Wide Awake
Katy Perry feat. RiFF RAFF Lyrics


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I'm wide awake
I'm wide awake

I'm wide awake
Yeah, I was in the dark
I was falling hard
With an open heart
I'm wide awake
How did I read the stars so wrong

I'm wide awake
And now it's clear to me
That everything you see
Ain't always what it seems
I'm wide awake
Yeah, I was dreaming for so long

I wish I knew then
What I know now
Wouldn't dive in
Wouldn't bow down
Gravity hurts
You made it so sweet
Till I woke up on
On the concrete

Falling from cloud nine
Crashing from the high
I'm letting go tonight
I'm falling from cloud nine

I'm wide awake
Not losing any sleep
Picked up every piece
And landed on my feet
I'm wide awake
Need nothing to complete myself, no

I'm wide awake
Yeah, I am born again
Out of the lion's den
I don't have to pretend
And it's too late
The story's over now, the end

I wish I knew then
What I know now
Wouldn't dive in
Wouldn't bow down
Gravity hurts
You made it so sweet
Till I woke up on
On the concrete

Falling from cloud nine
Crashing from the high
I'm letting go tonight
I'm falling from cloud nine

Thunder rumbling
Castles crumbling
I am trying to hold on
God knows that I tried
Seeing the bright side
But I'm not blind anymore
I'm wide awake
I'm wide awake

Falling from cloud nine
Crashing from the high
I'm letting go tonight
I'm falling from cloud nine

I'm wide awake
I'm wide awake
I'm wide awake




I'm wide awake
I'm wide awake

Overall Meaning

In "Wide Awake," Katy Perry reflects on a painful breakup and the aftermath of her heartbreak. She starts by acknowledging that she was "in the dark" and "falling hard" for this person who she believed was who she thought they were, however, she later realized that "everything you see ain't always what it seems" and that she "read the stars so wrong." Perry understands that being naive and turning a blind eye to the signs can lead to getting hurt. She wishes she knew what she knows now so that she wouldn't have "dove in" so fast and wouldn't have let gravity hurt her. In the chorus, she sings about falling from cloud nine and crashing from the high of her love. It's evident that this breakup wasn't just an emotional heartbreak but also materialized as a physical event (falling on concrete).


The second verse is Perry declaring that she is strong and that she is "wide awake." She is not losing any sleep over the breakup, and she has picked up every piece that was hurt and landed on her feet. She does not need anyone to complete her. Perry reveals that after the heartbreak, she "is born again" and "out of the lion's den." She no longer needs to hide who she really is and doesn't have to pretend to be someone else. In the bridge, Perry brings in a metaphor of thunder rumbling, castles crumbling and trying to hold on, but it's all slipping from her grasp. Perry acknowledges that she is not blind anymore, and it's time to move on from this heartbreak.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm wide awake
I'm alert and aware


I'm wide awake
I'm fully conscious and present in the moment


I'm wide awake
I'm paying attention to my surroundings and emotions


Yeah, I was in the dark
I was ignorant of the truth


I was falling hard
I was in a vulnerable state and taking risks


With an open heart
I was receptive to love and new experiences


I'm wide awake
I have gained clarity and understanding


How did I read the stars so wrong
I misinterpreted signals and signs


And now it's clear to me
I have a greater understanding of reality


That everything you see
Not everything is as it appears


Ain't always what it seems
What you perceive can be misleading


I'm wide awake
I am more cognizant of the truth now


Yeah, I was dreaming for so long
I had unrealistic expectations and desires


I wish I knew then
I have regrets about my past decisions


What I know now
I've learned from my past experiences


Wouldn't dive in
I wouldn't have rushed into things


Wouldn't bow down
I wouldn't have compromised my values


Gravity hurts
The consequences of my actions have been difficult to bear


You made it so sweet
Your manipulation made it seem worth it


Till I woke up on
Until I became conscious of the real situation


On the concrete
The harsh reality of the situation


Falling from cloud nine
I am coming down from a euphoric state


Crashing from the high
I am experiencing a sudden fall from grace


I'm letting go tonight
I'm moving on and accepting the truth


I'm falling from cloud nine
I'm coming to terms with reality


Not losing any sleep
It doesn't bother me anymore


Picked up every piece
I've dealt with every consequence


And landed on my feet
I've recovered from the fall


Need nothing to complete myself, no
I am content with who I am and don't need anything else


Yeah, I am born again
I have a new perspective on life


Out of the lion's den
I've emerged victorious from a difficult situation


I don't have to pretend
I can be myself and not put on a facade


And it's too late
The damage has already been done


The story's over now, the end
It's time to move on and close this chapter


Thunder rumbling
I am facing a stormy situation


Castles crumbling
My illusions and fantasies are being shattered


I am trying to hold on
I am struggling to keep it together


God knows that I tried
I've done all that I can


Seeing the bright side
I'm looking at the positive aspects of the situation


But I'm not blind anymore
I see the reality now and won't ignore it


I'm wide awake
I'm still alert and aware


I'm wide awake
Despite everything, I'm still conscious and alive


I'm wide awake
I'm not falling back into darkness


I'm wide awake
I'm not going back to my old ways


I'm wide awake
I'm fully present and aware of my surroundings




Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bonnie Mckee, Henry Walter, Katy Perry, Lukasz Gottwald, Martin Max

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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