Kina started playing shows at the age of four in front of her stuffed animals. Now she plays in front of people, though it wasn’t the quickest transition for the admittedly shy songstress. While attending college at USC, Kina often retreated to the secluded stairwells around campus where she could write and sing without being heard. Protected by their quiet confines, she found a safe haven and a creative outlet for her music. Armed with a guitar and a cup of tea, Kina wrote in every stairwell she came across. And it was within these stairwells that she developed her confidence as a songwriter and her poise as a performer.
In 2007, Kina joined YouTube, made a music video and entered herself into a contest. A few months later, her video for “Message From Your Heart” aired during the Superbowl and its 97 million viewers (or 194 million eyeballs, depending on how you’re keeping track) and she walked away with a record deal. Since then, Kina has regularly posted her songs on YouTube, amassing many millions of views, and toured throughout North America. Her songs have been heard on television shows such as ABC’s General Hospital and MTV’s College Life.
Firework
Kina Grannis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like a plastic bag
Drifting through the wind
Wanting to START again
Do you ever feel
Feel so paper-thin
Like a house of cards
Do you ever feel
Already buried deep
Six feet UNDER
Screams but no one seems to hear a thing
Do you know that there's
Still a chance for you
'Cause there's a spark in you
You just gotta
Ignite the light
And let it shine
Just own the night
Like the Fourth of July
'Cause baby, you're a firework
Come on show them what you're worth
Make them go, "Oh, oh, oh"
As you shoot across the sky
Baby, you're a firework
Come on let your colors burst
Make them go, "Oh, oh, oh"
You're gonna leave them all in awe
You don't have to feel
Like a waste of space
You're original
Cannot be replaced
If you only knew
What the future holds
After a hurricane
Comes a rainbow
Maybe the reason why
All the doors are closed
So you could OPEN one
That leads you to the perfect road
Like a lightning bolt
Your heart will glow
And when it's time you know
You just gotta
Ignite the light
And let it shine
Just own the night
Like the Fourth of July
'Cause baby, you're a firework
Come on show them what you're worth
Make them go, "Oh, oh, oh"
As you shoot across the sky
Baby, you're a firework
Come on let your colors burst
Make them go, "Oh, oh, oh"
You're gonna leave them all in awe
Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
It's always been inside of you, you, you
And now it's time to let it through
'Cause baby, you're a firework
Come on show them what you're worth
Make them go, "Oh, oh, oh"
As you shoot across the sky
Baby, you're a firework
Come on let your colors burst
Make them go, "Oh, oh, oh"
You're gonna leave them all in awe
Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
The song "Firework" by Kina Grannis is an anthem about overcoming obstacles, gaining self-confidence, and living life to the fullest. The opening lines of the song ask if the listener has ever felt like a plastic bag drifting through the wind or like a house of cards that could collapse at any moment. These metaphors convey feelings of helplessness, fragility, and isolation. However, the song quickly turns into a hopeful message that there is still a chance for the listener to shine and be their best self. The chorus encourages the listener to "ignite the light" within themselves and not be afraid to show the world what they're worth. It speaks to the idea that everyone has the potential to be great, and they just need to let their true colors shine.
The song also mentions the struggles of feeling buried deep, unheard, and like a waste of space. But it tells the listener that they are unique, original, and cannot be replaced. The song acknowledges past hardship and suggests that even if all the doors seem closed, the perfect road is waiting for the listener to open. The bridge of the song includes a simile comparing the listener's heart to a lightning bolt that will glow and show the way when it's time to shine. The chorus that follows encourages the listener to let their colors burst and leave everyone in awe.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you ever feel
Like a plastic bag
Drifting through the wind
Wanting to START again
Have you ever felt like you're aimlessly wandering through life, wanting to start over and find a new direction?
Do you ever feel
Feel so paper-thin
Like a house of cards
One blow from caving in
Have you ever felt so fragile and vulnerable that it seems one small setback could completely destroy you?
Do you ever feel
Already buried deep
Six feet UNDER
Screams but no one seems to hear a thing
Have you ever felt completely helpless and invisible, buried so deep that no one can hear your cries for help?
