Benj Pasek and Justin Paul are a musical theater writing team living in New… Read Full Bio ↴Benj Pasek and Justin Paul are a musical theater writing team living in New York City. They are both graduates of Michigan University. Edges, their first show, licensed by Music Theater International, has been shown throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, and Europe.
They are the youngest winners of the Jonathon Larson award, an award named after Jonathon Larson, the writer of RENT. They were just listed as part of the "50 To Watch" upcoming playwrights and composers by The Dramatist Magazine. Pasek and Paul are writers for the Disney Channel television series JOHNNY AND THE SPRITES and contributed music to Off-Broadway's upcoming WHITE NOISE [A CAUTIONARY MUSICAL] which won Talkin' Broadway's 2006 Summer Theatre Festival Citation for Outstanding Original Score. They are also working on several original musicals which can be found on their website.
http://www.pasekandpaul.com/

Never Enough
Pasek and Paul Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm trying to hold my breath
Let it stay this way
Can't let this moment end
You set off a dream in me
Getting louder now
Can you hear it echoing?
Take my hand
Will you share this with me?

'Cause darling, without you

All the shine of a thousand spotlights
All the stars we steal from the night sky
Will never be enough, never be enough
Towers of gold are still too little
These hands could hold the world but it'll
Never be enough
Never be enough

For me
Never, never never, never
Never, for me, for me
Never enough never enough
Never enough
For me, for me, for me

All the shine of a thousand spotlights
All the stars we steal from the night sky
Will never be enough, never be enough
Towers of gold are still too little
These hands could hold the world but it'll
Never be enough,never be enough

For me
Never, never
Never, never
Never, for me, for me
Never enough, never, never
Never enough, never, never
Never enough
For me, for me, for me

For me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Never Enough" from Pasek and Paul's song, originally performed for the movie The Greatest Showman, convey a sense of longing and yearning for something that is unattainable or elusive. The singer begins by expressing the desire to hold onto a precious moment, not wanting it to end. This moment has ignited a dream within the singer, which is growing louder and more pronounced. The question "Can you hear it echoing?" suggests that the singer wants someone to acknowledge and share in this dream.

The lyrics then go on to explore the theme of insufficiency. The singer mentions the shine of a thousand spotlights and stars stolen from the night sky, yet asserts that it will never be enough. Even towers of gold, which symbolize wealth and abundance, are considered too little. The hands of the singer could potentially hold the whole world, but even that would not be enough. The repetition of "never enough" emphasizes the feeling of constant dissatisfaction and the inability to find fulfillment.

In the final lines, the singer repeats the phrase "never enough" several times, emphasizing the desperation and longing that persists. The repeated phrase "for me" suggests that the singer is seeking validation or affirmation from someone or something external. Overall, the lyrics of "Never Enough" convey the insatiable desire for more, the pursuit of unattainable perfection, and the quest for validation and meaning.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm trying to hold my breath
I am trying to contain my excitement and anticipation.

Let it stay this way
I hope this feeling lasts forever.

Can't let this moment end
I don't want this amazing experience to come to an end.

You set off a dream in me
You ignited a deep desire and aspiration within me.

Getting louder now
My feelings are becoming stronger and more evident.

Can you hear it echoing?
Can you perceive the resounding passion in my heart?

Take my hand
Come with me on this journey.

Will you share this with me?
Will you join me in embracing and cherishing this moment?

'Cause darling, without you
Because, my dear, without your presence and support

All the shine of a thousand spotlights
All the attention and admiration from an immense crowd

All the stars we steal from the night sky
All the wonders and beauty we capture and make our own