She was a rainbow once
So colorful, but that was once
Now that's impossible to see, to see

With a voice subliminal
It's the only sign she's beautiful
Here's all that's left of her dignity
She goes, yeah

[chorus 1]
There's agirl in New York City
Skyline's no longer pretty
Bound for destination anywhere
She grew up in California
Big dreams they tend to own you there
Now she's building cardboard castles in the air

He was a pretty boy
Rolling cash his only joy
Now that's impossible to see, to see

Used to be one of them
Now the men in suits are avoiding him
He's lost his credit card but hey he's free

[chorus 2]
There's a man in New York City
Skyline's no longer pretty
Bound for destination anywhere
Had the whole world at his window
It seems so long ago from there
Now he's building cardboard castles in the air

Does anybody know
Does anybody care
Over here, over there
Building cardboard castles in the air

[hook 2x chorus 1]


Lyrics submitted by AiSoreru

Cardboard Castles Lyrics as written by Andreas Carlsson Savan Kotecha

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Cardboard Castles song meanings
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4 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment

    i love this song!!!

    Im Yours 521on August 03, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think this song is about reaching big dreams and baing on top, then eventually losing everything, and having to settle for less than what could've been.

    ilovekelly75on February 25, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Yea, its a bad way to go. The entertainment world is fickle like that; eating you up, keeping the flavor, and many times spewing you back out. It can take a toll on you if it ever happens to you.

    Orange Morendoon July 15, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    In this song, the people have huge dreams of what they think is the perfect life, and they go after them and fail. They have to learn that they can have a wonderful life with a lot less. "Building cardboard castles" is like taking the only thing you have left, and creating something beautiful for yourself.

    Artemis17on May 04, 2008   Link

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