Performing original arrangements of dozens of songs, they provide a brand new take on contemporary popular music. Combined with choreography and active performance, the Ramblers show their ability to please audiences on and off campus.
Check out their albums, history, members, and more at http://www.midnightramblers.org/
Fireflies
University of Rochester Midnight Ramblers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If ten million fireflies
Lit up the world as I fell asleep
'Cause they'd fill the open air
And leave teardrops everywhere
You'd think me rude
But I would juststand and stare
I'd like to make myself believe that planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
Cos everything is never as it seems
As they tried to teach me how to dance
A foxtrot above my head
A sock hop beneath my bed
A disco ball is just hanging by a thread
I'd like to make myself believe that planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
Cos everything is never as it seems when I fall asleep
Leave my door open just a crack
(Please take me away from here)
'Cause I feel like such an insomniac
(Please take me away from here)
Why do I tire of counting sheep
(Please take me away from here)
When I'm far too tired to fall asleep
To ten million fireflies
I'm weird 'cause I hate goodbyes
I got misty eyes as they said farewell
But I'll know where several are
If my dreams get real bizarre
'Cause I saved a few and I keep them in a jar
I'd like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay
Awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems
When I fall asleep
I'd like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay
Awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems
When I fall asleep
I'd like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay
Awake when I'm asleep
Because my dreams are bursting at the seams
The song "Fireflies" by the University of Rochester Midnight Ramblers discusses the magical and surreal experience of watching the world change as they fall asleep. The singer describes seeing ten million fireflies that light up the sky and leave teardrops everywhere, creating a visual spectacle that is hard to believe. The lyrics describe the singer's desire to be transported away from reality and into a dreamland where weirdness and surreality are part of life. They talk about the hard task of learning to dance and how the world is never as it seems when they fall asleep.
The singer uses the metaphor of fireflies to describe the transience of life and how we need to appreciate the things we experience in the moment because they might be gone soon. The lyrics suggest that holding onto memories while we sleep can help us cope with the unpredictability of life. Overall, the song captures the feeling of awe, wonder, and magic that comes with falling asleep and dreaming.
Line by Line Meaning
You would not believe your eyes
I saw something so remarkable that it was almost unbelievable
If ten million fireflies
If a vast number of fireflies
Lit up the world as I fell asleep
I was awestruck by the beauty of the fireflies as I drifted off to sleep
'Cause they'd fill the open air
They were so numerous that they filled the entire space around me
And leave teardrops everywhere
The sight of the fireflies was so moving that it brought tears to my eyes
You'd think me rude
Some might consider me impolite
But I would just stand and stare
I was so captivated by the fireflies that I couldn't take my eyes off of them
I'd like to make myself believe that planet Earth turns slowly
I want to believe that time moves more slowly than it actually does
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
It's difficult for me to admit that I prefer being awake when I should be sleeping
Cos everything is never as it seems
The world is full of surprises, and things are not always what they appear to be
As they tried to teach me how to dance
Someone was attempting to teach me how to dance
A foxtrot above my head
A type of dance that I couldn't do on my own
A sock hop beneath my bed
A playful type of dance that I could do by myself
A disco ball is just hanging by a thread
The decorations were not secure and could fall at any moment
Leave my door open just a crack
I wanted a slight bit of fresh air in my room
(Please take me away from here)
I wish I could escape from my current situation
Cos I feel like such an insomniac
I am feeling tired but unable to sleep
Why do I tire of counting sheep
The method of counting sheep to fall asleep is not working for me
When I'm far too tired to fall asleep
Despite my exhaustion, I am still unable to sleep
To ten million fireflies
To the vast number of fireflies that I saw
I'm weird 'cause I hate goodbyes
I have a quirk where I dislike saying goodbye to things I care about
I got misty eyes as they said farewell
I became emotional as the fireflies left my sight
But I'll know where several are
I remember where a few of the fireflies were located
If my dreams get real bizarre
If my dreams become especially strange
'Cause I saved a few and I keep them in a jar
I kept a few fireflies in a container as a memento
Because my dreams are bursting at the seams
My dreams are so full of possibilities that they cannot be contained
Writer(s): Adam R. Young
Contributed by Alyssa V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.