Get Up
M. Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where does time go? (get up, get up, get up)
I don't know, oh
Sleep, sleep, sleepy head (get up, get up, get up)
Wake it up, up (get up, get up)
You've got all your life (way up ahead)
(Get up, get up, get up)
I've seen you lay and pine (get up, get up)
I've seen you lay and pine (get up, get up)
Life is rough, rough (get up, get up, get up)
I've seen you laying down (get up)
With the loving kind (get up, get up)
I know life is hard, hard (where goes your time?)
Where to turn, where to turn? (get up, get up)
Dreams, they complicate my life (dreams, they complement my life)
D-d-dream time
Dreams, they complicate my life (dreams, they complement my life)
This time, no escape, I wake up (get up, get up)
Get up, get up
Get up
Get up
Get up, get up, get up
In this song, M. Johnson appears to be addressing a person who is struggling with sleep and its impact on their life. The phrase "sleep delays my life" suggests that the person may be spending too much time sleeping and not enough time living. The repeated calls to "get up" are a plea to this person to wake up and start living their life to the fullest.
The line "where does time go?" further emphasizes the theme of time slipping away while the person is asleep. The lyrics suggest that the person is not fully aware of how much time they are losing by sleeping too much. The phrase "you've got all your life way up ahead" is a reminder that time is precious and should not be wasted.
The lyrics also mention dreams, which seem to be a source of frustration for the person. The line "dreams, they complicate my life" suggests that the person may be having trouble separating their dreams from reality, or that their dreams may be interfering with their ability to live their life to the fullest. The repetition of the phrase "get up" throughout the song is a call to action for the person to overcome whatever is holding them back and start living their life.
Line by Line Meaning
Sleep delays my life (get up, get up)
Sleeping too much cuts down on the time I have to live my life, so I need to get up and make the most of it.
Where does time go? (get up, get up, get up)
I'm wondering where all my time has gone and urging myself to take action and make the most of what's left.
I don't know, oh
I'm unsure about where my time has gone or how to make the most of what's left, which is why I need to get up and figure it out.
Sleep, sleep, sleepy head (get up, get up, get up)
I'm telling myself not to give in to the temptation to sleep too much and be lazy - I need to get up and be productive instead.
Wake it up, up (get up, get up)
I'm urging myself to wake up and take action or make changes in my life that will help me achieve my goals.
You've got all your life (way up ahead)
(Get up, get up, get up)
I'm reminding myself that I still have a lot of life left to live and urging myself to get up and start taking steps towards my dreams and goals.
Dreams, they complicate my life (dreams, they complement my life)
Although dreams can be helpful in getting me motivated and focused, they can also be complicated and overwhelming, adding another layer of complexity to my life.
I've seen you lay and pine (get up, get up)
I've seen you lay and pine (get up, get up)
Life is rough, rough (get up, get up, get up)
I've seen you laying down (get up)
With the loving kind (get up, get up)
I know life is hard, hard (where goes your time?)
Where to turn, where to turn? (get up, get up)
I've witnessed other people feeling stuck or lost in their lives, and I know firsthand that life can be difficult and confusing at times. However, I'm encouraging myself to get up and take action even when it's hard or I don't know what to do next.
D-d-dream time
This line seems to be a reference to the lyric earlier in the song about dreams complicating life. It may suggest that dreams can be both helpful and harmful, and that there's a fine line between using them as motivation and letting them distract us from our goals.
This time, no escape, I wake up (get up, get up)
Get up, get up
Get up
Get up
Get up, get up, get up
I'm acknowledging that in order to make progress and achieve my goals, I can't keep putting things off or escaping into sleep or distractions. I need to get up and take action, even if it's difficult or uncomfortable.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BILL BERRY, PETER BUCK, MICHAEL MILLS, MICHAEL STIPE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind