Fireflies
Owl City feat. Lindsey Stirling Lyrics
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If ten million fireflies
Lit up the world as I fell asleep
'Cause they fill the open air
And leave teardrops everywhere
You'd think me rude but I would just stand and stare
I'd like to make myself believe that planet Earth turns slowly
'Cause everything is never as it seems
'Cause I'd get a thousand hugs
From ten thousand lightning bugs
As they tried to teach me how to dance
A foxtrot above my head
A sock hop beneath my bed
A disco ball is just hanging by a thread (thread, thread)
I'd like to make myself believe that planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems (when I fall asleep)
Leave my door open just a crack
Please take me away from here
'Cause I feel like such an insomniac
Please take me away from here
Why do I tire of counting sheep?
Please take me away from here
When I'm far too tired to fall asleep
To ten million fireflies
I'm weird 'cause I hate goodbyes
I got misty eyes as they said, "Farewell" (they said farewell)
But I'll know where several are
If my dreams get real bizarre
'Cause I saved a few and I keep them in a jar (jar, jar, jar)
I'd like to make myself believe that planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems (when I fall asleep)
I'd like to make myself believe that planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems (when I fall asleep)
(I'd like to make myself believe that planet Earth turns slowly)
(It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep)
(Because my dreams are bursting at the seams)
Owl City's Fireflies is a song that is all about finding comfort in daydreaming and escaping the realities of everyday life. The song starts with the phrase 'You would not believe your eyes if ten million fireflies lit up the world as I fell asleep', which sets the tone for the rest of the lyrics. In this line, the singer is suggesting that he wants to escape reality and the only way to do that is through his dreams. Fireflies are used as a metaphor for these dreams that are both beautiful and unattainable. The next line 'Cause they fill the open air and leave teardrops everywhere' is a representation of a feeling he feels in his dreams that he cannot express in reality.
The chorus, 'I'd like to make myself believe that planet Earth turns slowly. It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep, 'cause everything is never as it seems', suggests that the singer is aware that the dreams are just that, dreams. The line 'I'd get a thousand hugs from ten thousand lightning bugs' is a representation of a person who is stuck in a dream world and the only 'friends' they have are these fireflies. The following line 'As they tried to teach me how to dance, a foxtrot above my head, a sock hop beneath my bed, a disco ball is just hanging by a thread' indicates that even though he is in a dream world, he is still isolated and lonely.
The lines 'Leave my door open just a crack, Please take me away from here, 'Cause I feel like such an insomniac, Please take me away from here' is a cry for help, as he does not want to be in this dream world anymore. The last lines 'But I'll know where several are, If my dreams get real bizarre, 'Cause I saved a few and I keep them in a jar' - are a representation that the dreams are always going to be a part of the singer's life, regardless of whether he wants them to be or not. Overall, the song is a beautiful representation of the human experience of escaping reality through daydreams.
Line by Line Meaning
You would not believe your eyes
I saw something so magical, it was hard to believe.
If ten million fireflies
If a swarm of glowing bugs illuminated the sky.
Lit up the world as I fell asleep
I imagined the world glowing as I drifted off to sleep.
'Cause they fill the open air
The fireflies were everywhere, filling the air.
And leave teardrops everywhere
The light and beauty of the bugs was overwhelming, leaving me emotional.
You'd think me rude but I would just stand and stare
I was so entranced by the fireflies, I couldn't look away even if it seemed rude.
I'd like to make myself believe that planet Earth turns slowly
I wish that time could slow down and life would be less overwhelming.
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
Sometimes being awake feels better than dealing with strange or scary dreams.
'Cause everything is never as it seems
Things can be confusing or unexpected, never quite what they appear.
'Cause I'd get a thousand hugs
The fireflies offered me comfort, love and acceptance.
From ten thousand lightning bugs
The swarm of glowing insects was so numerous that they could offer me many hugs.
As they tried to teach me how to dance
The bugs symbolize the magic and wonder of childhood, the time when dancing with fireflies was possible.
A foxtrot above my head
The fireflies danced and swirled around each other in a beautiful display of light.
A sock hop beneath my bed
The bugs were everywhere, even hiding in unlikely places like under the bed.
A disco ball is just hanging by a thread
The image of a glowing disco ball represents the fragility of childhood wonder and innocence.
Leave my door open just a crack
I want to let the magic and wonder into my life.
