Plant Life
Owl City & Matthew Thiessen Lyrics


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I saw a ghost on the stairs,
And sheets on the tables and chairs,
The silverware swam with the sharks in the sink,
Even so, I don't know, what to think.
I've been longing for,
Daisies to push through the floor,
And I wish that plant life would grow all around me,
So I won't feel dead anymore.
So I won't feel dead anymore.

I saw a bear in the den,
Reading my textbooks again,
That bats flowed like traffic as they poured from the attic,
Heaven knows, I could really use a friend.

I'd rather waltz than just walk through the forest,
The trees keep the tempo and they sway in time,
Quartet of crickets chime in for the chorus,
If I were to pluck on your heartstrings, would you strum on mine?
I've been longing for,
Daisies to push through the floor,
And I wish plant life would grow all around me,
So I won't feel dead anymore.
So I won't feel dead anymore.

Your spirit is sweet, so pull off your sheet,
And give me a ghost of a smile,
Show me your teeth, 'cause you're teddy beneath,
So just grin and bear it a while.
Just grin and bear it a while.

I'd rather waltz than just walk through the forest,
The trees keep the tempo and they sway in time,
Quartet of crickets chime in for the chorus,
If I were to pluck on your heartstrings, would you strum on mine?

Today I'm busting out,
Of this old haunted house,
'Cause I'm sick of waiting for,
All the spider webs to grow all around me,
'Cause I don't feel dead anymore.
And I'm not afraid anymore.

I'd rather waltz than just walk through the forest,
The trees keep the tempo and they sway in time,
Quartet of crickets chime in for the chorus,




If I were to pluck on your heartstrings, would you strum on mine?
If I were to pluck on your heartstrings, would you strum on mine?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Owl City's "Plant Life" contain vivid and whimsical imagery that portrays the singer's desire for nature to surround him and revive his spirit. The song opens with a ghostly apparition and inanimate objects that have taken on a life of their own. These surreal elements convey a sense of loneliness and detachment, as if the singer is disconnected from reality and yearning for something more vibrant and alive.


In the chorus, the singer laments his feeling of being "dead" and wants daisies and other plant life to grow all around him, as if to rekindle his connection to the earth and awaken his senses. He longs for companionship, which is reflected in seeing a bear reading his textbooks and wishing for a friend. The lines "If I were to pluck on your heartstrings, would you strum on mine?" suggest a desire for emotional intimacy and a shared sense of feeling alive.


The song concludes with the singer breaking free from the haunted house and the spider webs that had previously ensnared him, declaring that he is not afraid anymore. The repeated imagery of waltzing through the forest, the swaying trees, and the quartet of crickets illustrate a deep craving for harmony and beauty in the natural world. The lyrics of "Plant Life" ultimately convey a sense of longing and hope, as the singer seeks connection and renewal amidst the melancholy and detachment of the modern world.


Line by Line Meaning

I saw a ghost on the stairs,
The singer sees a ghost on the stairs of an old haunted house.


And sheets on the tables and chairs,
The furniture in the house is covered with sheets.


The silverware swam with the sharks in the sink,
The silverware in the sink is surrounded by dirty dishes.


Even so, I don't know, what to think.
The artist is unsure of what to make of these strange occurrences.


I've been longing for,
The artist desires something deeply.


Daisies to push through the floor,
The singer wants to see new life grow in the house.


And I wish that plant life would grow all around me,
The singer wants to be surrounded by nature and living things.


So I won't feel dead anymore.
The artist feels as though they are stuck in a lifeless place and wants to feel alive again.


So I won't feel dead anymore.
Reinforces the desire to feel alive and connected to nature.


I saw a bear in the den,
The artist sees a bear in the house, adding to the strange happenings.


Reading my textbooks again,
The bear is reading the singer's textbooks.


That bats flowed like traffic as they poured from the attic,
Bats are flying out of the attic in large numbers, like a swarm of traffic.


Heaven knows, I could really use a friend.
The singer feels lonely and would appreciate some company.


I'd rather waltz than just walk through the forest,
The singer wants to experience the beauty of nature in a more profound way.


The trees keep the tempo and they sway in time,
The trees in the forest are moving together, creating a natural rhythm.


Quartet of crickets chime in for the chorus,
Crickets join in the music of the forest, adding to the harmony.


If I were to pluck on your heartstrings, would you strum on mine?
The artist is suggesting a deeper connection between two people.


Your spirit is sweet, so pull off your sheet,
The singer is asking the ghost to reveal themselves and show their true nature.


And give me a ghost of a smile,
The singer wants the ghost to smile and share in their happiness.


Show me your teeth, 'cause you're teddy beneath,
Beneath the ghostly exterior, the artist believes the ghost is more cuddly like a teddy bear.


So just grin and bear it a while.
The artist wants the ghost to stick around and not disappear.


Today I'm busting out,
The artist is leaving the old haunted house behind.


Of this old haunted house,
Reinforces the fact that the house is haunted.


Cause I'm sick of waiting for,
The artist is tired of waiting for nature to grow inside the house.


All the spider webs to grow all around me,
The singer wants to be surrounded by life, but has found only spiders and webs.


Cause I don't feel dead anymore.
The singer has found new life outside of the haunted house and feels alive once again.


And I'm not afraid anymore.
Leaving the haunted house behind has given the singer a sense of bravery and adventure.


If I were to pluck on your heartstrings, would you strum on mine?
Reinforces the idea of a deep emotional connection between two people, even amidst a world of ghosts and haunted houses.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: MATTHEW THIESSEN, ADAM YOUNG

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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