| Owl City – Swimming In Miami Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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I'm alone above the atmosphere And no one looking up can find me here 'Cause I can close my eyes, and disappear" See: Speed of Love "I tried to disappear But your the only reason I'm floating here Eyes painted crystal clear I can see our future through the atmosphere" |
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| Owl City – Speed of Love Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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"I tried to disappear But your the only reason I'm floating here Eyes painted crystal clear I can see our future through the atmosphere" See: Swimming In Miami "I'm alone above the atmosphere And no one looking up can find me here 'Cause I can close my eyes, and disappear" |
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| Owl City – Paper Tigers Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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Adam Young said here: http://heyheyanna.tumblr.com/post/29803605060/paper-tigers : "It means that when you first realize you’re not meant to be with somebody, it’s not the end of the world." ---------------------------------------------------- So: "Well I’ve been huddled up alone By the fire even though I’m not exactly feeling cold" - He's by the "fire", trying to mend his broken heart. But it's not broken really (this relationship wan't gonna work). "And I’ve been bundled up for days Too confused to be amazed At all the icy water in my veins" - The ice is melting & he's wondering why. Surely he should be really, really heartbroken? (throughout the song, keep thinking about Adam's meaning & it should all come together, line-by-line) (- this is the line I struggle with the most) "Why do I feel so alone?" - he's single now. of course he feels lonely. just not as lonely as he should be, if it was a functional relationship in the first place "Yeah I’ve been moving in and out Of this old split-level house And I’d just as soon burn the whole place down" "‘Cause I quit working lumberyards To build a mansion out of cards But I feel thin behind these paper walls"- He moved from something safe, to something risky and uncertain. Think about a paper house. You know it's gonna fall. He knew it was gonna fall, but wasn't uncertain. If you're a lumberjack, *you're* the one who's in control. So, he used to know what he was doing. Also, trees are thicker than cards, right? (Perhaps he had a more stable relationship in the past) "Why do I feel so alone?" - he keeps asking this. He's at an uncertain point in his life. I think he's a bit confused. "‘Cause the angriest bark is always worse than the bite Like the ache in my chest that my heart didn’t invite But if the prettiest romance isn’t perfectly right That makes every love lost just a holiday every night" What Adam said (at the top of my comment). If even the best relationships have problems, then there's bound to be a lot of hartbreak in the world. And, in the wider scope of things, it's not as big a deal as it might seem. "Well I’ve been painting through the night In the basement out of sight Brushing paper tigers black and white" - Making things clearer for himself, shutting himself out & not letting anything else get in the way. The basement is the darkest, deepest part of the house. So, he's learning from these dark, unhappy experiences to make everything clearer*. The "Paper Tigers" are his ruined relationship (from google: Paper Tiger= A person or thing that appears threatening but is ineffectual.) So, he's going from this dark place to [see next line]: "‘Cause come tomorrow afternoon I’ll fill a helium balloon And set them free into the baby blue sky So they won’t have to be alone" -Setting his Paper Tigers free. Skies & the colour blue *always* represent something good (whether that's chasing/living your dream, or being in a relationship or whatever). He's letting go. He keeps repeating "Just a holiday every night" - he keeps telling himself this. Reassuring himself this but... "But when I close these heavy lids after dark Each sweet dream is a target And all my shots are so consistently wide of the mark" - Nightmares. (Even though he knows this is just a Paper Tiger, he still gets them no matter how much he reassures himself or tries.) "Well I’ve been huddled up alone By the fire even though I’m not exactly feeling cold But how my heartache hit the trail When a paper tiger tail Fluttered down, I guess I’ll never know" - I love this bit!! It shows him reverting back to the beginning. The same lyrics AND He uses a higher voice at the end. It's the kind of voice he used in his earlier songs. (Maybe it shows naivety?..or maybe he just did it to make the song sound nicer idk) But, with the rest of this song, he sings with an air of authority & experience. Like, he's been through it. It's kind of an advice song. I think he's saying that at the end of the day, none of it can be explained. You can try making things clear (painting the paper tigers black & white) and try to get rid of your problems (balloon). The tail falling is a bit like the nightmares coming back. But, there's nothing you can do right now, you have to live with it. But, it's really not as bad as it seems. He's basically gone round in a big circle. [*Also, maybe the basement thing links into his songwriting roots? Maybe he made things clearer & felt better through his music. But, I'm not too sure. I personally like the idea of Adam Young's music being fiction. It gives his songs better meanings & more weight & more room for the imagination. Maybe he just interpreted ideas from real life into this song.] ---------- But, this is all my interpretation. It could be very different to yours (or Adam's!) Maybe I'm looking to far into it. I'm not sure. Some people don't like to read too far into these songs. But, this is how I see the song :) |
