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.
Lead On
Phillip Phillips Lyrics
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Seems like you never leave
You are the blur in my eyes
As I wake up through the night
Ten thousand hands can't hold
This heavy heart of stone
I feel it break like glass
So pick me up then throw me down
Shine the light then turn it out
You make your way through the fire
I stand inside and I get burned
You make your love a liar
I'm hanging on to every word
I can't quit you
And I'm fine with being used
Lead on, lead on and I'll follow
Lead on, lead on
And I'll follow wherever you go
Right down that rabbit hole
Then everything gets dark
And I feel pulled apart
Running through my blood
You are the rarest drug
With every word I breathe
I see the way you've changed me
Around then throw me down
Shine a light then turn it out
You make your way through the fire
I stand inside and I get burned
You make your love a liar
I'm hanging on to every word
I can't quit you
And I'm fine with being used
So lead on, lead on and I'll follow
Lead on, lead on
Paint the road to see the way
Should I go or should I stay
I'll come around again
I'll come around again
We never learn to let it go
Always feel it as you grow
It comes around again
It comes around again, so
Lead on lead on and I'll follow
Lead on lead on
And I'll follow you into the night
Let's get lost until it's light
You make your way through the fire
I stand inside and I get burned
You make your love a liar
I'm hanging on to every word
I can't quit you
And I'm fine with being used
Lead on, lead on and I'll follow
Lead on, lead on and I'll follow
Lead on, lead on and I'll follow
Lead on, lead on and I'll follow
Lead on, lead on and I'll follow
Lead on, lead on
The lyrics of Phillip Phillips's song Lead On portray a love that is intense and perhaps unhealthy. The song starts with the singer saying that he sees his lover in his dreams and she never really leaves his mind. She is always there, a blurry spot in his eyes, as he wakes up in the middle of the night. The next lines "Ten thousand hands can't hold this heavy heart of stone" suggest that the singer is burdened by the weight of his feelings for the woman, who seems to have a hold on him that he cannot shake off. He acknowledges that she breaks his heart constantly, but he nevertheless comes back to her, almost addicted to the pain she causes him.
The line "You make your love a liar" suggests that the woman might not really love the singer but is leading him on, making him believe that she does. However, he hangs on to every word she says and accepts the way she uses him. The chorus begs her to lead on, regardless of how hurtful it might be, and the singer promises to follow her wherever she goes, even if it leads him down the rabbit hole. The bridge of the song suggests that the singer is questioning his choices and the impact that this love is having on him. He wonders if he should go or stay and acknowledges that the cycle of pain and hurt will come around again.
Overall, Lead On is a song about a tumultuous and damaging love that the singer cannot let go of, and how he is willing to be used and hurt again and again in the hope that the woman he loves might someday love him back.
Line by Line Meaning
I see you in my dreams
The subject sees the object frequently and vividly in their dreams.
Seems like you never leave
The object's presence is a constant and pervasive force in the subject's life.
You are the blur in my eyes
The object's impact on the subject is so great that it affects the subject's vision and perception.
As I wake up through the night
The subject's thoughts are consumed by the object even during their waking hours.
Ten thousand hands can't hold
The subject's heart is too heavy to be lifted by external forces.
This heavy heart of stone
The subject's heart is weighed down by emotional turmoil.
I feel it break like glass
The subject's heart is breaking into pieces under the object's impact.
Still I keep coming back
Despite the pain, the subject continues to be drawn to the object.
So pick me up then throw me down
The object has a cycle of lifting up and then devastating the subject.
Shine the light then turn it out
The object gives the subject hope before snuffing it out.
You make your way through the fire
The object has the strength and bravery to tackle challenges.
I stand inside and I get burned
The subject is unable to handle the object's intensity and is hurt as a result.
You make your love a liar
The object is inconsistent or insincere in expressing their love towards the subject.
I'm hanging on to every word
The subject is desperate for any hint of love or affection from the object.
I can't quit you
The subject is unable to stop being drawn to the object.
And I'm fine with being used
The subject is willing to accept being treated poorly by the object as long as they can remain near them.
Lead on, lead on and I'll follow
The subject is willing to blindly follow the object no matter what.
Right down that rabbit hole
The subject is willing to follow the object down a potentially dangerous or harmful path.
Then everything gets dark
As the object leads the subject down the path, the situation becomes unstable and uncertain.
And I feel pulled apart
The subject's emotional state is torn between their feeling for the object and the uncertainty of the situation.
Running through my blood
The object is a central and vital aspect of the subject's being.
You are the rarest drug
The impact of the object on the subject is akin to that of a powerful and addictive drug.
With every word I breathe
The subject's every thought and action is consumed by the object.
I see the way you've changed me
The subject recognizes the impact the object has had on their being.
Paint the road to see the way
The object is the subject's guiding force, helping them determine the best path forward.
Should I go or should I stay
The subject is uncertain whether to continue down the path with the object or to part ways.
We never learn to let it go
The subject is unable to let go of their feelings for the object.
Always feel it as you grow
The impact of the object on the subject grows stronger and more impactful over time.
It comes around again
Despite any attempts to move on, the subject's feelings for the object resurface.
Lead on, lead on and I'll follow
The subject remains willing to follow the object no matter the consequences.
And I'll follow you into the night
The subject is willing to follow the object into the unknown and potentially dangerous situations.
Let's get lost until it's light
The subject desires to lose themselves completely in the object, even if it means staying up all night.
Lead on, lead on and I'll follow
The subject remains willing to follow the object no matter the consequences.
Lead on, lead on and I'll follow
The subject remains willing to follow the object no matter the consequences.
Lead on, lead on and I'll follow
The subject remains willing to follow the object no matter the consequences.
Lead on, lead on and I'll follow
The subject remains willing to follow the object no matter the consequences.
Lead on, lead on
The subject is entrusting themselves to the object's guidance.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Spirit Music Group
Written by: DEREK FUHRMANN, TODD CLARK, PHILLIP PHILLIPS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind