On Top of the World

Wow, how come this doesn't have any comments yet? Nevertheless, it's a really great song, one of my favourites at the moment. It has such a uplifting and feel-good tune, and the lyrics and the song never cease to make me happy.

I think the lyrics are pretty clear, I think it's about being happy and feeling great about and finally appreciating your life after feeling down for a life. I think it's kind of like you don't know what you have until you've lost it, so you might as well appreciate everything you have, and also that it sometimes can be hard to feel happy and appreciate life, but you got to work for it, and get up as he sings, and it will eventually be worth it, when you finally get that feeling of being on top of the world.

can someone explain what they mean by "paying my dues to the dirt". Thanks!

In my opinion the song is actually about someone who finally found the love of his/her life.

Of course, I'd agree with the more general interpretations of someone who found his/her purpose in life, as well, but given the first sentence in particular, I'd say that it refers more to love in particular. ("If you love somebody Better tell them while they’re here ’cause").

The singer explains that he finally found the love of his life and that he is more than happy, in other words "on top of the world". He has been waiting for that for ages and been through some pretty tough times without any perspective of finding someone. "Paying my dues to the dirt", meaning in this context that he was very low, very close to the ground, in a very bad state, at some point, but then he pulled himself together again ("it's a long way up when you hit the ground", "get up now") and finally found someone whom he either already told already or still wants to tell.

This song is so cheerful and really reflects how I feel when I have (at least) a crush on someone! :-)

I think that this song is about going after your dreams, even after you thought about giving up. The writer waited for this moment in his life and finally after much hard work, they get to live out they're dream.

Do y'all not realize the music video is them staging the moon landing?

this is truly an amazing song, amazing flow to it.

i think this song is about a kid who can escape to a place (s)he calls theirs. a place to be their self; where no one can say right from wrong. "waiting on this for a while now," also about someone who achieved what they have been shooting for. they got to where they needed to be.

"You'll never know until you try" is the quote i get from this

I love this song, the tune always cheers me up-I love all of their music-Dan Reynolds looks so sweet!

I've only recently discovered this band. They are amazing! I knew the song radioactive, but didn't know who it was. I watched on youtube this one live, it's really uplifting, love it!

I don't know if I am crazy or what but I think this song is actually about dying. If you look to lyrics from that point of view it all becomes pretty clear.When he says:You’ll never know quite when, well Then again it just depends on How long of time is left for you

it seems like he is talking about how it all becomes clear when you die..if someone wants me to explain this further i will.. but just read the lyrics 2,3 times and you'll se by yourself

First verses: (Don't hesitate to exchange true feelings with someone because they could be gone -pass away- at any moment)

(You don't know when anyone could die and you won't know how they feel about you, or what could have been with your relationship except when you see them again in heaven after you also pass away at an unknown time.)

(He's been in a deep depression.)

(You can be rich or famous and have all the materialistic things in the world but it doesn't matter in the end. Your loved ones could die at any moment and your time with them is precious.)

Pre-Chorus: (He savors all the happiness he's found but doesn't dwell on the past because he's terrified of relapsing.)

Chorus: (He's finally found happiness he knew was possible but he had to strive for it. He's been paying respect to loved ones buried in the dirt and they are also the 'soil' that has provided the nourishment for him to bloom into the happy person he has become)

(He wants to share this happiness with with anyone he can help out of their depression as well -referencing his previous lyric, the way out of the depression is not worshipping materialistic idols but rather spending time with loved ones-)

Second verses: (He was probably experimenting with drugs or other materialistic idols that promise happiness but they always failed him. Or it could be a little more literal as if he wanted to take the easy way out of issues but he tried to avoid them instead of dealing with them and fixing the problems in his life.)

(He could've stopped trying to be happy maybe even commit suicide but he felt that there had to be a purpose to his life and he had worked too hard to find out what is was to give up.)

Bridge: (He's trying to help others that are also depressed, and questioning their existence. He says he knows it's horrible and it's very hard to get out of depression, but it's possible, and you have to get up and try to walk again no matter how many times you fall. Life is what you make it.)

Hope this helps! This is my first SongMeanings post! -Spencer