It's said that the musical urge in Kellogg started with a mixture of his dad's records (Cat Stevens/Jim Croce) and his sister's (Mötley Crüe/Bon Jovi). The songwriting of the former and the showmanship of the latter was the beginning of the musical attitude that pervades Kellogg's work today. Kellogg got his start recording and touring while attending the University of Massachusetts Amherst from 1994-1998. He independently released several solo albums before being signed to Universal Records in 2004.
www.stephenkellogg.com
Almost Woke You Up
Stephen Kellogg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Live in a world so dark
Sometimes I can't see
What's in front of me
And I get scared
And hey darlin'
I notice that you're still sad
It's written on your forehead
And that's not fair
I wish you could see this light
That surrounds you in the night
And I almost woke you up
Words could never be enough
And I always say too much
But I almost woke you up
You're so perfect
Since the day I met you
That was it, I just knew
But how did we get well
When we hurt like hell?
Damned if I know
I wish you could see this light
That surrounds you in the night
And I almost woke you up
Words could never be enough
And I always say too much
But I almost woke you up
Yeah I almost woke you
We were taught
we were told
That we cannot have
What we cannot hold
I wish you could see this light
That surrounds you in the night
And I almost woke you up
Yeah I almost woke you
Words could never be enough
And I always say too much
But I almost woke you up
Yeah I almost woke you
I wish you could see this light
I wish you could see this light
I wish you could see it
I wish you could see me now
You have never let me down
I've been missing you so much
That I almost woke you
I wish you could see this light
You could see this light
Even when I start to fade
There you are you radiate
I've been missing you so much
That I almost woke you
In Stephen Kellogg's song "Almost Woke You Up," the lyrics explore a mixture of emotions, contrasting happiness with an underlying anger and darkness. The singer acknowledges the struggles of living in a world that can sometimes feel overwhelming and difficult to navigate. They admit to their own fears and insecurities while also recognizing the sadness that their loved one carries, even when they sleep. The singer wishes that their partner could see the light and positivity that surrounds them, even in the darkest of times.
The song is a reflection on the complexity of relationships and the challenges they present. The singer describes their partner as being perfect, someone they knew from the very first meeting that they were meant to be with. However, they question how they managed to find happiness together when they both continue to experience pain and suffering. It's a bittersweet realization, acknowledging that there is much they don't understand about their own relationship.
The lyrics also touch upon the theme of longing and missing someone. The singer expresses their desire for their partner to see the light that shines around them and for them to truly experience the love and support the singer feels for them. There is a sense of yearning and a confession that the singer has been missing their partner deeply.
Overall, "Almost Woke You Up" is a heartfelt song that explores the complexity of emotions within a relationship, the struggles of navigating a dark world, and the longing for connection and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm happy, but I've got an angry heart
Despite my outward happiness, deep down I carry anger and resentment
Live in a world so dark
I exist in a world filled with negativity and darkness
Sometimes I can't see
At times, I am unable to perceive or understand
What's in front of me
I struggle to comprehend the things right in front of my eyes
And I get scared
Fear overwhelms me
And hey darlin'
Hey my dear
I notice that you're still sad
I observe your ongoing sadness
It's written on your forehead
Your sadness is clearly visible
That you get no peace even when you sleep
Even in your sleep, you find no solace or tranquility
And that's not fair
It is unjust and unfair
I wish you could see this light
I desire for you to recognize the positivity and hope around you
That surrounds you in the night
This light envelops you during the darkest times
And I almost woke you up
I came close to awakening you from your emotional slumber
Words could never be enough
No amount of words can adequately express my feelings
And I always say too much
I tend to express myself excessively
But I almost woke you up
Nevertheless, I almost managed to rouse you
You're so perfect
You are exceptionally faultless
Since the day I met you
From the very moment we first crossed paths
That was it, I just knew
That realization was definitive, I simply knew
But how did we get well
Yet, how did we manage to thrive
When we hurt like hell?
Despite the immense pain we experienced?
Damned if I know
I have no clue, I am completely uncertain
We were taught
We were instructed
we were told
We were informed
That we cannot have
We are unable to possess
What we cannot hold
That which we are unable to physically grasp
And I almost woke you
I came very close to waking you
Yeah I almost woke you
Yes, I nearly succeeded in arousing you
You could see this light
You would be able to perceive this light
Even when I start to fade
Even as I begin to diminish
There you are you radiate
You shine brightly, you emit light
I've been missing you so much
I have longed for your presence intensely
That I almost woke you
To the point where I nearly disturbed your sleep
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: STEPHEN KELLOGG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-ip7md5ns9y
We had the absolute pleasure of seeing Stephen when he opened for Toad the Wet Sprocket in Homer, NY, we raced to the lobby after his performance and bought 1 of everything he was selling! He had us laughing, crying, and singing along to songs we didn't even know the words to! What an incredible human, so glad we got to meet and talk to him before he becomes so big you won't be able to get near him. Congratulations, Stephen, you deserve all the wonderful things coming your way!
@acousticalternatives
Great to see you finally getting some much overdue recognition by your peers
@wsmith4020
Discovered Stephen Kellogg at Counting Crows in Bethlehem, PA this year! Great musician and author. Yep, I bought the book!