Limelight
Kip Winger Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Living on a lighted stage Approaches the unreal
For those who think and feel
In touch with some reality
Beyond the gilded cage

Cast in this unlikely role
Ill-equipped to act
With insufficient tact
One must put up barriers
To keep oneself intact

Living in the limelight
The universal dream
For those who wish to seem
Those who wish to be
Must put aside the alienation
Get on with the fascination
The real relation
The underlying theme

Living in a fish-eye lens
Caught in the camera eye
I have no heart to lie
I can't pretend a stranger
Is a long-awaited friend

All the world's indeed a stage
And we are merely players
Performers and portrayers
Each another's audience
Outside the guilded cage

Living in the limelight
The universal dream
For those who wish to seem
Those who wish to be
Must put aside the alienation
Get on with the fascination




The real relation
The underlying theme

Overall Meaning

The song Limelight by Kip Winger touches on the theme of fame, success and self-preservation. The first verse introduces the idea of living in the limelight, on a stage where everything seems surreal and beyond the norm. The following lines acknowledge that this lifestyle is appealing to those who have a desire to become someone or something more than they are. But in order to keep the facade of success, the person must create a barrier between themselves and the outside world, guarding their true identity.


The chorus reaffirms the idea that living in the limelight is the universal dream for those who want to be seen and successful. However, in order to succeed, one must put aside any feelings of alienation and embrace the fascination of the world they are trying to conquer. The underlying message in the song is that the world is a stage where every person is a performer or a portrayer, playing a role in someone else's story.


The second verse continues the exploration of the themes of fame and self-preservation. The singer acknowledges that life in the limelight is like living in a fish-eye lens. Everything is magnified, and there is no room for lies or deception. The following lines reveal that despite the desire to be liked and accepted, the fear of being betrayed or used can make it difficult to trust others. The final lines remind us that life is a stage, and we are all playing our part, both as performers and as the audience.


Line by Line Meaning

Living on a lighted stage Approaches the unreal
Existing in a world that is a constant theatrical performance, heading towards an unimaginable reality.


For those who think and feel In touch with some reality
The ones with emotions and thoughts understand the true world outside the stage.


Beyond the gilded cage
Breaking free from the luxurious but limiting life on stage.


Cast in this unlikely role Ill-equipped to act With insufficient tact One must put up barriers To keep oneself intact
Being born into an unexpected character in the play, with no proper training or skills for the role. Therefore, having to create a boundary around oneself to survive.


Living in the limelight The universal dream For those who wish to seem Those who wish to be Must put aside the alienation Get on with the fascination The real relation The underlying theme
Living under the constant spotlight of the audience is a fantasy for many, leading them to put aside their discomfort of being isolated and instead focus on their passion for performance and the hidden meaning behind it all.


Living in a fish-eye lens Caught in the camera eye I have no heart to lie I can't pretend a stranger Is a long-awaited friend
Living in a world that is seen through a distorted lens, being watched by the camera, it's hard to be dishonest because of the inevitable exposure. Even though there are strangers around, one cannot pretend that they are friends just for the sake of the play.


All the world's indeed a stage And we are merely players Performers and portrayers Each another's audience Outside the guilded cage
The real world is like a theatrical performance, and we are all just participants, both the actors and the spectators, having the freedom to watch and participate in the play.




Contributed by Alexis H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions