"Invisible War" is my first jar...a collection of some of the first fireflies I ever caught; mostly they were just sprouting their wings in that time, learning all about life, exploring the world, and frolicking about with me in fascinating places like Mongolia, where I lived until I was eight. Really I caught the first specimen in this particular jar when I was fifteen--"Song of the Open Road"--based on the Whitman poem of the same name.
Now, at 20, I'm always chasing around a few fireflies at a time, attempting to master the art of capturing the most elaborate creatures. The idea is that the better the creature, the longer it will stay alive and the brighter its light will shine. We need bright light, see, because it's dark sometimes, very dark.
I have dreams about how the world should be. Indeed we live in a place which was meant to be beautiful; though we oftentimes ruin it ourselves by default. In science there is the idea of entropy--the tendency of things toward disorder. If a vase is sitting on a little table, it's quite probable that it could fall off and shatter into a hundred pieces, if not rather unlikely that all those pieces would jump back together again and shape themselves once again into a beautiful vase--unless of course someone worked very hard to glue it all back together into something new and different.
Unfortunately the implications of this in real life are much more complicated than a single vase shattering to the ground. We see natural disasters that destroy and reshape lives; wars, rumors of wars that create tension and dissension between people groups; poverty, disease, starvation, and everything that lies between.
These are the things which burden my heart, and the things which I've always felt compelled to express through my music. If all I do in life is shine a little light into the dark spaces of the world, my time on earth will certainly not have been wasted.
So I catch firefies.
Lost
Merry Ellen Kirk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do you understand my meaning?
Where am I, I don't know, but you do
Could you tell me where I'm going?
There you go, you're (I'm) on a roll
(You're so lost)
I'm totally lost
(What you searching for?)
And it's something so far beyond my reach
(Dream, dream) Du du (Dream, dream)
I'm still searching, but I may not see
(You may not see just so clearly as you think)
And I'm longing to find the way back home'Cause I'm lost
Do you mind, I've misplaced myself again
Could you tell me where I'm going?
Close your eyes, spin in circles for a while
Point me in the right direction please?
There you go, you're (I'm) on a roll
(You're so lost)
I'm totally lost
And I'm dreaming of why
(What you searching for?)
And it's something so far beyond my reach
(Dream, dream) Du du (Dream, dream)
I'm still searching, but I may not see
(You may not see just so clearly as you think)
And I'm longing to find the way back home
'Cause I'm lost
The lyrics of Merry Ellen Kirk's song Lost describe a feeling of being lost and confused. The singer has lost their sense of self and direction, asking the person they're speaking to for help in finding their way. There's a sense of desperation and longing in the lyrics, as the singer dreams of finding whatever it is they're searching for, but fears that it may be beyond their reach.
The repeated phrase "there you go, you're on a roll" adds an interesting layer to the lyrics. It can be interpreted as either the other person giving the singer helpful advice, or as a sarcastic remark, implying that the singer is getting even more lost by the minute.
Overall, Lost can be seen as a metaphor for the struggles and uncertainties of life. The song acknowledges that sometimes we lose our way and need help finding our path again, but also suggests that the journey itself is worth taking, even if we're not sure where we'll end up.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you mind, I've misplaced myself again
Asking if the listener takes issue with the fact that the singer has once again lost a sense of self or direction
Do you understand my meaning?
Checking if the listener comprehends the singer’s dilemma
Where am I, I don't know, but you do
Asking the listener, who has perspective and understanding, to share their knowledge of the singer’s whereabouts
Could you tell me where I'm going?
Posing a direct question to the listener about where the singer should be headed
There you go, you're (I'm) on a roll
Commenting on the flow of conversation that has been established between the listener and the singer
(You're so lost)
Acknowledging that the singer is struggling with being directionless
I'm totally lost
Emphasizing that the singer is honestly hapless and in need of guidance
And I'm dreaming of why
Reflecting on reasons for being lost in the first place
(What you searching for?)
Questioning the singer on what they are attempting to find
And it's something so far beyond my reach
Realizing that the singer’s goal is somewhat unattainable or impossibly difficult
(Dream, dream) Du du (Dream, dream)
Suggesting that the singer can only aim to dream of their quest for now
I'm still searching, but I may not see
Holding onto hope of a resolution but acknowledging that it may remain out of sight
(You may not see just so clearly as you think)
The listener cautioning the singer against delusions of clarity amidst confusion
And I'm longing to find the way back home
Longing for a sense of belonging or a place of ease
'Cause I'm lost
Concluding with the fundamental declaration of the song: that the singer is indeed lost
Contributed by Parker Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
pseudonym of a nerd
This showed up on one of my Pandora stations!
Mark Freedman
Discovered this on OurStage Radio. Great song. Have to check out the rest of your music.
RyyGa
It's Really Good !
JOLENE
thank you :)
RyyGa
@padfootpak Me Too !!