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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Golden
Switchfoot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With a bitter cup and,
She's undone tonight,
She's all used up,
She's been staring down the demons,
Who've been screaming she's just another so and so,
Another so and so
You are golden,
You are golden, Child
You are golden,
(Don't let go,)
(Don't let go tonight)
There's a fear that burns,
Like trash inside
And you're ashamed of the curse,
That burns your eyes
You've been hiding in your bedroom,
Hoping this isn't not how the story has to go
It's not the way it goes, It's your book now,
You're,
Golden,
You are golden, Child
You are golden,
(Don't let go,)
(Don't let go tonight)
You're a lonely soul,
Inlet of broken hearts
You're far from home,
It's a perfect place to start
(Yeah!)
(Burn,)
(Burn, Burn!)
So this final verse,
Is a contradiction
And the more we learn,
The less we know
We've been talkin' about a feeling,
We both know inside but couldn't find the words
I couldn't write this verse,
I've seldom been so sure,
About anything before
Golden,
You are Golden, Child
You are Golden,
(Don't let go,)
(Don't let go tonight)
This world is a dead man down (Golden, you are,)
Every breath is a singing crown away, (Golden, Child, you are,)
Like some debilitated king, (Golden, don't let go,)
Don't let go tonight
Earth Spins and your mind goes round' (Golden, you are,)
Green comes on the frozen ground, (Golden, Child, you are,)
And everything will be made new again, (Golden,)
Like freedom and spring, (Golden, Golden,)
Hey, like freedom and spring, (Golden, you are, hey,)
Like freedom and spring (Golden, Child, you are,)
(Gold)
The lyrics of "Golden" by Switchfoot deal with themes of loneliness, shame, and self-doubt, but ultimately encourage the listener to embrace their inherent worth and uniqueness. The song begins with a description of a woman who is feeling defeated and overwhelmed by the demons in her life. Despite these challenges, the chorus repeats the phrase "You are golden, child," emphasizing the message of hope and empowerment.
The second verse expands on the themes of shame and fear, with the lyrics "There's a fear that burns / Like trash inside / And you're ashamed of the curse / That burns your eyes." However, the verse concludes with an empowering message, encouraging the listener to take control of their own story and write their own book.
The final verse takes a more abstract tone, with lyrics about the complexities of understanding ourselves and our emotions. However, the chorus provides a clear and powerful message of self-affirmation, reminding the listener that they are valuable and unique.
Overall, "Golden" is a powerful and uplifting song that encourages listeners to embrace their worth and overcome their fears and doubts.
Line by Line Meaning
She's alone tonight,
The woman is by herself tonight.
With a bitter cup and,
She has a cup of something bitter with her.
She's undone tonight,
She feels overwhelmed and defeated tonight.
She's all used up,
She feels drained and exhausted.
She's been staring down the demons,
She has been facing her inner demons.
Who've been screaming she's just another so and so,
Her inner demons have been telling the woman that she is unimportant and indistinguishable from others.
Another so and so
Another person without unique qualities
You are golden,
The listener is valuable and special.
You are golden, Child
The listener is precious and important like a child.
Don't let go,
Don't give up or lose hope.
(Don't let go tonight)
Especially tonight, hold on and persevere.
There's a fear that burns,
The woman is experiencing a consuming fear.
Like trash inside
The fear is dirty and disgusting like garbage.
And you're ashamed of the curse,
The woman feels embarrassed by a negative aspect of herself.
That burns your eyes
The negative aspect is so intense it affects her physically.
You've been hiding in your bedroom,
The woman has been avoiding the world and potential challenges.
Hoping this isn't not how the story has to go
She wishes for a better outcome, not this difficult path.
It's not the way it goes, It's your book now,
The woman realizes she has control of her own life and how the story goes.
You're, Golden,
The listener is valuable and special.
You are golden, Child
The listener is precious and important.
You are golden,
The listener is beautiful and valuable.
