Phillips grew up in Leesburg, Georgia and went to Lee County High School. He graduated Albany Technical College, but had to miss the graduation ceremony due to being on American Idol.
Phillips auditioned for American Idol in Savannah, Georgia. He auditioned by singing the Stevie Wonder song "Superstition." The judges then asked him to audition with his guitar where he performed Michael Jackson's "Thriller." He made it to the Hollywood rounds and later to Las Vegas round.
On February 23, 2012, Phillips was chosen as one of the Top 24 semi-finalists. For the semi-finals, he performed "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins. He was one of the top five male vote getters and advanced to the Top 13. After the Top 13 performance night, Phillips was taken to a doctor for possible kidney stones. The Home Songfacts reports that after advancing to the final, Phillips was declared the winner on May 23, 2012. He won with a record breaking total vote count of 132 million.
Fly
Phillip Phillips Lyrics
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How should I give up, how should I survive?
Leaning to the side of the busy street
Looking down, these people never notice me
Am I the only one who thinks it's hard to breathe?
I feel it's hard to say what's on my mind
I feel it's hard to say what's not inside
It's only so much closer
I reach my hands to the sky
And fly
Ten thousand faces here, but who am I?
Am I the only one with a reason to hide?
Searching through a maze only to find
Another wall to break, another wall to climb
It's when I lose myself, then I realize
I feel it's hard to say what's on my mind
I feel it's hard to say what's not inside
You think your fight is over
It's only so much closer
I reach my hands to the sky
And fly
I feel it's hard to say what's on my mind
I feel it's hard to say what's not inside
You think your fight is over
It's only so much closer
I reach my hands to the sky
And fly
In Phillip Phillips's song "Fly," the singer reflects on life's struggles and the limits we can impose on ourselves. The opening verses highlight the weight on his mind at the end of a long day and the challenge of surviving in a world where he feels largely invisible. He poses the question, "Am I the only one who thinks it's hard to breathe?" reflecting on the sense of isolation and struggle that many people feel in their daily lives. The chorus is a call to action, a reminder that even when life is at its toughest, we have the power to soar above it all. "You think your fight is over; it's only so much closer" implies that the moments when we feel most defeated are often the ones that test our strength the most.
The second verse speaks to the sense of identity and purpose that we all search for, asking, "Ten thousand faces here, but who am I?" The imagery of searching through a maze and facing one wall after another suggests the challenge of finding our way in the world, and the potency of those moments when we stumble upon a breakthrough. As the singing reaches its dramatic peak, with the repetition of "I feel it's hard to say what's on my mind" and "I reach my hands to the sky and fly," the song becomes an anthem for resilience and self-belief. The lyrics suggest that even when we don't have all the answers, we can find strength in the act of believing in ourselves and finding a way to move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
When the day is done, the weight is on my mind
At the end of the day, my mind is consumed with my worries and responsibilities
How should I give up, how should I survive?
I am struggling to decide whether to continue pushing forward or to give up and let go
Leaning to the side of the busy street
I am standing on the edge of a bustling street, feeling disconnected from the world around me
Looking down, these people never notice me
Despite being surrounded by people, I feel invisible and ignored
Am I the only one who thinks it's hard to breathe?
I feel suffocated and alone in my struggles, wondering if anyone else can relate
Ten thousand faces here, but who am I?
Despite the crowd, I feel small and insignificant, questioning my identity and purpose in the world
Am I the only one with a reason to hide?
I wonder if others are also concealing their true selves and their struggles
Searching through a maze only to find another wall to break, another wall to climb
I feel like I am constantly struggling to overcome obstacles and barriers in my life, with no end in sight
It's when I lose myself, then I realize
I find clarity and perspective when I let go of my worries and allow myself to be fully immersed in the present moment
You think your fight is over, it's only so much closer
Despite feeling like I have already faced many challenges, I know that there are more waiting for me in the future
I reach my hands to the sky and fly
I am filled with hope and determination to rise above my struggles and soar towards my goals
I feel it's hard to say what's on my mind
I struggle to express my thoughts and emotions to others
I feel it's hard to say what's not inside
I find it difficult to even identify my own feelings and thoughts, let alone communicate them to others
You think your fight is over, it's only so much closer
Despite feeling like I have already faced many challenges, I know that there are more waiting for me in the future
I reach my hands to the sky and fly
I am filled with hope and determination to rise above my struggles and soar towards my goals
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Spirit Music Group
Written by: TODD CLARK, PHILLIP PHILLIPS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind