The song has been one of the band's most successful singles. It has currently peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming their first top five hit since their highest charting debut single Apologize, and their third US top-ten hit. It has also topped the charts in the United Kingdom for two non-consecutive weeks and charted within the top ten in 20 countries, including attaining top five placements in Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland and New Zealand.
The song's accompanying music video, directed by James Lees, features the band performing in a basement beneath an ongoing church congregation. "Counting Stars" was promoted on The Voice with contestant Michelle Chamuel in June 2013.
Counting Stars
OneRepublic Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dreamin' about the things that we could be
But baby, I've been, I've been prayin' hard
Said, no more countin' dollars, we'll be countin' stars
Yeah, we'll be countin' stars
I see this life like a swingin' vine
Swing my heart across the lineIn my face is flashin' signs
Seek it out and ye shall find
Old, but I'm not that old
Young, but I'm not that bold
And I don't think the world is sold
On just doing what we're told
I feel something so right
Doing the wrong thing
And I feel something so wrong
Doing the right thing
I couldn't lie, couldn't lie, couldn't lie
Everything that kills me makes me feel alive
Lately, I've been, I've been losin' sleep
Dreamin' about the things that we could be
But baby, I've been, I've been prayin' hard
Said, no more countin' dollars, we'll be countin' stars
Lately, I've been, I've been losin' sleep
Dreamin' about the things that we could be
But baby, I've been, I've been prayin' hard
Said, no more countin' dollars, we'll be
We'll be countin' stars
Hey, yeah
I feel your love and I feel it burn
Down this river, every turn
Hope is our four-letter word
Make that money, watch it burn
Old, but I'm not that old
Young, but I'm not that bold
And I don't think the world is sold
On just doing what we're told
And I feel something so wrong
Doing the right thing
I couldn't lie, couldn't lie, couldn't lie
Everything that drowns me makes me wanna fly
Lately, I've been, I've been losin' sleep
Dreamin' about the things that we could be
But baby, I've been, I've been prayin' hard
Said, no more countin' dollars, we'll be countin' stars
Lately, I've been, I've been losin' sleep
Dreamin' about the things that we could be
But baby, I've been, I've been prayin' hard
Said, no more countin' dollars, we'll be
We'll be countin' stars
Oh
Take that money, watch it burn
Sink in the river the lessons I learned
Take that money, watch it burn
Sink in the river the lessons I learned
Take that money, watch it burn
Sink in the river the lessons I learned
Take that money, watch it burn
Sink in the river the lessons I learned
Everything that kills me makes me feel alive
Lately, I've been, I've been losin' sleep
Dreamin' about the things that we could be
But baby, I've been, I've been prayin' hard
Said, no more countin' dollars, we'll be countin' stars
Lately, I've been, I've been losin' sleep
Dreamin' about the things that we could be
But baby, I've been, I've been prayin' hard
Said, no more countin' dollars, we'll be
We'll be countin' stars
Take that money, watch it burn
Sink in the river the lessons I've learned
Take that money, watch it burn
Sink in the river the lessons I've learned
Take that money, watch it burn
Sink in the river the lessons I've learned
Take that money, watch it burn
Sink in the river the lessons I've learned
The song is about dreaming big and chasing your dreams regardless of what people tell you. The lyrics talk about losing sleep over the possibilities of what could be, and praying hard to make those hopes become a reality. The singer sets their sights high, saying that they will no longer be counting dollars, but instead will be counting stars, a metaphor for reaching for the unreachable.
The second verse talks about the feeling of being torn between doing the right and wrong things. The singer acknowledges that everything that kills them (metaphorically) also makes them feel alive. They feel a burning desire to succeed, even if it means taking risks and defying the norm. The repetition of the chorus drives home the message that the singer is determined to chase their dreams, even if it means losing sleep over it.
Overall, "Counting Stars" is an inspirational song about never giving up on your dreams and striving for greatness, even in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Lately, I've been, I've been losin' sleep
I have been constantly worrying and feeling anxious at night.
Dreamin' about the things that we could be
Imagining and hoping for a better future.
But baby, I've been, I've been prayin' hard
Asking for guidance and help from a higher power.
Said, no more countin' dollars, we'll be countin' stars
We need to focus on something more valuable than money, like our dreams and goals.
Yeah, we'll be countin' stars
We will strive for success and reach for the stars.
I see this life like a swingin' vine
Life is unpredictable and we must navigate it like a swinging vine.
Swing my heart across the line
We must take risks and put our hearts on the line to achieve great things.
In my face is flashin' signs
There are signs and opportunities all around us if we pay attention.
Seek it out and ye shall find
If we actively search for what we want, we will find it.
Old, but I'm not that old
I have lived a long time, but still have much life ahead of me.
Young, but I'm not that bold
I may be young, but I still have doubts and fears.