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| Sky Sailing – Brielle Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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Adam Young said of this song: "Brielle is a little town on the coast of New Jersey. I wrote the song after reading Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson in which he recounts the discovery of a World War II German U-boat sixty miles off the U.S. coast in 1991. The song describes a sailor who is about to leave on a long trip and wonders whether he will ever see the girl he loves again.” I think this song is really, really heartbreaking because (as the story was based on that book) - the book was found 60 miles off the US Coast. So, he never made it back to the town of Brielle. And he never made it back to her. Heartbreaking. |
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| Sky Sailing – Brielle Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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I think you're spot on with "something old something new something borrowed, something blue" - but I don't personally agree that he ran out on the wedding. "I left [home] early that year, how I wound up here is anyone's guess" - I think that, if he wasn't going out to sea (Adam said it's about a man on a German WWII U-Boat" - they would've got married & that's what she was ready for. & he left early, so there was more to be done (i.e. marriage & *). I don't think there's another guy. I think he left the sign when he went "early" (in the morning? Before she woke up?). So, he left the note on the door maybe because he couldn't face *saying goodbye. Also, white also means "innocence" and a big theme in An Airplane Carried Me To Bed is "purity" & it runs through the whole album. IDK, that's just my view on it. I could be very wrong. Adam's music is always about each listener's interpretation. I really like what you said though. I didn't even *think* about the wedding! |
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| Sky Sailing – Brielle Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| wow! I really like that!! | |
| Sky Sailing – I Live Alone Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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(Probably about Ann Marie, might not be. It doesn't really matter. I usually take Adam Young's songs as fiction) I think it's about loss and sacrifice. He let her go, so he wasn't stuck (per se) with him, so she could lead a better life (or something). I think it's a v. sad song ("So I suggested we'd grow up fast and not be the last And look where we are" - here he is, all alone. While she's somewhere doing what she told him). He knows he did the right thing by letting her go but it sill hurts him & the thought of her is haunting him ("with no connection I saw your reflection at home in my bedroom mirror"). He's recalling the dreams they had together ("longing to live in between the earth and the stars") & the times they had together while he's alone. It makes him feel better. I think it's in a POV of an ageing man, who hasn't found true love since them, A bit like Katy Perry's The One That Got Away (but better, much better) |
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| Sky Sailing – Take Me Somewhere Nice Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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"Die" in Adam Young's songs (i.e. this and Beautiful Mystery) just means getting your heart broken. So, I think the meaning is just a guy who isn't ready to have his heart broken & he's laying his cards on the table for this girls. Offering her a proposition, saying how they'd be good together etc |
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| Sky Sailing – Explorers Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| @fl1ppyf1ish - but, a lot of his songs are fiction | |
| Sky Sailing – Captains Of The Sky Lyrics | 13 years ago |
| "grab the bull by its horns", so to speak! | |
| Sky Sailing – Captains Of The Sky Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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I think it's about taking risks whenever put into a difficult or tricky situation. He's found himself beneath the flight deck & he had to fly this plane. So he "puts his helmet on" & goes for it. He's saying to the other person (girl??) that it's up to her. She can stay behind if she wants, but he's gonna go &"fly". I think at the end of the song she joins him. "our flight of downy dreams preened out soft paper wings" - So, their dreams kept them going even through the hard times & whenever they came crashing down. And "the morning mad of sailors in the air keeping the midnight star held high" but means: If everybody takes that risk, makes that jump & follows their dream/goal, then life for everybody could be better & happier (..or something) |
