Firefly
This Holiday Life Lyrics


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Always more than I can catch inside this jar
Lighting up the night sky
Flicker in your eye
Ladybugs crawl across your hand
In plain sight, broad daylight
I don't mind

But in the dark
Invisible and beautiful
Then gone again
When you've forgotten them
They're back again
On and off
On and off
On and off





Only a fool tries to follow the light of a firefly

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Firefly" by This Holiday Life are introspective and contemplative. The singer talks about catching fireflies in a jar and the way that they light up the night sky. They describe the flicker in someone's eye as being like a firefly's light. The imagery of ladybugs crawling across someone's hand adds to the picture of nature that the song is painting. The singer seems to find comfort in the way that the fireflies disappear and reappear, noting that they come back when you've forgotten about them.


However, the last two lines of the song are particularly striking. The singer warns that "only a fool tries to follow the light of a firefly." This line could be interpreted in several ways, but it suggests that the singer has learned a lesson about chasing after things that are fleeting or unreliable. Perhaps they've realized that trying to hold onto something that can disappear as quickly as a firefly's light is a futile effort.


Overall, "Firefly" is a thoughtful song that considers the role of beauty in our lives and the importance of seeking out what's meaningful. The lyrics encourage listeners to appreciate the small moments of wonder that happen all around us, even if they're as fleeting as the light of a firefly.


Line by Line Meaning

Always more than I can catch inside this jar
There are always more things to explore and experience than one can capture or contain.


Lighting up the night sky
The fireflies shine their light and bring brightness to the darkness of night.


Flicker in your eye
There is a reflection of the firefly's light in the observer's eye, creating a sense of wonder and fascination.


Ladybugs crawl across your hand
Nature is full of little wonders and creatures, like ladybugs, that we can observe and appreciate.


In plain sight, broad daylight
Some wonders are available for observation even in the harsh light of day, if we take the time to notice them.


I don't mind
The observer is content with just observing and appreciating the beauty of the moment, without needing to capture or possess it.


But in the dark
In the darkness, there is even more mystery and beauty to be found.


Invisible and beautiful
The fireflies become invisible in the darkness, but their light is even more beautiful and enchanting.


Then gone again
The fireflies, like many other things in life, are transient and fleeting, here one moment and gone the next.


When you've forgotten them
The fireflies may be forgotten or overlooked, but they will still exist and continue to be beautiful and enchanting creatures.


They're back again
The fireflies, like many other wonders of nature, have a cyclical and recurring nature, always coming back to delight and enchant us.


On and off
The fireflies' light seems to come and go, but it is always present and always enchanting, reminding us of the beauty and mystery of life.


On and off
The fireflies' light seems to come and go, but it is always present and always enchanting, reminding us of the beauty and mystery of life.


On and off
The fireflies' light seems to come and go, but it is always present and always enchanting, reminding us of the beauty and mystery of life.


Only a fool tries to follow the light of a firefly
Trying to capture or possess the beauty and wonder of something like a firefly is foolish, as that beauty is fleeting and cannot be truly contained or possessed.




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Karla Schickele

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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