"The last song on My December, ''Irvine,'' it literally was the lowest poin… Read Full Bio ↴"The last song on My December, ''Irvine,'' it literally was the lowest point I've had in my life. I wrote it after my Irvine show on my last tour. I was just so burned-out. I was really struggling at getting somebody out of my life and finding people that really cared. The whole song is a prayer. I wrote it in the bathroom of the venue after the show. I had to cancel my meet-and-greet; it's the only meet-and-greet I've ever canceled. I couldn't smile. It was just a really, really bad night." - Kelly Clarkson

Irvine
Kelly Clarkson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Are you there?
Are you watching me?
As I lie here on this floor
They say you feel what I do
They say you're here every moment
Will you stay?
Stay till the darkness leaves
Stay here with me

I know you're busy, I know I'm just one
But you might be the only one who sees me
The only one to save me

Why is it so hard?
Why can't you just take me?
I don't have much to go
Before I fade completely

Can you feel how cold I am?
Do you cry as I do?
Are you lonely up there all by yourself?
Like I have felt all my life
The only one to save mine

How are you so strong?
What's it like to feel so free?
Your heart is really something
Your love, a complete mystery to me

Are you there watching me?
As I lie here on this floor
Do you cry, do you cry with me?
Cry with me tonight

Are you there?
Are you watching me?

Overall Meaning

The opening lyrics of Kelly Clarkson's song Irvine speak to the universal fear of being alone and the solace we seek in a higher power. Clarkson begins by asking if God is there and watching her as she lies on the floor. She acknowledges that while she knows that God is always present, she asks if God will stay with her and hold her hand till the darkness leaves. Her plea is poignant as she recognizes that while God has millions to care for, she hopes to be the only one that he will see and save.

Clarkson continues to pose questions to God regarding the pain and hardships she endures in life. She asks why it is so hard for her and yearns to know why God cannot just take her away. She expresses her deep fear of fading completely while hoping that God can feel her emptiness and loneliness, much like she perceives that he is all by himself.

The final verse of the song reflects on the strength and love of God, which is complete mystery to Clarkson. She requests God's presence and envisions him crying with her through the night. The song concludes unanswered in a way that imitates real life, where we long for comfort, but we are not always given answers.

Line by Line Meaning

Are you there?
Asking for confirmation of God's presence

Are you watching me?
Asking if God is watching everything that's happening

As I lie here on this floor
The state of hopelessness

They say you feel what I do
The belief that God empathizes with people's suffering

They say you're here every moment
The belief in God's omnipresence

Will you stay?
Begging for God's support

Stay till the darkness leaves
Encouraging God to help through dark times

Stay here with me
Asking God to be present

I know you're busy, I know I'm just one
Realizing that there are other people who need God's attention

But you might be the only one who sees me
Hoping that God is paying attention to her specifically

The only one to save me
Believing that God is the only one who can help

Why is it so hard?
Questioning why life is difficult

Why can't you just take me?
Asking God to end her suffering

I don't have much to go
Feeling like there's nothing left

Before I fade completely
Thinking about giving up

Can you feel how cold I am?
Describing emotional emptiness

Do you cry as I do?
Asking if God understands her pain

Are you lonely up there all by yourself?
Wondering if God is ever lonely

Like I have felt all my life
Feeling like one's suffering is never-ending

The only one to save mine
Believing that God is the only one who can save her

How are you so strong?
Questioning how God can remain so strong despite all the pain in the world

What's it like to feel so free?
Wondering how it feels to be free of pain and suffering

Your heart is really something
Marveling at God's goodness

Your love, a complete mystery to me
Acknowledging that God's love is beyond understanding

Do you cry, do you cry with me?
Asking if God is empathizing with her pain

Cry with me tonight
Requesting support from God in this moment

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Aben Eubanks, Kelly Brianne Clarkson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

1695kitkat

4y↑45

This song is when you know you've hit rock bottom

realmacchiatos

5y↑39

This just brought back so many emotions, I remember listening to this when I was depressed in high school.

TheNubbs123

4y↑5

Maggie O it gets better. I’m sorry you are going through this. This song also helped me in high school. It’s been 6 months since you posted this, but I pray you’re doing better. Much love. 💞

Maggie O

4y↑1

I'm depressed and in high school, listening to this song ☹️

Scott Moxie

5y↑42

Thanks Kelly for not taking the 10 million to not put out this record. It's one of your best 💛

Abcd

4y↑6

#JusticeForMyDecember

Arturo Rdz

7y↑52

This is one of the most beautiful songs i ever heard😋

Sunny Golightly

4y↑12

Wow, Kelly was not kidding when she said this is her saddest song

Alan Walker

6y↑18

I can't listen to this song without sobbing

Shane Grider

4y↑6

ive suffered from depression since I was 16. I am 42 this month. And it never went away. It got worse... and this past month has been the worst of my life :(

Camilla Williams

@Joel I was 38 when my world came crashing down all around me. All it took was one traumatic experience to bring it all back. My whole life was one big sad life. I'm 63 now, and I've lost everything...my siblings, my children, My one grandchild that I've never met, and of course, my husband. This IS my life, and I want it to end already.