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| Sky Sailing – Tennis Elbow Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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I think it's about actions having consequences (he took that risk and "scratched a rainbow" - so now he's suffering with Tennis Elbow. He wants to do one thing, but confusion & carelessness leads him to something else. I think it's about being lost in that moment & nothing else (consequences/the future) mattering at that time. |
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| Owl City – The Saltwater Room (Ocean Eyes Album Version) Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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At first, I thought it was about a long distance relationship- but I reckon it goes a bit deeper deeper. I reckon it’s about loneliness and a *loveless* relationship that doesn't work out. I’m sorry it’s so long, I tend to ramble. And some of the ideas are probably a bit thin/stretched out. (note: this is just my personal interpretation of the song. It could mean absolutely anything to you. It’s just how I see it ) Strap yourselves in & let me know what you think! I opened my eyes last night and saw you in the low light - he “opened his eyes”, he realised & saw the truth. And “saw her in the low light” -which means he saw her in new a way that was bad/not very nice… [See next 2 lines] Walking down by the bay on the shore - Now, in the album Ocean Eyes, the sea represents good things/happy life/love etc. So, he noticed that she was “by the bay, on the shore”. He saw that she isn’t actually in the sea (despite being very close to it, with him), she’s not living that happy life, she’s not in a love-fueled relationship or very happy. She’s nearly there…but not quite. Staring up at the stars that aren’t there anymore- The stars here also represent something good/happy. Something better. She had that, now it’s gone- so she’s had her heartbroken in the past, but she still looks up in hope. She wants to find love and be happy once again (note: In the original version of this song, it said Planes instead of Stars. & In Maybe I’m Dreaming, planes mean the same thing as the sea: love, happy life etc. e.g. in “Air Traffic”). This is the lowlight he sees her in - the real truth about her. I was feeling the night grow old and you were looking so cold -As time was going by he noticed that she was getting lonely too. (The word “night” meaning the time that they’re lonely, or the rut that they’re both stuck in.) This lonely feeling is getting old, so he doesn’t want any more of it. He’s just sick of it So like an introvert, I drew my over shirt Around my arms and began to shiver violently- He only really helped himself, not her. He’s not doing her any favours, even though she’s “cold” herself. But, at the same time, his selfishness causes repercussions for himself. He’s suffering the consequences (“shivering”) Before you happened to look and see the tunnels all around me Running into the dark underground, All the subways around create a great sound - She found a way to “get to him” (through the “tunnels”).The tunnels could represent his vulnerability. He’s vulnerable because he’s desperate for a way out. And, so is she. The idea of being in a relationship looked and seemed like a good idea (“create a great sound”). Also -with subways being underground- that means they’re dark. And, isn’t darkness the thing they’re tying to escape from? (“Night”) So, they’re not really doing anything to help their situation. Only worsening it. To my motion fatigue, farewell - Fatigue means tiredness, so motion fatigue should mean his tiredness which is moving on/escalating/getting worse. Which is because of his loneliness/sadness. So, when the boy and girl get together, it sounds like a good idea. At first, anyway. (Bye, bye to motion fatigue) With your ear to a seashell, you can hear the waves in underwater caves as if you actually were in a Saltwater Room- Y’know when you put your ear to a seashell and they say it makes the sound of the sea? Yeah, well, that. “The Saltwater Room”, means the sea. The sea being happiness/love/etc. So, she’s putting her ear to the seashell to pretend she’s in the “saltwater room”(sea). Because, she isn’t real. It’s all a lie. This isn’t a real relationship. They’re pretending, because they’re lonely, desperate and they just want a way out. Time together isn’t ever quite enough When you and I are alone, I’ve never felt so at home- When they’re together, it’s great. And they’re happy. Bye bye loneliness, he feels at home! It seems like a great idea. He gets lost in the moment when they’re together. But he only feels at home - he’s not at home. What will it take to make or break this hint of love? -Hint of love. It’s not love