Off the Beat is a collegiate a cappella group at the University of Pennsylv… Read Full Bio ↴Off the Beat is a collegiate a cappella group at the University of Pennsylvania that specializes in using the human voice to recreate the percussive sound of modern alternative rock. Their repertoire is mainly of the modern rock, or alternative, genre. Off the Beat has produced 15 albums since 1990, and has sold thousands of CDs to the public. They have won many Contemporary A cappella Recording Awards, and their songs appear almost annually on the Best of Collegiate A Cappella (BOCA) compilation disk produced by Varsity Vocals.

Fix You
Off the Beat Lyrics

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When you try your best but you don't succeed
when you get what you want, but not what you need,
When you feel so tired but you can't sleep
stuck in reverse
And the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you
Well, high up above or down below
When you're too in love to let it go
But if you never try, you'll never know
Just what you're worth
Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you
(Come up to meet you)
(tell you I'm sorry)
(You don't know how lovely you are)
(Tell me your secrets)
(and ask me your questions)
(Oh, let's go back to the start)
Tears stream
Down your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream
Down your face
And I
Tears stream
Down your face
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream
Down your face
And I
Lights will guide you home

And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you.

Overall Meaning

This song is a beautiful representation of the idea that no matter how hard we try, life is unpredictable and full of ups and downs. The lyrics talk about trying your best but not succeeding, and getting what you want but not what you need. It is the tale of sadness, desperation, and love. The song is meant to be a source of comfort to those who are feeling lost and alone.

The first lines talk about how life can be unfair, how you try your best but don't always succeed. The idea is further accentuated when they talk about how you might get what you want but still not get what you need. The mood of the song takes a more despondent tone as the lyrics move into discussing how you can feel tired but still can't sleep and might be stuck in a never-ending cycle.

The song then goes on to offer some hope by talking about how life will guide you home and ignite your bones. The lyrics in the end offer some solace and healing. The lyrics are written in a manner that makes people believe in their worth and how they are worth trying for. The song is meant to offer some positivity to people who feel stuck and alone.

Line by Line Meaning

When you try your best but you don't succeed
You put in all your effort, but still fail to achieve your goal

when you get what you want, but not what you need,
You acquire things you desire, but realize they are not essential for your happiness

When you feel so tired but you can't sleep,
You're exhausted, but your mind cannot rest

stuck in reverse
You feel trapped in a negative cycle, making no progress towards your goals

And the tears come streaming down your face
You're overwhelmed with emotions and cry uncontrollably

When you lose something you can't replace
You lose something precious that cannot be recovered

When you love someone but it goes to waste,
You have strong feelings for someone, but the relationship or situation does not work out

Could it be worse?
You wonder if your situation could be any more challenging

Lights will guide you home
Hope and guidance will lead you out of the darkness of your troubles

And ignite your bones
That hope and guidance will fill you with energy and purpose

And I will try to fix you
The singer wants to help you overcome your problems and make things right

Well, high up above or down below
No matter where you are in life, whether it be at the top or bottom, this applies

When you're too in love to let it go
When you're deeply dedicated to someone or something, it's difficult to let it go

But if you never try, you'll never know
You will never discover your true potential if you don't give it a try

Just what you're worth
You may not realize your value, but by attempting to make changes or progress, you will

Come up to meet you
The singer wants to come to you and help you out

tell you I'm sorry
The singer apologizes for any hurt or pain you've experienced

You don't know how lovely you are
You may not realize your own beauty or worth, but someone else sees it in you

Tell me your secrets
The singer wants to listen to your deepest, most personal thoughts and feelings

and ask me your questions
The singer wants you to ask anything you're curious about or uncertain of

Oh, let's go back to the start
The singer wants to return to the beginning and start fresh with you

Tears stream
Your emotions become too intense and you begin crying

Down your face
Tears physically fall from your eyes

I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
The singer promises to take responsibility for any negative impact they may have had and learn from it

And I
The singer wants to be there for you and support you

And ignite your bones
The singer wants to give you hope and energy to overcome any difficulties

Lights will guide you home
Hope and guidance will lead you out of the darkness of your troubles

And I will try to fix you.
The singer wants to help you overcome your problems and make things right

Writer(s): William Champion, Guy Rupert Berryman, Jonathan Mark Buckland, Christopher Anthony John Martin

Contributed by Jeremiah H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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