(Don't let go,)
Hold on and persevere.
(Don't let go tonight)
Especially tonight, hold on and persevere.
You're a lonely soul,
The woman feels isolated and alone.
Inlet of broken hearts
The woman is surrounded by others who are hurt and broken.
You're far from home,
The woman is in an unfamiliar and uncomfortable place.
It's a perfect place to start
In this uncomfortable place, she can begin to change and grow.
(Yeah!)
An expression of excitement or agreement.
(Burn,)
An encouragement to let go of inhibitions and to passionately pursue life.
(Burn, Burn!)
An even stronger encouragement to let go of inhibitions and to passionately pursue life.
So this final verse,
The last part of the song.
Is a contradiction
The final verse is paradoxical.
And the more we learn,
As people gain more knowledge and experience.
The less we know
They realize how little they truly understand.
We've been talkin' about a feeling,
The song has been discussing an emotion.
We both know inside but couldn't find the words
The emotion is familiar to the listeners but is difficult to express.
I couldn't write this verse,
The songwriter struggled to put this final part of the song into words.
I've seldom been so sure,
However, the songwriter knows the important message they want to convey.
About anything before
This is a significant realization for the songwriter.
This world is a dead man down (Golden, you are,)
The world can feel hopeless and draining at times.
Every breath is a singing crown away, (Golden, Child, you are,)
However, hope and greatness are within reach.
Like some debilitated king, (Golden, don't let go,)
Even in challenging circumstances, hold on to your value and worth.
Don't let go tonight
Especially tonight, hold on and persevere.
Earth Spins and your mind goes round' (Golden, you are,)
Life can be overwhelming and confusing at times.
Green comes on the frozen ground, (Golden, Child, you are,)
However, growth and new beginnings are still possible.
And everything will be made new again,
It is possible for life to change and for new opportunities to emerge.
(Golden,)
The listener is valuable and special.
Like freedom and spring, (Golden, Golden,)
The listener has the potential to experience new beginnings and freedom.
Hey, like freedom and spring, (Golden, you are, hey,)
An expression of encouragement and excitement.
Like freedom and spring (Golden, Child, you are,)
The listener has the potential for growth and new beginnings, like the arrival of spring.
(Gold)
The listener is as valuable as gold.
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
michael francis
I love this song so passionately.."the earth spins and the moon goes round, the green comes from the frozen ground and everything will be made new again, like freedom in spring".
Andrew Wright
This is hands down, by far my favorite song of all time. How many other songs have saved my life?
Kara Elise
I sometimes wonder if these guys know how many lives their music has saved. I'm talking literally. n
Not just preventions from suicides though.. Saved people from losing the fire inside that gives them a reason to live.
Without these lyrics and this band so FILLED with love, I would not be me. I would not search so relentlessly for hope, I would not have the lyrics to put my feelings into, I actually wouldn't be the person that I am without these songs.
They saved my life in more ways than I can count, and I thank God for them, every song I sing.
I don't know where I would be without this band. I know God provides, but boy... Switchfoot has been one of my biggest provisions from God. Y'all lift my head up.
"Like freedom in spring."
Andrew Wright
If I could favorite YouTube comments...
bambyy
May you always win your battles and keep that fire burning❣ God's grace and provision is endless. God bless you always💜
Alie Smith
This song has definitely saved me from suicide multiple times, that's for sure. This band is absolutely incredible, indescribable.
fidauciha
Their song help to reject the suicide voices in my head
Gabriel Gillette
How many more bands/groups/openly-active-day-in-day-out-grinderz there would be if more of us whom are saved by grace through faith. There would be so many more places to find this that addresses the Hard Good Things, the Thoughtful things that keep us :-)
DoomGuyBFG
This is easily my favorite Switchfoot song, and one of my top favorite songs of all time. It fills me with hope for the future, even if I cannot find it myself.
Rosemary Williamson
I will always be in love with this song. 💚