Although the band started out playing at Christian music festivals, they shun the label of "Christian rock," with singer and guitarist Jon Foreman saying, "For us, it's a faith, not a genre. We've always been very open and honest about where the songs are coming from. For us, these songs are for everyone. Calling us `Christian rock' tends to be a box that closes some people out and excludes them. And that's not what we're trying to do. Music has always opened my mind -- and that's what we want." They started out on Charlie Peacock's label "re:think" and spent several years appearing at Christian festivals and enjoying Christian radio hits. Most of their early tours were with Christian bands and both of the band's new members were borrowed from Christian bands.
Switchfoot did not see success outside of the Christian rock scene until they were featured alongside singer Mandy Moore on the A Walk To Remember soundtrack. The band's first true commercial success came in 2003 with the release of their fourth major label (and first mainstream label) offering, The Beautiful Letdown. The album went on to sell more than 2 million albums and Switchfoot became the most popular rock band to be associated with Christian music.
They were featured on the British Edition of the Spiderman II soundtrack along with the likes of Taking Back Sunday and Dashboard Confessional to name a few, in 2004 with the song 'Meant To Live'.
In 2005 Switchfoot released "Nothing Is Sound". The album went gold within 3 months and received much critical acclaim.
Switchfoot's highly anticipated album, titled "Oh! Gravity." was released on December 26th, 2006.
On November 10th, 2009, Switchfoot released their first album produced under their own label, lowercase people. "Mess of Me", a single from the album released months before the CD, has enjoy chart-topping radio plays since its release.
In 2010 Switchfoot released their album, "Hello Hurricane".
On September 27th, 2011, to much anticipation and excitement, Switchfoot released their newest album, "Vice Verses".
Sites:
www.switchfoot.com
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AWAKENING
Switchfoot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the ones in zeros.
Downtown was the perfect place to hide.
The first star that I saw last night was a headlight
Of a man-made sky, but man-made never made our dreams collide,
Collide.
Here we are now with the falling sky and the rain,
Here we are now with our desperate youth and the pain,
We're awakening
Maybe it's called ambition, you've been talking in your sleep
About a dream, we're awakening
Last week saw me living for nothing but deadlines,
With my dead beat sky but, this town doesn't look the same tonight
These dreams started singing to me out of nowhere
And in all my life I don't know if I've ever felt so alive,
Alive
Here we are now with the falling sky and the rain,
We're awakening
Here we are now with our desperate youth and the pain,
We're awakening
Maybe it's called ambition, you've been talking in your sleep
About a dream, we're awakening
I want to wake up kicking and screaming
I want to wake up kicking and screaming
I want to know that my heart's still beating
It's beating,
I'm bleeding
I want to wake up kicking and screaming
I want to live like I know what I'm leaving
I want to know that my heart's still beating,
It's beating, it's beating, it's beating,
I'm bleeding
Here we are now with the falling sky and the rain,
We're awakening
Here we are now with our desperate youth and the pain,
We're awakening
Maybe it's called ambition, you've been talk-talking in your sleep
About a dream, we're awakening dream, we're awakening, yeah
The song "Awakening" by Switchfoot is a powerful anthem about breaking free from the mundane and finding passion and purpose in life. The opening lines describe the singer "face down" on a Los Angeles curb, perhaps feeling defeated or lost. However, the first star the singer sees is not in the natural sky, but in the fake, "man-made sky" of the city. This juxtaposition sets the tone for the rest of the song, as the singer seeks to escape the fabricated, soulless existence that surrounds them and pursue something more meaningful.
The chorus repeats the phrase "here we are now with the falling sky and the rain, we're awakening." The falling sky and rain may symbolize the cataclysmic feeling of change that the singer is experiencing. They are waking up to the realization that they cannot continue living the way they have been. They are feeling the desperation and pain of their youth and seeking a way out.
The bridge of the song is perhaps the most powerful part. The chorus sentiment of "we're awakening" becomes more specific: "Maybe it's called ambition, you've been talking in your sleep about a dream, we're awakening." The singer realizes that their dream is tied to their ambition, and they are no longer content to simply exist. They want to live fully and pursue their passion with gusto. The final refrain of "I want to wake up kicking and screaming...I'm bleeding" is a raw statement of determination. The singer isn't afraid to struggle, even bleed, as long as they are living fully.
