In 2001, the band regrouped, with guitarist James Valentine added to the line-up, and pursued a new direction under the name: Maroon 5. At this point, Jesse Carmichael switched to playing the keyboards and this has become his main instrument in the band (although he also plays rhythm guitar to this day). After these changes, Maroon 5 signed with Octone Records and released their debut album, "Songs About Jane", in June 2002. The album's lead single "Harder to Breathe", received heavy airplay, which helped the album to debut at number six on the Billboard 200 chart. The band won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2005. For the next few years, the band toured extensively worldwide in support of Songs About Jane and produced two live recordings: 2004's "1.22.03.Acoustic" and 2005's "Live Friday the 13th". In 2006, Ryan Dusick officially left the band after suffering from serious wrist and shoulder injuries and was replaced by Matt Flynn. The band recorded their second album, "It Won't Be Soon Before Long" and released it in May 2007. The album reached number one on the US Billboard 200 chart and the lead single, "Makes Me Wonder", became the band's first number-one song on the Billboard Hot 100.
On September 21, 2010, the band released their third studio album entitled "Hands All Over". It was re-released in 2011 to include the single "Moves like Jagger" (featuring Christina Aguilera). While the original version of the album received mixed reviews, "Moves like Jagger" reached the number one position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The band released their next album, "Overexposed", on June 26, 2012. All four singles of the album were really successful on the charts - for example, the second single from Overexposed, "One More Night" (released on June 19, 2012), reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2014, the band signed with Interscope Records and released their fifth studio album, "V", with the very-first line-up of six official band members, as keyboardist and backing vocalist PJ Morton became an official member in 2012. The album debuted at top of the weekly Billboard 200 chart. Since its debut in 2002, the band has sold more than 15 million albums in the United States and over 100 million singles and 27 million albums worldwide.
Middle Ground
Maroon 5 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I need more than myself
I need light, I need life, I need what I never felt
Sisters and brothers are picking sides
And both of our mothers are terrified
And I'm crying out to an empty sky
Tell me
If I hit the ground
And I fall down to my knees
Would you hear the sound?
Am I crazy to think that we
Could make it out?
Am I crazier to believe
There's a middle ground?
I'm so up, I'm so down, I'm so broken
I'm so tired I can't sleep
I'm not mine, I'm not yours, I'm not sure of anything
Oh, sisters and brothers are picking sides
And both of our mothers are terrified
And I'm crying out to an empty sky
Tell me
If I hit the ground
And I fall down to my knees
Would you hear the sound?
Am I crazy to think that we
Could make it out?
Am I crazier to believe
There's a middle ground?
Middle ground, there's a middle ground
I don't need someone to love
I just need someone to live for
Middle ground, there's a middle ground
On my knees, where I belong
Please tell me
If I hit the ground
And I fall down to my knees
Would you hear the sound?
Am I crazy to think that we
Could ever make it out?
Am I crazier to believe
There's a middle ground?
Middle ground, there's a middle ground (oh)
Crazier to believe there's a middle ground
Middle ground, there's a middle ground (oh)
I need you to believe, oh, there's a middle ground
In "Middle Ground" by Maroon 5, the lyrics express a deep desire for peace, hope, and guidance in a world where uncertainty and division prevail. The singer acknowledges their own limitations and realizes that they need more than just themselves to find fulfillment. They crave light and life, yearning for experiences and emotions they have never felt before.
The song then turns its focus to the larger societal context, highlighting the division between sisters, brothers, and even mothers who are choosing sides, likely in a metaphorical sense. This polarization is depicted as a source of fear and anxiety. The singer, feeling overwhelmed, cries out to an empty sky, seeking answers and solutions to the conflicts and challenges they face.
The chorus repeats the question of whether their cries would be heard if they were to hit rock bottom and fall to their knees. It suggests a sense of desperation and self-doubt, wondering if it is crazy to believe that they can overcome their struggles and find a way out. The concept of a middle ground is presented as a possibility—one that offers hope and compromise between opposing forces.
The second verse further emphasizes the emotional turmoil of the singer. They feel up one moment, down the next, and ultimately broken. Exhausted and unable to find solace, they are unsure of their own identity and their place in the world. This internal conflict mirrors the external division within society.
The plea to find a middle ground becomes more urgent, as the singer acknowledges that they don't necessarily need someone to love them but rather someone to live for. The emotional dependency is depicted as a necessary factor in finding stability and purpose.
Finally, the repetition of the chorus reinforces the longing for a middle ground, as the singer questions the sanity and possibility of their beliefs. They seek affirmation and validation, urging the listener to believe in this concept of compromise and balance.
