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.
Man on the Moon
Phillip Phillips Lyrics
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Oh, oh, oh yeah,
Oh, oh, oh yeah
I watch the world from a side of the moon
Looking at the stars, looking back to you
Just to see if your were still alive
Looking at the sun with the fire in your eyes
It's hard to know where I stand
Even a man on the moon couldn't tell me where to land
But, I wanted to fly in the sea with no gravity to pull me down
Hold on it won't take long
You can find yourself if you decide to finally start
Don't run to me when you fall
'Cause the steps getting bigger so we here to walk them all
And you know how I feel
So don't let your life start to slowly, waste away
Uh oh, no no
So tell me this one thing
Now listen to me close
You steal from me but you call it your own
You liar you thieve go make your stand on your own two feet
So oh now, oh now, listen what your friends say
Go now go now go and do it that'a way
I'm the one you want to believe
But in your heart you can't see
Hold on it won't take long
You can find yourself if you decide to finally start
Don't run to me when you fall
'Cause the steps getting bigger so we here to walk them all
And you know how I feel
So don't let your life start to slowly, waste away
Oh, let it fall, let it fall
Hold on it won't take long
You can find yourself if you decide to finally start
Don't run to me when you fall
'Cause the steps getting bigger so we here to walk them all
And you know how I feel
So don't let your life start to slowly, waste away
The lyrics to Phillip Phillips's song "Man on the Moon" describe the feeling of isolation and uncertainty that can come with trying to find one's place in the world. The singer compares himself to a man on the moon, observing the world from a distance and trying to make sense of it all. He looks for signs of life, checking to see if the person he cares about is still alive, and is struck by the intensity of their gaze when looking at the sun. The singer acknowledges that he doesn't know where he stands and feels like he's adrift in the sea without gravity to anchor him.
Despite these feelings of uncertainty and disorientation, the singer urges the listener not to give up on finding their place in the world. He encourages them to take action and not to waste their life away. The singer also confronts someone who has stolen from him and calls them out for their actions. He tells them to make their stand on their own two feet and not to rely on him for help.
Overall, "Man on the Moon" is a song about the human condition and the search for meaning and purpose in life. It speaks to the loneliness and fear that can come with trying to find one's way in the world but ultimately urges listeners to persevere and find their own path.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, oh, oh yeah,
The singer conveys excitement through repetition to start the song.
I watch the world from a side of the moon
The singer feels like he is removed from the rest of the world.
Looking at the stars, looking back to you
The singer is longing for a person he cares about.
Just to see if your were still alive
The singer is worried about the wellbeing of the person he cares about.
Looking at the sun with the fire in your eyes
The singer is admiring the passion and intensity of the person he cares about.
It's hard to know where I stand
The singer is struggling to find a sense of direction in his life.
Even a man on the moon couldn't tell me where to land
The singer feels lost and uncertain of what path to take in life.
But, I wanted to fly in the sea with no gravity to pull me down
The singer desires freedom without anything holding him back.
Hold on it won't take long
The singer encourages listeners to hold on and keep going despite difficulties.
You can find yourself if you decide to finally start
The singer believes that people can discover their true selves if they take action.
Don't run to me when you fall
The singer reminds listeners that they are responsible for their own mistakes and must learn from them.
'Cause the steps getting bigger so we here to walk them all
The singer acknowledges that life presents greater challenges over time, but encourages people to face them head-on.
And you know how I feel
The singer emphasizes that he genuinely cares about listeners' wellbeing and success.
So don't let your life start to slowly, waste away
The singer urges listeners to live their lives to the fullest and not let opportunities pass them by.
So tell me this one thing
The singer requests the listener's attention.
Now listen to me close
The singer emphasizes the importance of his words.
You steal from me but you call it your own
The singer accuses someone of taking credit for his work or ideas.
You liar you thieve go make your stand on your own two feet
The singer scolds the person for being deceitful and encourages them to be independent.
So oh now, oh now, listen what your friends say
The singer suggests that the person pay attention to advice from their friends.
Go now go now go and do it that'a way
The singer encourages the person to take action and do things on their own.
I'm the one you want to believe
The singer asserts that he is the one the person should trust.
But in your heart you can't see
The singer acknowledges that the person may not recognize or appreciate his guidance.
Oh, let it fall, let it fall
The singer suggests that the person should let go and allow things to happen naturally.
So don't let your life start to slowly, waste away
The singer repeats his call to action for listeners to live fully and not waste opportunities.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PHILLIP LA DON JR. PHILLIPS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind