Affection, the gifted architect
Is making a draft and beautiful design
The options and possibilities
Are endless when we connect and re-align
Collections of books and documents
Arise and parade around my cluttered desk
Re-working the math and measurements
Until I'm convinced these plans are picturesque
Like mountains in the Midwest

Reaction creates the columns dark
And wide like the roads around Fort Lauderdale
The structures begin to take their shape
Before I've designed the public monorail
The turnpike and high-speed motorway
Connect and enclose the quaint suburban streets
The airport, the broad suspension bridge
The lake and the beach, where several rivers meet
Compounded from the spreadsheet

A city sparkles in the night
How can it glow so bright?
The neighborhoods surround a soft fluorescent light
Designer skyline in my head
Abstract and still well-read
You went from numbered lines to buildings overhead


Lyrics submitted by robs99

Designer Skyline Lyrics as written by Adam R. Young

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Designer Skyline song meanings
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19 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    to me, it's about something totally beautiful being created out of nothing. how our ideas can transform into something greater then we ever thought they could the line: "You went from numbered lines to buildings overhead" explains this the best

    or, life is like this, you are the architect, and you can create what you want, the possibilities are endless. like the cliche "life is what you make of it" made into a phenomenal song. "a draft and beautiful design The options and possibilities Are endless when we connect and re-align"

    i love love love owl city and his ability to make the simple into amazing.

    marie_xoon November 20, 2008   Link
  • +2
    Song Meaning

    One of my favorite Owl City songs, I think that this song sort of has two meanings.

    I think on a more general level, the city that this song is describing is a metaphor for life. In the beginning, the "options and possibilities are endless" and you can make your life whatever you want. You work and work to make sure your life will be what you want.

    Then comes the "reaction". Things start to take shape, and grow into something bigger than your hopes. They are becoming reality. Everything you have worked for comes together.

    Finally, "A city sparkles in the night". Your ideal life was completed with hard work and persistence. He says, "How can it glow so bright" in the song. You are perplexed by what you have created, because it is more than you could have ever imagined.

    Although, that, like I said, was on a general level; something that his listeners could relate to. I also think that this song has a more personal meaning that Adam Young relates to. It is similar to what I said above, although I think that for him, the city metaphorically represents his rise to fame. I realize that he wrote this song long before he was well known, but I think he may be referring to his dreams and aspirations, and imagining what it would be like to be famous. The blueprints for his city are his songs, he puts his all into them. Next, the "reaction" - he puts his music online and starts to do something bigger and share his work. And eventually, his city sparkles in the night, and his life and his fame is better than he could have ever hoped.

    cclaireon November 17, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Hands down their best song.

    The first half of the song represents the beauty of creation, and what it it means to him (Adam). He is basically showing how important his ability to create art is to his self expression.

    The Second half of the song shows his appreciation for others self expression and creations.

    Thats just my opinion though...

    TechnoXjusticeon July 16, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    no one comment this one :O why T_T

    i'm glad i'll the first one 8D

    the lines are so great and then the melody its just a great song it reminds me of some happy times with my grandfather and he died a couple of monthes ago.. love it

    anoukDINOSAURon October 25, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song is too amazing for words.

    2shy2dance111on May 13, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    the music and the lyrics are great

    blinkandswimon May 16, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    just how amazing the creative and intutive the human mind is :D

    stormeyon August 09, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    hmm... i think the song is talking about (kind of like how marie xo said), something so beautiful can be created out of nothing, or, how the simplest things can lead us to something amazing.

    anywho, i love this song. <3

    xxRadioScreamxxon September 05, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Owl City is amazing, i also think this song is just about creating something that is so amazing even if other people dont think so it means something to you. I love how all of owl city's songs give off such a good feeling :)

    ReflectionInYourEyes08on January 24, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i love the start bit. i just listen to that bit heaps. but good song over all. :]

    alltimeellaon January 28, 2010   Link

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