Please take me away from here
I feel overwhelmed by the stress and chaos of life, and I want to escape.
'Cause I feel like such an insomniac
I can't sleep because I feel anxious and overwhelmed.
Why do I tire of counting sheep?
Even distracting myself with a common sleep technique like counting sheep doesn't help me relax.
When I'm far too tired to fall asleep
Sometimes, I'm just mentally tired and my brain can't shut off.
To ten million fireflies
I am reaching out to the beauty and magic of the world that I remember from childhood.
I'm weird 'cause I hate goodbyes
I don't like endings and the loss of the innocence and magic that the fireflies represent.
I got misty eyes as they said, "Farewell"
I was emotional and felt like crying as the fireflies disappeared from view.
But I'll know where several are
Even though the fireflies are gone, I remember the magic and beauty and know I can experience it again.
If my dreams get real bizarre
When my mind is the most creative and imaginative, I can find that sense of wonder again.
'Cause I saved a few and I keep them in a jar (jar, jar, jar)
I have precious memories from childhood that I hold dear and will never forget, even as I grow older.
"Because my dreams are bursting at the seams"
I am driven by my own creativity and imagination, always looking for more wonder and magic in life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Adam R. Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kangttalgi
A spark soaring down through the pouring rain
And restoring life to the lighthouse
A slow motion wave on the ocean
Stirs my emotion up like a rain cloud
When did the sky turn black?
And when will the light come back?
A cab driver turned to skydiver
Then to survivor,
Dying to breakdown
A blood brother, surrogate mother,
Hugging each other, crying their eyes out
When did the sky turn black?
And when will the light come back?
I'm ecstatic like a drug addict
Locked in the attic
Strung out and spellbound
I fought all through the night
Oh, oh, but I made it alive
The sun's starting to rise
Oh, oh, these are beautiful times
This fight of my life is so hard, so hard, so hard
But I'm gonna survive
Oh, oh, these are beautiful times
A bad feeling burned through the ceiling
Leaving my healing heart with a new scar
A dead fire rose and rose higher
Like a vampire, up from the graveyard
When did the sky turn black?
And when will the light come back?
We all suffer but we recover
Just to discover life where we all are
I fought all through the night
Oh, oh, but I made it alive
The sun's starting to rise
Oh, oh, these are beautiful times
This fight of my life is so hard, so hard, so hard
But I'm gonna survive
Oh, oh, these are beautiful times
This fight of my life is so hard, so hard, so hard
But I'm gonna survive
Oh, oh, these are beautiful times
My heart's burning bad
And it's turning black
But I'm learning how to be stronger
And sincerely, I love you dearly
Oh, but I'm clearly destined to wander
@q_likes_bugs
"When did the sky turn black? When will the light come back?"
"This fight of my life is so hard"
"I fought all through the night"
"I'm learning how to be stronger"
"But I'm gonna survive......"
@cjyay3449
Lindsey and Owl City did a song together. My life is complete. Cries tears of joy
@skeeterjeff5862
Same!
@keylaesquivel16
CJ Yay i feel like all the toys are little Easter Eggs from past songs, like the lighthouse could be from vanilla twilight
@GusCGC
Can I join you? Say yes!
@cjyay3449
Yes. XD
@GusCGC
Thank uuu!!!
@CallumMcPherson
Does anyone else feel like this music video a kind of sequel to the Fireflies video? In Fireflies, it was the toys in Adam's room that came to life, but now that he's grown up he's passing on that same magic to the boy instead.
@olivergagto5515
Callum McPherson Yeah right. That's what I've noticed the first time I saw this music video.
@joo6666
Callum McPherson i thought the kid was meant to be him as a kid- seeing himself writing amazing songs. my mum saw a resemblance between them in this and "to the sky".
@GalaxyLPSTVOfficialChannel
I think this kid could represent young Adam, going through some tough times in his life. Adam, knowing how bad it was and how great he's feeling now, wanted to tell him that it's going to get better, so he invented a way for him to travel back in time to tell younger Adam what he wanted to say (hey, that kind of reminds me of what MercyMe was talking about in their song, "Dear Younger Me"). Younger Adam got so inspired by all the magic in the room, he discovered a way for him to do the same. He started creating his own magic (music)! That, I am so thankful for. Fireflies and Beautiful Times both have insanely beautiful videos with similar visuals.