In summary, "Middle Ground" by Maroon 5 explores the yearning for peace and harmony in a world plagued by division and uncertainty. The lyrics capture the individual's search for guidance, their struggles with identity, and the desperate hope for a solution to the conflicts tearing people apart. Ultimately, the song calls for belief in the existence of a middle ground, where compromise and understanding can bridge the gaps between opposing forces.
Line by Line Meaning
I need peace, I need hope, I need guidance
I long for serenity, optimism, and direction in my life
I need more than myself
I crave connection and support from others
I need light, I need life, I need what I never felt
I yearn for illumination, vitality, and experiences that are entirely new to me
Sisters and brothers are picking sides
Family members are taking opposing positions in a conflict
And both of our mothers are terrified
Both of our mothers are filled with fear and concern
And I'm crying out to an empty sky
I am pleading to the universe, feeling helpless and unheard
Tell me
Please provide me with an answer or some clarity
If I hit the ground
If I stumble and face a difficult situation
And I fall down to my knees
And I become completely overwhelmed or desperate
Would you hear the sound?
Will my cries for help be noticed and acknowledged?
Am I crazy to think that we
Is it foolish to believe that we
Could make it out?
Can emerge from this situation successfully?
Am I crazier to believe
Would it be even more irrational to believe
There's a middle ground?
That there exists a compromise or a solution?
I'm so up, I'm so down, I'm so broken
I experience extreme highs, lows, and emotional turmoil
I'm so tired I can't sleep
I am mentally and physically exhausted, unable to find rest
I'm not mine, I'm not yours, I'm not sure of anything
I feel disconnected, uncertain of my identity, and lacking clarity in all aspects
I just need someone to live for
I simply require someone to give purpose and meaning to my existence
On my knees, where I belong
In a position of humility and surrender, as if it is my rightful place
I need you to believe, oh, there's a middle ground
It is crucial for you to have faith and trust that a compromise or resolution can be reached
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Andrew Watt, Jon Bellion, Pete Nappi, Adam Levine, Gregory Hein, Marvin Hemmings, Rodney Jerkins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cringefest06
Beautiful lyrics ❤
[Verse 1]
I need peace, I need hope, I need guidance
I need more than myself
I need light, I need life, I need what I never felt
[Pre-Chorus]
Sisters and brothers are picking sides
And both of our mothers are terrified
And I'm crying out to an empty sky
Tell me
[Chorus]
If I hit the ground
And I fall down to my knees
Would you hear the sound?
Am I crazy to think that we
Could make it out?
Am I crazier to believe
There's a middle ground?
[Verse 2]
I'm so up, I'm so down, I'm so broken
I'm so tired I can't sleep
I'm not mine, I'm not yours, I'm not sure of anything
[Pre-Chorus]
Oh, sisters and brothers are picking sides
And both of our mothers arе terrified
And I'm crying out to an empty sky
Tеll me
[Chorus]
If I hit the ground
And I fall down to my knees
Would you hear the sound?
Am I crazy to think that we
Could make it out?
Am I crazier to believe
There's a middle ground?
[Bridge]
Middle ground, there's a middle ground
I don't need someone to love
I just need someone to live for
Middle ground, there's a middle ground
On my knees where I belong
Please tell me
[Chorus]
If I hit the ground
And I fall down to my knees
Would you hear the sound?
Am I crazy to think that we
Could ever make it out?
Am I crazier to believe
There's a middle ground?
[Outro]
Middle ground, there's a middle ground (Oh)
Crazier to believe there's a middle ground
Middle ground, there's a middle ground (Oh)
I need you to believe, oh, there's a middle ground
@Emezie
First, it was the Pop Rock era, then the Electonic Rock era, now are we in the Folk Rock era of Maroon 5? Regardless, whatever style of music they try, it always sounds good, and I'm down for it!
@Flavorstick311
I know, I love that they’re always changing. Gives inspiration really
@48kkayzz
Sup
@Outcastic
Yo I used to watch your videos at 4am and spent the last 6 months trying to remember the name of the channel. I literally just clicked on your profile at random and it all came back
@vinicius6726
Mds, pensei a mesma coisa, nem ta parecendo a voz dele
@thioedy8166
❤❤❤😊😊😊
@lousirr3907
Wow, listened to you since 4th grade. Thank you for an amazing childhood. I am now 20. Your music moves me in a different rhythm. Thank you Maroon 5 <3
@maronsmith7007
I'm 30 and I first learned of them in 3rd grade
@pauljakeman
I’m so glad that they have changed styles, I’ve not been a fan of the last 2 albums so getting back to more of a band sound is a step in the right direction imo.
Would love to eventually hear an album with the same style as songs about Jane again.
@v4victory721
tbh I hated songs about jane.....I like Hands All Over nd It Won't Be Soon Before Long more