Overall, "Awakening" is a powerful song about seeking purpose and passion in life. The singer is breaking free from a life of mundanity and seeking a more meaningful existence. The song encourages listeners to pursue their dreams and not settle for anything less.
Line by Line Meaning
Face down with the LA curbside endings
Feeling lost and at the end of the road in Los Angeles
And the ones in zeros.
Amid the technological world of binary code
Downtown was the perfect place to hide.
Finding solace in the anonymity of the city center
The first star that I saw last night was a headlight
Seeing man-made lights as the only constellation in the sky
Of a man-made sky, but man-made never made our dreams collide,
Technology and artificiality cannot bring together our true aspirations
Collide.
Our dreams must meet and merge to awake us from our slumber
Here we are now with the falling sky and the rain,
Present in a world of chaos and suffering
We're awakening
Realizing our potential and purpose
Here we are now with our desperate youth and the pain,
Confronting the struggles of being young and inexperienced
Maybe it's called ambition, you've been talking in your sleep
The drive to succeed is innate and subconscious
About a dream, we're awakening
Our aspirations are being ignited by our ambition
Last week saw me living for nothing but deadlines,
Being consumed by the pressures of time and work
With my dead beat sky but, this town doesn't look the same tonight
The mundane surroundings are suddenly transforming
These dreams started singing to me out of nowhere
Inspirations are appearing unexpectedly
And in all my life I don't know if I've ever felt so alive,
The realization of one's passions brings a newfound vitality
Alive
Being more present in one's life and surroundings
I want to wake up kicking and screaming
Desiring a bold and forceful awakening
I want to know that my heart's still beating
Wanting to feel alive and passionate
It's beating,
Feeling the intensity of life and emotions
I'm bleeding
Feeling raw and vulnerable in the face of change
I want to live like I know what I'm leaving
Living each day with purpose and awareness
Here we are now with our desperate youth and the pain,
Feeling the struggles of growing up
Maybe it's called ambition, you've been talk-talking in your sleep
The drive to succeed is preoccupying our minds
About a dream, we're awakening dream, we're awakening, yeah
Our dreams are awakening our souls and driving us forward
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JON FOREMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anupama Biswas
Awakening
Switchfoot
Face down with the LA curbside endings
And the ones in zeros.
Downtown was the perfect place to hide.
The first star that I saw last night was a headlight
Of a man-made sky, but man-made never made our dreams collide,
Collide.
Here we are now with the falling sky and the rain,
We're awakening
Here we are now with our desperate youth and the pain,
We're awakening
Maybe it's called ambition, you've been talking in your sleep
About a dream, we're awakening
Last week saw me living for nothing but deadlines,
With my dead beat sky but, this town doesn't look the same tonight
These dreams started singing to me out of nowhere
And in all my life I don't know if I've ever felt so alive,
Alive
Here we are now with the falling sky and the rain,
We're awakening
Here we are now with our desperate youth and the pain,
We're awakening
Maybe it's called ambition, you've been talking in your sleep
About a dream, we're awakening
I want to wake up kicking and screaming
I want to wake up kicking and screaming
I want to know that my heart's still beating
It's beating,
I'm bleeding
I want to wake up kicking and screaming
I want to live like I know what I'm leaving
I want to know that my heart's still beating,
It's beating, it's beating, it's beating,
I'm bleeding
Here we are now with the falling sky and the rain,
We're awakening
Here we are now with our desperate youth and the pain,
We're awakening
Maybe it's called ambition, you've been talk-talking in your sleep
About a dream, we're awakening dream, we're awakening, yeah
Danilo Járlaz (Daton)
2020 and I’m still listening this. Switchfoot is my favorite band since I was 16, I’m 30 right now! Guys you are amazing! Love Switchfoot foreveeeeeeer❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
helen
2022
Hey Daton
@helen here I am in 2022 as well, with Switchfoot in my ears and heart!
Shelly Srivastava
Bro , I am with you . I m 30 . Still listening to them its been good 13 years with them ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Antwan Moman
@helen same here. I'm here. Switchfoot
Trumpatier
2022@@@@
RealityLime
I love how they never go where I expect them to go, musically speaking. Chord progressions, structure and off measures make em one of my favs. So underrated cuz they’re ‘a Christian band’
Ester Sánchez
Switchfoot is such an underrated band. I love them since my teenage days
Adam Moore
Me too and they are getting more popular now
Ricky Gay
So much it's sad