And I don't think the world is sold
I don't believe that everyone is content with following the status quo.
On just doing what we're told
We should not blindly follow orders or societal norms.
I feel something so right
I feel a strong sense of purpose and direction.
Doing the wrong thing
Even though my actions may not seem right to others, they feel right to me.
And I feel something so wrong
Sometimes what others view as right doesn't feel right to me.
Doing the right thing
Even if it's difficult, I will do what I believe is right.
I couldn't lie, couldn't lie, couldn't lie
I cannot pretend to be someone I'm not.
Everything that kills me makes me feel alive
I am invigorated by taking risks and facing challenges, even if they are difficult.
Hey, yeah
An expression of enthusiasm and eagerness.
I feel your love and I feel it burn
Your love inspires and motivates me.
Down this river, every turn
The journey of life is like a river, full of twists and turns.
Hope is our four-letter word
Hope is a simple but powerful word that keeps us going.
Make that money, watch it burn
We should not become obsessed with money, as it can be fleeting and meaningless.
Everything that drowns me makes me wanna fly
Challenges and struggles can actually motivate me to strive for greatness.
Sink in the river the lessons I've learned
I will learn from my mistakes and let them go, like objects sinking in a river.
Take that money, watch it burn
Money isn't everything, and sometimes it's better to let it go than to become consumed by it.
Lyrics © TuneCore Inc., BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ryan Tedder
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Starpaw
Geneya Campbell
love this song..
@AbellXD-lv1pq
Lyrics
Lately, I've been I've been losing sleep.
Dreaming about the things that we could be.
But baby, I've been I've been praying hard.
Said, no more counting dollars.
We'll be counting stars.Yeah, we'll be counting stars.
I see this life.
Like a swinging vine.
Swing my heart across the line.
In my face's flashing signs.
Seek it out and you shall find.
Old, but I'm not that old.
Young, but I'm not that bold.
I don't think the world is sold.
I'm just doing what we're told.
I, feel something so right.
Doing the wrong thing.
I, feel something so wrong.
Doing the right thing.
I couldn't lie, couldn't lie, couldn't lie.
Everything that kills me makes me feel alive.
Lately, I've been I've been losing sleep.
Dreaming about the things that we could be.
Baby, I've been I've been praying hard.
Said, no more counting dollars.
We'll be counting stars.
Lately, I've been I've been losing sleep.
Dreaming about the things that we could be.
Baby, I've been I've been praying hard.
Said, no more counting dollars.
We'll be , we'll be counting stars.
I feel the love.
And I feel it burn.
Down this river every turn.
Hope is a four-letter word.
Make that money.
Watch it burn.
Old, but I'm not that old.
Young, but I'm not that bold.
I don't think the world is sold.
I'm just doing what we're told.
I, feel something so wrong.
Doing the right thing.
I could lie, could lie, could lie.
Everything that drowns me makes me wanna fly.
Lately, I've been I've been losing sleep.
Dreaming about the things that we could be.
Baby, I've been I've been praying hard.
Said, no more counting dollars.
We'll be counting stars.
Lately, I've been I've been losing sleep.
Dreaming about the things that we could be.
Baby, I've been I've been praying hard.
Said, no more counting dollars.
We'll be , we'll be counting stars.
Take that money.
watch it burn.
Sing in the river.
The lessons are learnt.
Take that money.
watch it burn.
Sing in the river.
The lessons are learnt.
Take that money.
watch it burn.
Sing in the river.
The lessons are learnt.
Take that money.
watch it burn.
Sing in the river.
The lessons are learnt.
Everything that kills me makes me feel alive.
Lately, I've been I've been losing sleep.
Dreaming about the things that we could be.
Baby, I've been I've been praying hard.
Said, no more counting dollars.
We'll be counting stars.
Lately, I've been I've been losing sleep.
Dreaming about the things that we could be.
Baby, I've been I've been praying hard.
Said, no more counting dollars.
We'll be , we'll be counting stars.
Take that money.
watch it burn.
Sing in the river.
The lessons are learnt.
Take that money.
watch it burn.
Sing in the river.
The lessons are learnt.
Take that money.
watch it burn.
Sing in the river.
The lessons are learn
@marivaughn
this song cant get old
@anakinskywalker5007
Can't die too
@Kronzcmdead
Old. But not that old. Young. But not that bold
@Azure_clematis14
@@Kronzcmdead right haha
@Stop21ely
Yessssss
@ashwinii1001
Yes you are right
@KohaiYei-g5u
This music brings back a lot of memories from my past, and it really brings back the joy I have had.
@TheDeadComedian.
cross faded on a Thursday sorry mate, but it really does... keep me sane some days truthfully, it's that song I can't can imagine never capture that despair. thus, makes me appreciate everything. (sorry that sounds stupid T-T)