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.
Searchlight
Phillip Phillips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hold your breath then let it out
What's left unsaid, say it loud
There's a fire in me
That's still burning
I'm sending out a searchlight
Shine it out until I find you, oh
When my heart's in smithereens
I wanna feel what it's like
To be surrounded by you, oh
So I'm sending out a searchlight
To bring you back to me
I'm lost again in this night
The sun just leads me into shadows
In my bones, in my blood
You cure my disease
Like a remedy
I'm sending out a searchlight
Shine it out until I find you, oh
Can you bring me back to life
When my heart's in smithereens
I wanna feel what it's like
To be surrounded by you, oh
So I'm sending out a searchlight
To bring you back to me
Like a wild river
In a hurricane
Like a fallen empire
I will rise again
Take one step
And make it count
I'm sending out a searchlight
Shine it out until I find you, oh
Can you bring me back to life
When my heart's in smithereens
I wanna feel what it's like
To be surrounded by you, oh
So I'm sending out a searchlight
To bring you back to me
The lyrics in Phillip Phillips's "Searchlight" tell a story of someone who is lost and seeking to be found. The first verse is a call to action, urging the listener to take a step and make it count. The second line encourages deep breathing to calm nerves and gain confidence. The third line is a reminder not to hold back and to speak up. The chorus speaks to the central theme of the song: the desire to be reunited with someone who has been lost. The singer is sending out a searchlight to find this person, to bring them back to life, and to feel surrounded by them again. The second verse is a reflection on being lost - the darkness of night and the shadowy feeling that comes with uncertainty. The third line is a nod to the curative power of love, the notion that this person can heal the singer's wounds. The bridge is a testament to the strength of the singer, with imagery of a wild river in a hurricane and a fallen empire rising again. The final chorus is a repetition of the singer's plea to be reunited with their lost loved one.
One interesting fact about this song is that it was co-written by Phillip Phillips and the lead singer of the alternative rock band OneRepublic, Ryan Tedder. "Searchlight" was featured on Phillips's third studio album, "Collateral," released in 2018. Another interesting fact is that Phillips has described the song as a homage to his wife, who has been a source of support and inspiration throughout his career. Additionally, "Searchlight" was featured on the soundtrack of the 2018 film "Forever My Girl."
The chords for "Searchlight" are as follows:
Verse: Em, D, C, G
Chorus: G, C, Em, D, G, C, Em, D
Bridge: C, G, D, Em
Line by Line Meaning
Take one step and make it count
Every action we take should be purposeful and meaningful.
Hold your breath then let it out
Don't let fear control you. Take a moment to gather yourself and then move forward.
What's left unsaid, say it loud
Communicate openly and honestly. Don't hold back your true feelings.
There's a fire in me that's still burning
Despite challenges and setbacks, there's still passion and determination that drives me forward.
I'm sending out a searchlight
I'm looking for something or someone that will help me navigate through the darkness.
Shine it out until I find you, oh
Keep searching and don't give up until I find what or who I'm looking for.
Can you bring me back to life when my heart's in smithereens
I need someone or something to revive me when I'm feeling broken and defeated.
I wanna feel what it's like to be surrounded by you, oh
I desire the comfort and support of being connected to someone or something special.
So I'm sending out a searchlight to bring you back to me
I'm taking action to reconnect with what or who is missing in my life.
I'm lost again in this night
I'm feeling directionless and unsure of where to go next.
The sun just leads me into shadows
Even in the light, I can still feel darkness and uncertainty.
In my bones, in my blood, you cure my disease like a remedy
Being with what or who I'm searching for is the cure for what ails me.
Like a wild river in a hurricane, like a fallen empire, I will rise again
Even in the midst of chaos and destruction, I will continue to persevere and overcome.
I'm sending out a searchlight, shine it out until I find you, oh
Once again, I'm pushing forward and searching for what or who I need in my life.
Can you bring me back to life when my heart's in smithereens
I'm still seeking the comfort and support of someone or something to lift me up.
I wanna feel what it's like to be surrounded by you, oh
I still crave the closeness and connection of being with what or who makes me feel whole.
So I'm sending out a searchlight to bring you back to me
I'm taking bold action to bring what or who is missing back into my life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JONATHAN IAN GREEN, PHILLIP LA DON JR. PHILLIPS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind