Wide Awake
TNT Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I believe you and I will live forever
But more than anything I don't believe in time
All we need is freedom from the lie
That we'll get old and frail and then probably die
We can walk on water if we believe it
We can dance on fire and we can breathe it
There is no great mystery if we'd
Only look to see just what is there

Wide awake everything's in technicolor
All the energy exploding in my eyes
Dead asleep in downward spiral falling
I tripped the light and saw the magical was true

We can walk on water if we believe it
We can dance on fire and we can breathe it
There is no great mystery if we'd
Only look to see just what is there

Open up and let it through if you really
Want it to then just be here

We can walk on water if we believe it
We can dance on fire and we can breathe it
There is no great mystery if we'd
Only look to see just what is there





What is there?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of TNT’s “Wide Awake” speak to the power of belief and the limitations we place upon ourselves through our perceptions of time and age. The opening lines express hope in eternal life, but more than that, a disbelief in the constraints of time. The belief is that we can be free of the lies that we tell ourselves, that we will grow old and frail, and eventually die. Instead, the song suggests that by holding onto these fears and limitations, we hold ourselves back from our true potential.


The song implores us to believe in our ability to do the seemingly impossible; to walk on water, dance on fire, to be wide awake and see the world in technicolor. The imagery here is one of expansiveness, of breaking free from the confines of ordinary life and stepping into a reality where the impossible is possible. This is reinforced in the line “there is no great mystery if we’d only look to see just what is there”, suggesting that the world is full of wonder if we open our eyes and take the time to see it.


The bridge of the song is a call to action, asking us to be present in the moment if we truly want to experience all that life has to offer. “Open up and let it through if you really want it to then just be here”. This is the crux of the song’s message; that we have the power to create our own reality, but we must be present and aware to do so.


Line by Line Meaning

I believe you and I will live forever
The singer has hope and faith that their relationship will last forever.


But more than anything I don't believe in time
The concept of time is insignificant to the singer's relationship with their partner.


All we need is freedom from the lie
The 'lie' refers to the societal belief that everyone will age, weaken, and eventually die.


That we'll get old and frail and then probably die
The singer rejects the idea of aging, weakening, and dying that is often accepted by society.


We can walk on water if we believe it
The singer believes that anything is possible if one has faith and confidence in themselves.


We can dance on fire and we can breathe it
The singer is emphasizing the power of their belief and the idea that anything can be accomplished if one believes it strongly enough.


There is no great mystery if we'd Only look to see just what is there
The singer suggests that often people overlook the beauty and magic of life, and if we simply pay attention and observe it, it's not as mysterious.


Wide awake everything's in technicolor
When the singer is 'wide awake,' they see the world for all its vibrant colors and energy.


All the energy exploding in my eyes
The singer is overwhelmed by the energy and excitement of the world they're seeing.


Dead asleep in downward spiral falling
The singer contrasts their wide-awake state with being 'dead asleep' and feeling like they're spiraling downward.


I tripped the light and saw the magical was true
The singer experienced a moment of clarity where they saw that the magical and fantastical things they believed were actually true.


Open up and let it through if you really Want it to then just be here
The singer is encouraging listeners to be open to new experiences and opportunities.


What is there?
The singer poses a rhetorical question asking listeners to reflect on the world around them and see its beauty and magic.




Contributed by Lila S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

@kngscb

TNT are the GREATEST Rock band in our time!!!!! Meaning 1984-NOW!!!!

@jasen1971

Definitely underrated band

@juliegogola4647

Out of anything Tony does, I'll always love TnT better than anything else.

@juliegogola4647

Damn, chills AND tears. I was so lucky to grow up in the 70's and 80's. Very few bands today are this good. Ghost, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Foo Fighters, all great bands that are favorites of mine. I must admit that solo Tony hasn't appealed to me. AND that video and song where Tony sings "Northern lights" really softly while he cuddles with his (then) new wife, I hated it, too soft and mushy, what was he even thinking? ANYWAY, Tony is a great vocalist and Tony + TNT equals great music. The solo stuff in MY opinion is boring.