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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Meant to Live
Switchfoot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And wondering why the world has passed him by
Hoping that he's bent for more than arguments,
And failed attempts to fly, fly
We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
Somewhere we live inside
We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
Somewhere we live inside
Dreaming about Providence
And whether mice or men have second tries
Maybe we've been livin' with our eyes half open
Maybe we're bent and broken, broken
We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
Somewhere we live inside
Somewhere we live inside
We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
Somewhere we live inside
We want more than this world's got to offer
We want more than this world's got to offer
We want more than the wars of our fathers
And everything inside screams for second life
We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
We were meant to live
We were meant to live
The lyrics in "Meant To Live" by Switchfoot are about questioning one's purpose in life and whether they have lost sight of what they were meant to do. The song's protagonist is struggling with confidence, feeling like they have failed and wondering why they have been left behind by the world. This is reflected in the line 'Fumbling his confidence, And wondering why the world has passed him by,' which shows a sense of inadequacy.
The singer is hoping for something more than just empty arguments and failed attempts to fly. They are searching for a greater purpose in life. The chorus repeats the idea that we were all meant to live for so much more and that somewhere inside, we still have the potential to fulfill our purpose. The lines 'Somewhere we live inside' emphasizes how we all have an inner drive and ambition that we need to tap into.
The song also touches on the theme of missed opportunities and whether or not we are capable of changing or improving our circumstances. The line ‘Maybe we’ve been livin’ with our eyes half open. Maybe we’re bent and broken, broken’ suggests that people haven't been living up to their full potential by being too hesitant or fearful.
Overall, "Meant To Live" encourages listeners to search for their purpose in life and strive for something greater. It is a call to action to be more than what we currently are and to live life to its fullest potential.
Line by Line Meaning
Fumbling his confidence
Struggling to find confidence in himself
And wondering why the world has passed him by
Feeling left behind and confused about why things aren't going his way
Hoping that he's bent for more than arguments,
Wishing that he has a greater purpose than just arguing with others
And failed attempts to fly, fly
Feeling like he has failed to achieve his dreams
We were meant to live for so much more
As human beings, we were created to have a greater purpose
Have we lost ourselves?
Do we still have a clear sense of our identity and purpose?
Somewhere we live inside
Deep down, we know there is more to life than what we see on the surface
Dreaming about Providence
Hoping that a higher power or destiny is guiding his life
And whether mice or men have second tries
Wondering if everyone gets a chance to start over and do better
Maybe we've been livin' with our eyes half open
Perhaps we haven't been fully awake to the opportunities and possibilities around us
Maybe we're bent and broken, broken
Maybe we are damaged and struggling to function properly
We want more than this world's got to offer
As humans, we have a desire for something beyond what we currently have
We want more than the wars of our fathers
We want to break free from the patterns of violence and conflict that have defined past generations
And everything inside screams for second life
Our inner selves are crying out for a chance to start anew
We were meant to live
We were created to experience life to the fullest
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Peermusic Publishing, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: Jonathan Foreman, Tim Foreman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MystixOfficial
[Verse 1]
Fumbling his confidence
And wondering why the world has passed him by
Hoping that he's bent for more than arguments
And failed attempts to fly, fly
[Chorus]
We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
Somewhere we live inside
Somewhere we live inside
We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
Somewhere we live inside
[Verse 2]
Dreaming about Providence
And whether mice or men have second tries
Maybe we've been livin' with our eyes half open
Maybe we're bent and broken, broken
[Chorus]
Ah-we were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
Somewhere we live inside
Somewhere we live inside
We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
Somewhere we live inside
[Bridge]
We want more than this world's got to offer
We want more than this world's got to offer
We want more than the wars of our fathers
And everything inside screams for second life, yeah
[Chorus]
We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
We were meant to live for so much more (We were meant to live)
Have we lost ourselves?
We were meant to live (We were meant to live)
We were meant to live
@margotdivina1585
Fumbling his confidence
And wondering why the world has passed him by
Hoping that he's bent for more than arguments,
And failed attempts to fly, fly
We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
Somewhere we live inside
Somewhere we live inside
We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
Somewhere we live inside
Dreaming about Providence
And whether mice or men have second tries
Maybe we've been livin' with our eyes half open
Maybe we're bent and broken, broken
We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
Somewhere we live inside
Somewhere we live inside
We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
Somewhere we live inside
We want more than this world's got to offer
We want…
@SOLIDSNAKE.
This hits hard as an adult... Am I alone?
@eyangamedud3293
Not alone dude.
@americanrejected6062
Nope not alone
@Whoopx2_
Here man youre not alone
@SOLIDSNAKE.
Wow! How are you guys! How's life been treating you?
@Ggggggggggggg2342
“I’m not like most girls”
Literally every comment
@stefanopapiroTHEOFFICIAL
IT'S CRAZY MAN I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR THIS SONG FOR 20 YEARS AND FINALLY I FOUND IT IN 2023...I'M LITERALLY OUT OF MY HEAD RIGHT NOW!!!!
@cleitonqueiroz7341
Weird...this is exactly what happened to me. Was looking for this song for years and out of nowhere it popped on a meme on reddit today.
@shaneclark3605
It just randomly popped up in my head but I remembered the chorus lyrics
@ligmuhnuts1665
Must've been torture looking this song for 20 years and such a relief finally founding it 😮💨