SUNRISE
John Louis & the Midwest Lyrics
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But cramped feet don't take you very far
All I wanted was a short cut that was actually short
But most days the long way isn't that hard
Days can seem like they're weighing you down
Take it step by step by step by step and
Oh, just wait til you see that sunrise
There's nothing quite like it
You'll be alright
I gotta claim my place among the stars
Gotta talk the talk
And know who all of my friends are
Believe it or not I think I'm unprepared
To do the things that I have to, baby I'm scared
So I'll sing to myself
Oh, just wait til you see that sunrise
There's nothing quite like it
Oh, just wait til the morning
You'll be alright
Oh, just wait til you see that sunrise
There's nothing quite like it
Oh, just wait til the morning
You'll be all right
Yeah, you'll be alright
And when you move your feet do so with everybody
And if you have to dance alone then just dance alone
And when you move your feet do so with everybody
And should you ever have to dance alone I'll be there
The opening lines of the song Sunrise by John Louis & the Midwest present a prevalent theme that lies at the heart of this song - the burden of responsibility. The singer feels like he has been handed a monumental task, something that he is not sure he is up to. He talks about wanting a "smaller pair of shoes to fill". He feels like the responsibility or the "shoes" that he has to fill are too big for him. This feeling is compounded by his concern about being unprepared and scared. He talks about "doing the things that I have to do" but feeling "unprepared". At this juncture, the singer breaks into song and tries to soothe himself through the process of singing.
The chorus of the song acts as a much-needed balm for the singer's anxiety. He talks about the beauty of the sunrise and how nothing quite compares to being witness to it. He encourages himself by singing, "Oh, just wait till you see that sunrise, there's nothing quite like it. Oh, just wait till the morning, you'll be alright." Through these lyrics, the singer seems to be reminding himself that despite the anxiety that he feels, there are moments of beauty and hope that he can experience along the way. The final lines of the song suggest that the singer needs to be able to embrace these moments of beauty and embrace the responsibility that lies ahead of him. The line "And should you ever have to dance alone, I'll be there" suggests that despite the singer's fears, he is ready to face the challenge head-on with his friends by his side.
Line by Line Meaning
All I ever wanted was a smaller pair of shoes to fill
All I wanted was a less overwhelming goal
But cramped feet don't take you very far
However, being confined won't help you reach your objectives
All I wanted was a short cut that was actually short
All I needed was an effective way to achieve my aspirations
But most days the long way isn't that hard
But most of the time, the longer route is not too difficult
Days can seem like they're weighing you down
Sometimes, days may feel oppressive
Take it step by step by step by step and
Take it one step at a time
Oh, just wait til you see that sunrise
Just wait until you can witness the beauty of the sunrise
There's nothing quite like it
It's nothing short of amazing
Oh, just wait til the morning
Just hold on a little longer, until morning comes
You'll be alright
Everything will work out in the end
I gotta claim my place among the stars
I need to fulfill my greatest dreams
Gotta talk the talk
I need to be confident in sharing my ideas
And know who all of my friends are
I need to recognize who my true supporters are
Believe it or not I think I'm unprepared
Truthfully, I feel unready for what's ahead of me
To do the things that I have to, baby I'm scared
I'm scared to do what's necessary
So I'll sing to myself
I'll encourage myself through music
Yeah, you'll be alright
Yes, everything will work out for you
And when you move your feet do so with everybody
When you take action, do it with others
And if you have to dance alone then just dance alone
But even if you have to do things by yourself, still do them
And should you ever have to dance alone I'll be there
And even if you have no one else, I'll be there to support you
Contributed by Jake F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.