homeless, the singer discovered the profound value of music and its power to uplift.


I found the value of a song singing to myself
By singing along to songs, the singer found comfort, strength, and a renewed sense of hope.


Just make it through the night, keep awake till the sunlight
To survive and endure through tough times, the singer reminds themselves to make it through each night and stay awake until morning.


It don't matter who sold 6 million
The singer asserts that commercial success and record sales figures are ultimately irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.


It don't matter who made 6 million
The singer emphasizes that even if someone made millions of dollars, it does not necessarily grant them fulfillment or happiness.


What you call success I call excess
The singer challenges the conventional notion of success and equates it with excessive wealth and materialism.


What I'd call important is relevance
Rather than valuing financial success or fame, the singer prioritizes making an impact and being culturally and socially relevant.


I heard a song once it was by Husker do
The singer recalls a particular song by the band Husker Du, which had a significant impact on their life and outlook.


They tried to sell their songs for a million dollars
Although Husker Du attempted to sell their music for a large sum of money, the value and impact of their songs went far beyond mere monetary worth to the singer.


They probably never knew that they kept one scared kid alive
The singer reflects that Husker Du likely had no idea of the profound influence their music had on the singer, who found comfort and hope in their songs during a dark period of their life.


They traded gold for what they had inside
Despite the potential to earn a lot of money, Husker Du prioritized their artistic integrity and authenticity by creating genuine, soulful music that resonated deeply with listeners like the singer.


All my friends now now on TV
The singer observes that some of their friends have achieved fame and success in the entertainment industry, appearing on television.


All my friends now sold what they love for money
All of the singer's friends who found success in the industry put aside their passion and artistic values in pursuit of financial gain.


All my friends now are bought and sold so easily
The singer recognizes that their friends who achieved fame and fortune became commodified and sold as products in the music industry.


All my friends now think they can afford not to be free
Despite outward success, the singer believes that their friends who became successful in the industry lost their creative and personal freedom, becoming trapped in the system and confined by industry pressures.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JEFFREY OTT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Erik Hilger

definitely one of my favorite Fifteen songs. glad i got to see em live at the Fireside Bowl in Chicago.

GuyIncognito

Thanks, got it! :D I love 90s music.

Will Johnson

this band is great they had a cool ad in thrasher in 96

GuyIncognito

I've been trying to find this album, can anyone tell me where I can get a download?

Hugh Jass

This song is actually about Husker Du, it says so right in the song.

Jeromy Ray

Saw these guys a million times.

Jorge Rivera

@RockstarRacc00n I have the cd. He wrote down his dissappointment on Green Day, Bad Religion, Jawbreaker and Rancid because they "sold to the highest bidder. Life's better down here anyway."

Nate I

Does anyone know where I can find the song Stolen life?

Rockstar Raccoon

Yeah, and now GreenDay's famous and that didn't go well with everyone else, though what matters is "relevance", not money. That's the deal with Green Day, and that's what this song is about. (maybe we should ask him though... I don't really care enough to bother him...)

MessiahofEvil

on fifteen album lucky

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