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.
volcano
Phillip Phillips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You'll hurt your knees
I kissed your mouth and back
But that's all I need
Don't build your world around volcanoes melt you down
What I am to you is not real
What I am to you you do not need
You give me miles and miles of mountains
And I'll ask for the sea
Don't throw yourself like that
In front of me
I kissed your mouth your back
Is that all you need?
Don't drag my love around volcanoes melt me down
What I am to you is not real
What I am to you you do not need
What I am to you is not what you mean to me
You give me miles and miles of mountains
And I'll ask for what I give to you
Is just what I'm going through
This is nothing new
No no just another phase of finding what I really need
Is what makes me bleed
And like a new disease she's still too young to treat
Volcanoes melt me down
She's still too young
I kissed your mouth
You do not need me
The lyrics of Phillip Phillips’ song “Volcano” convey the idea of volatile relationships that can end dramatically, as symbolized by the reference to volcanoes that can “melt you down” or “melt me down” depending on the perspective. The opening lines suggest a warning to someone not to hold themselves in a certain way because it could hurt their knees. This could be a physical or metaphorical reference to someone being vulnerable and thus getting hurt emotionally. The singer then describes kissing the other person’s mouth and back, but saying that’s all he needs. It could mean that he is not seeking anything beyond physical pleasure or that he is not getting the emotional connection he desires.
The chorus repeats the line “What I am to you is not real” and further emphasizes that what the singer means to the other person is not reciprocated. The line “You give me miles and miles of mountains and I’ll ask for the sea” could mean that the other person is offering something grand and majestic, but the singer still wants more or something different, such as searching for deeper and more meaningful feelings instead of just superficial attraction. In the second verse, the singer warns the other person not to throw themselves in front of him, which could mean not to expect him to rescue or protect them from their problems.
Overall, “Volcano” portrays a message of explosive and unstable relationships that can leave one or both parties feeling wounded, disappointed, or unsatisfied. The lyrics are open to interpretation, but they suggest a sense of unfulfilled longing and the tension between desire and reality.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't hold yourself like that
You'll hurt your knees
Don't posture yourself that way, you'll injure yourself.
I kissed your mouth and back
But that's all I need
We had some physical contact, but that's not all there is to a relationship.
Don't build your world around volcanoes melt you down
Don't base your life on something unstable, it will eventually break you.
What I am to you is not real
What I am to you you do not need
What I am to you is not what you mean to me
You give me miles and miles of mountains
And I'll ask for the sea
Our relationship isn't authentic, it is not necessary in your life, and it's not the same as what you mean to me. You offer me a lot, but I still want more.
Don't throw yourself like that
In front of me
I kissed your mouth your back
Is that all you need?
Don't be so desperate for me, I gave you physical affection, but that's not enough.
Don't drag my love around volcanoes melt me down
Don't abuse or underestimate my love; it will end up hurting me in the long run.
What I am to you is not real
What I am to you you do not need
What I am to you is not what you mean to me
You give me miles and miles of mountains
And I'll ask for what I give to you
Is just what I'm going through
This is nothing new
No no just another phase of finding what I really need
Is what makes me bleed
Once again, our bond is not real, and you don't really need me. My challenges and obstacles are all I have to give, and that's not enough. This isn't a new predicament, but just another part of my journey to figure out what I authentically require, even if it causes me pain.
And like a new disease she's still too young to treat
Volcanoes melt me down
She's still too young
I kissed your mouth
You do not need me
The girl in question is still experiencing new things, and she is not ready to be in a committed relationship. My love is volatile and can hurt me, but she does not really need me or our relationship.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Damien George Rice, Brian Patrick Crosby, Dave Brian Geraghty, Paul Anthony Noonan, Dominic Michael Phillips
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Stephen Christopher
Lyrics:
Don't hold yourself like that
Coz You'll hurt your knees
Well I kissed your mouth and back
But that's all I need
Don't build your world around
Volcanoes melt you down
What I am to you is not real
What I am to you, you do not need
What I am to you is not what you mean to me
You give me miles and miles of mountains
And
As for..
What I give to you
Is just what I'm going through
This is nothing new, no no
Just another phase of finding
What I really need
Is what makes me bleed
But like a new disease
Lord, she's still too young ...
What I am to you
Is not real,
What I am to you,
You do not need no
What I am to you
Is not real,
What I am to you,
You do not need no no
What I am to you is not what you mean to me
You give me miles and miles of mountains
And I'll ask for the sea...
Janet Forsythe
Don't hold yourself like that
'Cause you'll hurt your knees
I kissed your mouth and back
That's all I need
Don't build your world around
Volcanoes melt you down
What I am to you is not real
What I am to you, you do not need
What I am to you is not what you mean to me
You give me miles and miles of mountains
And I'll ask for the sea
Don't throw yourself like that
In front of me
I kissed your mouth, your back
Is that all you need?
Don't drag my love around
Volcanoes melt me down
What I am to you is not real
What I am to you, you do not need
What I am to you is not what you mean to me
You give me miles and miles of mountains
And I'll ask
What I give to you is just what I'm going through
This is nothing new, no, no, just another phase of finding
What I really need is what makes me bleed
But like a new disease, lord, she's still too young to treat
What I am to you is not real
(She's still too young, she's still too young)
(Volcanoes melt you down)
What I am to you, you do not need
(She's still too young, she's still too young)
(Volcanoes melt you down)
What I am to you is not real
(She's still too young, she's still too young)
(Volcanoes melt you down)
What I am to you, you do not need
(She's still too young, she's still too young)
(Volcanoes melt you down)
What I am to you is not real
(She's still too young, she's still too young)
(Volcanoes melt you down)
What I am to you, you do not need
(She's still too young)
(Volcanoes melt you down)
What I am to you is not real
(She's still too young, she's still too young)
(Volcanoes melt you down)
What I am to you, you do not need
(She's still too young)
(Volcanoes melt you down)
What I am to you is not real
(She's still too young, she's still too young)
(Volcanoes melt you down)
(I'll kiss your mouth)
What I am to you, you do not need
(She's still too young)
(Volcanoes melt you down)
(I'll kiss your mouth)
What I am to you is not real
(She's still too young, she's still too young)
(Volcanoes melt you down)
(I'll kiss your mouth)
What I am to you, you do not need
(She's still too young)
(Volcanoes melt you down)
(I'll kiss your mouth)
You do not need me
jane noviello
One of the all time best performances on American Idol. Mesmerizing.
sunflower bliss.
This will forever be my favorite American Idol performance
Ronnie Faaosofia
Me too!
Lian Dayag
Me too. Nothing beats this
Alicia Ramirez
YESS
SweetKorn
2018 and im still listening to it
Jenny Marie
Same.
J P
He was too good and real for AI. I wish he saw more commercial success as we need more singer/songwriters like him.
Rohit Ahluwalia
One of the best performances and song I have ever experienced in my life
...beautiful after all these years
🦋Ruby Blue 🦋
Revisiting this song still gives me chills ♥️