Young also records under the names Sky Sailing, Port Blue, Color Therapy, Insect Airport, Seagull Orchestra and his own name, Adam Young.
Young started out making music in 2007 in his basement in his hometown of Owatonna, Minnesota, United States, later developing a following through his MySpace profile before being signed to Universal Republic. Young has released seven albums under the Owl City moniker: "Maybe I'm Dreaming" (2008), "Ocean Eyes" (2009), "All Things Bright and Beautiful" (2011), "The Midsummer Station" (2012), "Mobile Orchestra" (2015), "Cinematic" (2018), and "Coco Moon" (2023). Young's 2009 single "Fireflies" reached #1 in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and The Netherlands. His second major hit, 2012's "Good Time" featuring Carly Rae Jepsen reached #8 in the US and #1 in New Zealand.
He was also once a member of Windsor Airlift and Swimming with Dolphins, both of which he is no longer involved with.
Angels
Owl City Lyrics
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Through the glass in my bedroom window,
In the bushes far below,
I thought I saw an unfamiliar shadow,
Among the ones I so clearly know.
I've been sleeping with the nightlight unplugged,
With a note on the rocking chair,
So wake me if you're out there.
Living close to the ground,
It's seventh heaven because there are angels all around,
Among my frivolous thoughts,
I believe there are beautiful things seen by the astronauts.
So wake me if you're out there
Wake me if you're out there
In the dust on my cellar staircase,
A pair of footprints followed me,
I saw a flicker in the fake fireplace,
Blinked again, but there was nothing to see.
I've been leaving all the windows unlocked,
With a basket by the oak tree,
'Cause I'll be picking up the acorns that fall off,
If you'll be climbing up to meet me.
Living close to the ground!
It's seventh heaven because there are angels all around,
Among my frivolous thoughts,
I believe there are beautiful things seen by the astronauts.
So wake me if you're out there!
I keep my knees black and blue 'cause they often hit the hardwood floor,
(Wake me if you're out there),
And I believe, so I'm not praying to the ceiling anymore,
I've been sleeping with the nightlight unplugged,
With a note on the rocking chair that says I'm dreaming of the life I once loved,
So wake me if you're out there.
Living close to the ground!
It's seventh heaven 'cause there are angels all around,
Among my frivolous thoughts,
I believe there are beautiful things seen by the astronauts
The indications reveal,
(Wake me if you're out there),
That few of us realize life is quite so real,
So if you're dying to see,
I guarantee there are angels around your vicinity
So if you're dying to see,
I guarantee there are angels around your vicinity
The lyrics of Owl City's song "Angels" is a whimsical expression of the artist's belief in the existence of angels all around us. The opening lines describe the persona gazing out of their bedroom window and noticing an unfamiliar shadow in the bushes far below. It's a call to whoever or whatever is out there to wake them up if they're nearby. The singer then goes on to describe the presence of angels in their life, living "close to the ground." Depicting them having left notes on their rocking chair and keeping the nightlight unplugged in the hopes of being awakened by some celestial figure.
The singer seems to find joy in their firm belief in the presence of angels. They describe it as seventh heaven, envisioning astronauts having seen beautiful things that no one else has. The lyrics later on refer to the mundane aspects of life like a pair of footprints in the dust on the cellar staircase and picking up acorns that fall off the oak tree. This suggests that the singer is fully present in the present moment and acknowledges the beauty in the ordinary things in life, reinforcing their belief in the existence of angels.
The lyrics of "Angels" are a tribute to the beauty of life, reaffirming the importance of living in the moment and finding joy in even the most trivial things- such as seeing angels in everyday life. It's an optimistic look at the world that we live in, urging us to open our eyes to the beautiful things that surround us.
Line by Line Meaning
Wake me if you're out there
The singer is asking someone to wake him up if they are nearby
Through the glass in my bedroom window,
In the bushes far below,
I thought I saw an unfamiliar shadow,
Among the ones I so clearly know.
The singer is looking outside their bedroom window and sees a shadow they don't recognize among familiar ones.
I've been sleeping with the nightlight unplugged,
With a note on the rocking chair,
That says I'm dreaming of the life I once loved,
So wake me if you're out there.
The singer is leaving a note on the rocking chair and sleeping unplugged. They are dreaming of a previous life and asking to be waken up if someone is around.
Living close to the ground,
It's seventh heaven because there are angels all around,
Among my frivolous thoughts,
I believe there are beautiful things seen by the astronauts.
The artist feels like living close to the ground is heaven because they can see angels. They believe that there are beautiful things in the world that can be seen from space.
In the dust on my cellar staircase,
A pair of footprints followed me,
I saw a flicker in the fake fireplace,
Blinked again, but there was nothing to see.
The artist sees footprints following them and thinks they see a flicker in the fireplace, but it disappears when they blink.
I've been leaving all the windows unlocked,
With a basket by the oak tree,
'Cause I'll be picking up the acorns that fall off,
If you'll be climbing up to meet me.
The singer is leaving their windows unlocked and a basket by the oak tree. They are willing to pick acorns if someone climbs up to meet them.
I keep my knees black and blue 'cause they often hit the hardwood floor,
(Wake me if you're out there),
And I believe, so I'm not praying to the ceiling anymore,
I've been sleeping with the nightlight unplugged,
With a note on the rocking chair that says I'm dreaming of the life I once loved,
So wake me if you're out there.
The singer's knees are bruised from hitting the floor while praying. They believe in something and no longer pray to the ceiling. They are sleeping without the nightlight and dreaming of the past.
The indications reveal,
(Wake me if you're out there),
That few of us realize life is quite so real,
So if you're dying to see,
I guarantee there are angels around your vicinity,
So if you're dying to see,
I guarantee there are angels around your vicinity
The artist thinks that many people don't realize how real life is. They guarantee the presence of angels if someone wants to see them.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRISTOPHER YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind