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.
This Isn’t the End
Owl City Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause the father she loved left and never looked back
No longer the hero, she counted on
He told her he loved her and then he was gone
She tried to look happy in front of her friends
But knew that she'd never feel normal again
She fought back the tears as they filled her eyes
When the rain falls down
When it all turns around
When the light goes out, this isn't the end
Her dad was a good guy that everyone liked
But nobody knew he was dying inside
He promised his family he'd be all right
And then with a gunshot he left them behind
When the rain falls down
When it all turns around
When the light goes out, this isn't the end
When the rain falls down
When it all turns around
When the light goes out, this isn't the end, no
The role of a father, he never deserved
He abandoned his daughter and never returned
And over the years though the pain was real
She finally forgave him, and started to heal
How close to the ending? Well, nobody knows
The future's a mystery and anything goes
Love is confusing and life is hard
You fight to survive 'cause you made it this far
It's all too astounding to comprehend
It's just the beginning, this isn't the end
It's just the beginning, this isn't the end
The song "This Isn't the End" by Owl City is a powerful ballad about the pain of abandonment and the journey towards forgiveness and healing. The lyrics describe an eight-year-old girl who experiences a panic attack after her father, who she loved and counted on as her hero, leaves her and never returns. The girl tries to hide her pain in front of her friends, but knows that she will never feel normal again. She longs for her father to return so that she can say goodbye to him.
The second verse reveals that the father was a good man who nobody knew was suffering internally. He promised his family that he would be all right, but then committed suicide, leaving his family behind. The lyrics mourn the role of a father that he never deserved and the pain that he caused his daughter.
Despite the pain and confusion, the song ends on a hopeful note. The chorus repeats that "this isn't the end" even when things feel hopeless and the future is uncertain. The lyrics acknowledge the difficulty of love and the challenges of life, but encourage the listener to keep fighting and to recognize that this moment is just the beginning.
Overall, "This Isn't the End" is a moving exploration of the pain of abandonment, the struggle for healing, and the hope for a better tomorrow.
Line by Line Meaning
An eight year old girl had a panic attack
A young girl had a sudden episode of intense fear because her beloved father left her and never returned
'Cause the father she loved left and never looked back
The reason for the girl's panic attack was that her father, who she dearly loved, abandoned her and never returned
No longer the hero, she counted on
The little girl's father was her hero whom she could always rely on, but his sudden disappearance shattered her belief
He told her he loved her and then he was gone
Before leaving, the girl's father expressed his love for her, which only worsened her pain later when he disappeared without any explanation
She tried to look happy in front of her friends
Although the girl felt broken inside, she made an effort to appear happy and normal in front of her peers
But knew that she'd never feel normal again
Despite her pretense, the girl knew that she could never feel normal again as the wound left by her father's absence was too deep
She fought back the tears as they filled her eyes
The girl tried to hold back her tears as they threatened to spill over her eyes, displaying her helplessness
And wanted him back just to tell him goodbye
More than anything, the girl yearned to have her father back, even if only for a brief moment, to say goodbye to him properly
When the rain falls down
The line suggests a time of sorrow and pain when things are not going well
When it all turns around
The line suggests a time of sudden change, maybe even turmoil
When the light goes out, this isn't the end
This line implies that even when things seem to be at their worst, there's still hope, and the end is not necessarily near
Her dad was a good guy that everyone liked
The missing father was a well-liked person whom the community regarded as a good man
But nobody knew he was dying inside
However, behind his facade, he was suffering deeply, which nobody knew or realized, highlighting the importance of acknowledging and addressing mental health issues
He promised his family he'd be all right
Before leaving, the father made false assurances to his family that he'll be okay, possibly due to societal pressure to appear strong and capable
And then with a gunshot he left them behind
The father ultimately committed suicide, leaving his family behind to deal with the trauma and sorrow he caused
The role of a father, he never deserved
The father failed to fulfill his parental duties and abandoned his daughter, making him unworthy of being a father figure
He abandoned his daughter and never returned
The father deserted his daughter and never came back, causing immense emotional pain and scars that took years to heal
And over the years though the pain was real
Despite the time that passed, the girl's pain and trauma were genuine and persistent
She finally forgave him, and started to heal
However, over time, the hurt girl forgave her father for his wrongs, allowing her the opportunity to heal and move on from her past
How close to the ending? Well, nobody knows
The future is unpredictable and unknown, and no one can accurately predict what's in store
The future's a mystery and anything goes
Life's uncertainties make the future an enigma, and anything can happen at any time, making it crucial to cherish the present moments
Love is confusing and life is hard
Love can be perplexing, and life can be very challenging; the harsh realities of life test our strength and determination
You fight to survive 'cause you made it this far
Despite life's hardships, we continue to battle on and persevere because we've endured and come this far
It's all too astounding to comprehend
The profundity of life is too bewildering to understand fully
It's just the beginning, this isn't the end
Although it might seem like the end, life is only starting and has much more to offer, signifying that it's never too late to start anew
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM R. YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mob Ikari
Not all of Adam's songs are sad, but when they are they make me want to bAWL MY EYES OUT
It's shrimp in a bag!
Oh my word this is so true </3
mm mm
Yes
rkm424
Though I can't personally relate to it, this is such a beautifully written song. Wow.
THE ARCHIVE
I could not agree more
InveterateCrusader
It doesn't take a death in the family to feel grief and pain dog. Hope you're doing well.
pastevyx
My dad never did anything to make sure I was OK. This song hit my heart, and hit it hard. I'm crying like a baby right now. My parents first divorced when I was 8, got back together, then divorced again. I've had to move at least once or twice each year. Owl City understands the pain, that's why they write songs like this. If it weren't for the internet, I would probably not be here right now making this comment. After my dad divorced for a second time, I was ready to die. But then I started watching inspirational videos, and now I'm here, living, crying my eyes out, but living. Thank you,
jack buck
Foxy Pirate I sorry for that but try your best to stay strong every second you can because it helps you a lot okieeee ? ^^ Talk to someone might help you find a beautiful times :) Have a nice day !!!!! :)))
pastevyx
***** OMG I'm so sorry!!!
pastevyx
Still, I would hate it if my dad ever forgot my birthday! But my dad is in a rehab center.