Do you know that there's
Still a chance for you
'Cause there's a spark in you
You just gotta
Do you realize that even in the darkest of times, there is still hope for you because there is something inside of you that can be ignited?
Ignite the light
And let it shine
Just own the night
Like the Fourth of July
Bring forth that inner spark and let it shine bright, take control of your own life as if it were a celebration like Independence Day.
'Cause baby, you're a firework
Come on show them what you're worth
Make them go, "Oh, oh, oh"
As you shoot across the sky
You are a unique and extraordinary individual who has the power to impress and amaze others with your talents, so don't hold back and show them what you're capable of.
Baby, you're a firework
Come on let your colors burst
Make them go, "Oh, oh, oh"
You're gonna leave them all in awe
Unleash your full potential and let your true colors shine, leaving others in awe with your brilliance and uniqueness.
You don't have to feel
Like a waste of space
You're original
Cannot be replaced
You do not have to feel like you are insignificant or unimportant; you are one of a kind and irreplaceable.
If you only knew
What the future holds
After a hurricane
Comes a rainbow
If you only knew what the future holds, you would realize that even after the toughest of times, there is something beautiful and positive that is waiting for you.
Maybe the reason why
All the doors are closed
So you could OPEN one
That leads you to the perfect road
Maybe the reason why you are facing closed doors and obstacles is so that you can find the door that leads you to the perfect path for you.
Like a lightning bolt
Your heart will glow
And when it's time you know
You just gotta
Like a sudden burst of energy, your heart will glow with passion and excitement, and when it's time to take action, you will just know.
Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
It's always been inside of you, you, you
And now it's time to let it through
Your potential and brilliance are even more magnificent than the moon, and it has always been within you, waiting for you to let it shine.
Contributed by Nathan B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Fearlessly Naked.
Best cover i've heard for this song. I cant stop listening to it. When I listen to the original, I find myself wanting to hear this one. Love You Kina.
moonlight fitz
Are you still listening?
xxsunshine971xx
I never liked this song before you covered it. Never even gave it a chance. When I heard you sing it I felt cold chills and happiness in my heart. I've been so depressed lately. This made me feel like I am important to the world. Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful voice with us all. Have a wonderful day! <3
Sam Higgins
I'm not one to cry, but this made me tear up. Not even kidding. This song is one of the most inspirational songs I might have ever heard. Man, this song rock.
Lauren Eisenbeck
when you get in the chorus, instant chills. your harmonies are so perfect!
Heather Cripe
I just have to say, I thought it was amazing when I saw the Katy Perry video. I must have watched it about 50 times in a row. But this by far is the most amazing cover I have ever heard you sing. You did a wonderful job. Brought tears to my eyes. And that's hard to do. You made me really feel the song! Thank you, and keep up the amazing work!
BareFeetOnConcrete
I remember the first cover I ever heard you sing was New Soul by Yael Naim. With this video and many others, you've confirmed my suspicion that you can sing just about anything. Your head tone is absolutely gorgeous and the way you switch between your registers...seems so effortless. I see some comments from people who found it to be sleepy, but I thought it was a rather captivating performance.
Amir Khanal
perfect... like angel singing lullaby
Clawwdeen
This is amazing. I used to like Katy Perry, before she came out with so called "darker music". Honestly, this is awesome! Kina, seriously I just found out about you today and I am glad you did. You are an extremely talented girl, you have a wonderful voice. Anyone would be eternally lucky to have you as a friend. Your covers are amazing. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. You are a confident, inspiring, and beautiful. (inside and out) I could watch you videos all day. Keep up the good work. :)
Stephanie Brito
its beautiful... the way you put your personality, your way, into every cover you make. You ALWAYS find a way to make them peaceful and loving. You'll go places girl, really high places. You are very, very talented. Congradulations for every single video you have done, we can see you actually put work on them, and tried to get each time better. And imma tell you something.. You always do get better! Your voice is absolutely beautiful >.< Keep it up, and u'll get even higher!