Reiss

3y↑1

Mine started at 13. I'm now 21 and ready to finally let gi

Devon Frank

Keep fighting those demons my friend❤️

MARSBELLA1

3y↑2

So sorry darling x try and get some magic mushrooms - whereever they are legal for you

Mister EMS

3y↑2

Hey! You are strong and never alone! You're so brave, keep holding on, hopefully everything turns out well! :)

3 More Replies...

Harry Hill Hill

6y↑13

So haunting it's lovely I cry evrytime I hear it

Marina Cleveland

One of my favorite songs🥰Love this album

Jade Sage

6y↑29

This is my theme song sometimes.....

Alan Walker

3y↑1

Lovely song. Always gets me.

Mike F

5y↑19

July 2019 and this song still gives me chills.

A. Carter

5y↑3

Same!

Natasha Maldonado

6y↑12

Her best song.

Maggie O

5y↑15

This reminds me of the title of a Taylor Swift song, called Sad Beautiful Tragic. That perfectly describes the sound and lyrics of this song.

BethIe Larson

Hi Kelly, you must be very sad when you wrote this as I am today. . .you voice sound so pure and authentic and yet angelically close to my heart.

abstractswirls

8y↑10

Rest in peace Wojtek. I listen to this to feel closer to you. I love you

Voyevoda911

6y↑5

great song/video

Chris Olsted

6y↑13

listening to this from a hotel haunted by a widow's ghost. Ouch.

Nate Vitai

I thought I escaped from the nightmare but it was trick. I never woke up...

Conan 2209

5y↑4

Is this in any of her album I missed??? I dont understand how this can happen!

Camilla Williams

Conan 2209 The album is called, My December. She wrote this album when she was doing a concert in Irvine, California. Hence the name Irvine. She was in a very bad place at that point in her life. Kind of like I am now

Raquel XO

3y↑4

It's unfortunate, but not surprising that you missed it. Her label didn't like the record and offered her $10 million to change some of the songs, but she refused. As a consequence, they didn't promote it properly and basically tried to bury it's existence. That being said, it has some of her best work, so check it out if you can.

reinacousland

5y↑5

It's the 13th track on the album My December.

Ruben van de Put

5y↑6

Yeah, this is from her third album, My December...

Katrina Amaro

wow

FireWater1973

9y↑5

Rip Rene :(

steffytard

8y↑7

Rip momo😞

Mercedes

6y↑4

If you see this Kenzie, I will save you.

reubenli1234

3y↑1

Sunny really came home

thereal finalgirl

3y↑1

Reminds me of TLOU and it's terrible sequel.

Courtney

3y↑2

2021 ❤

Brian Fraley

5y↑5

Love the vibe and most of the melody;though it does go on. Im not sure if the lyrics work for me...it gets a little high school journal for me. Lyrically I think it needs a surprise or twist to sustain. Is it a suicide attempt? A cry to God? Unrequited love? Not exactly clear, and that ambiguity is fine...just don't say the same thing over and over. It might be cool to have her revisit this song now that she's had some distance...the second half could use a bit rewriting.

Camilla Williams

3y↑1

This is her talking to God. That girl has been through hell. Don't knock her down. I'm 62, and this has been my entire life. It's hard. You just want God to come and take you.

Brandon Powell

3y↑1

Bro you are completely out of your mind. Instead of listening or caring for the emotions she's letting out and crying out for help, you're caught up and instead paying attention to how it needs to sound better to your ears? That's exactly the problem. Artist sing and do what feels good, sounds good, means something, and moves THEM. No artist should EVER have to change a song that means something so special and got them through the worst part in their life. Why do you think it's ok to suggest she change it? It was never about her singing ability, her lyric composition, or her need to sell units. This ENTIRE record was "free therapy" (her own words) to her. This record was something she had to say because she was losing herself and needed help. Fuck bro, such a disrespectful and disgraceful thing to say

Maggie O

4y↑4

@Steve Fairbanks I completely agree with you. I don't think anything about this song should be changed. Her voice is so emotional and beautiful, as is the song. It's rare to find true emotion in music anymore. Most of it is very similar pop melodies with the same stories and just trying to top everyone else on the charts. Kelly isn't like this, especially with this song and the entire album. You can hear throughout the whole thing that she's just singing to let out her emotions. And this song so beautifully captures that.

Steve Fairbanks

4y↑9

@Maggie O Maggie O, I hope your account of this song is accurate. Nothing about this song should ever be revised or changed in any way. This is one of the most beautiful, prayerful and honest accounts of someone's struggle trying to figure it out. I can feel the emotion so deeply in her voice and nothing can be so powerful as true gut-wrenching honesty.
When it comes to Kelly, I don't think she knows how to be anything but her honest self.

Maggie O

4y↑12

Actually, I read the story for this song. Kelly was exhausted from touring the album Breakaway, her friend had committed suicide, and her boyfriend cheated on her when she thought they were serious and on the road to engagement. She was brokenhearted and tired, and didn't feel like going in for a meet and greet, smiling for photos, or singing on stage. She went into the bathroom in Irvine in the concert hall her show was supposed to be held at. She sat on the floor and wrote this song. She said it was a cry to God, this whole song is a prayer. She knew after that night that he would always be by her side, and she would never have to face anything alone. It's a beautiful song. I'm not really religious, but this song makes me think when I listen to it.

1 More Replies...

Abcd

very Billie Eillish or Lana

Brandon Powell

3y↑5

😂😂😂🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️ this song was released 10 years ago before billie's first EP. I love Billie but I swear her fans and young people think she's the first to make emotional songs. Do some research there's thousands of songs out there you need to hear

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