love, they need to see whether it can be. They’re at a crossroad. Only time, only time- this goes back to “Time together isn’t ever quite enough”. They need time to discover whether they’re in love or not, but time will never be enough. They’re not in love and they never will be. Can you believe that the crew has gone? And they wouldn’t let me sign on -He had his chance and he blew it. i.e. He could have gone out into the sea (or “Saltwater Room”) to have love and a happiness. But, he didn’t take it & now they’ve gone he’s not allowed to join them. His chance has gone and he’s blaming them. Rather than blaming himself because his judgement’s clouded by his own desperation. (Boat crew–> going out into the sea. Clever, eh?) [Note: think about The Yacht Club. Where, the boy & the girl falling in love means them joining the Yacht Club. Gah - he’s so clever!! I love his use of themes!] All my islands have sunk in the deep And I can hardly relax or even oversleep -His other ways of going into the “sea” have gone now. Now that he’s with this girl, his chances of finding real love are slim (islands could be a way of getting into the sea, like a platform or whatever). It’s too late and he’s worrying and losing sleep about this. But I feel warm with your hand in mine When we walk along the shoreline- They’re both near the sea on the shoreline, but not quite there. They’re not quite in love. Neither of them is feeling it. However, (like he said in the chorus) when they’re together it’s good, and warm. It’s a safe bet & it feels nice. They make each other feel happy & comfortable when they’re together. I guess we’ll never know why sparrows love the snow- I’m not 100% sure about this line. Maybe a)He’s not too how or why they ended up together in the first place or b)He doesn’t know how lovers find each other in the first place & they’re stuck with each other, so they’ll never discover for themselves. A “We’ll never find love, oh well, that’s a shame” kind of line. –––––––––––––––– Original version: I feel as if I were home some nights - This elaborates the “When you are alone, I’ve never felt so at home” point. [I’m cutting up the line like this, because it makes more sense with my interpretation. & It’s how I think the lines go.] When we count all the ship lights, I guess I’ll never know why sparrows love the snow - Looking out into the sea, seeing where they could’ve been & the love they could’ve had, in the sea. And, as he looks on, he realises that he’ll never discover what that’s like for himself. (Which goes along with my b) explanation for the Ocean Eyes version) –––––––––––––––– We’ll turn out all of the lights and set this ballroom aglow -Some people reckon it’s an innuendo or something, but I have a different idea. I reckon it’s that they’re ignoring all the negatives about this (like the fact that they don’t actually love each other, and they’re unhappy) & just brushing it under the carpet, so to speak. They’re turning out the lights, but setting the ballroom aglow? There’s something off about that. So, to make this look like it works (being “aglow”) - they need to ignore the lack-of-love. (I really hope I’m making sense here! :/) So tell me darling, do you wish we’d fall in love? Yeah, all the time, all the time -See, they want to be in love. Because they’re both lonely hearts and love the idea of “being in the sea”/in love. But that’s just not what they have. Also, the use of the word “wish” is important. (I googled this:) The difference between the words ”wish”” and hope“ is that hope is when you want something that’s probable/likely to happen, when “wish” is something very unlikely or maybe impossible. (e.g. “I hope is doesn’t rain tomorrow” Vs. “I wish I had 9 lives like cats) They’re not gonna be falling in love. However, the use of the word “Darling” shows there’s some affection there. Or they’re at least trying. When we’re apart what ever are you thinking of? If this is what I call home, why does it feel so alone?- When they’re together it feels right. But, when they’re apart, and he has a clearer head, that’s when he realises that he’s alone and they’re not meant to be. The one bit of warmth he has is a lie and that makes him feel lonelier. (If this was a story about real love, why would his “home” feel lonely?) –––- So,to sum it up, I reckon it’s about a very lonely boy and a very lonely girl. They find each other through their loneliness and when they’re together it feels right because it beats that lonely feeling for a while. But, when he takes a strep back to think about it he realises that this isn’t love and it isn’t enough. But, they’re stuck with each other because they were so very, very lonely and they don’t want to go back to that dark place not matter how incontent they are with this relationship. Or how much they have to give up. And no matter how many times they say “give it time” or brush their lack-of-love under the carpet, they’ll never, ever be in love. However, it does that air of optimism that Owl City is so good at. I mean, they’re hoping aren’t they? They’re willing to push aside any anxieties they have about this relationship, and to risk any future hopes just so they can have this one shot at happiness. They could be being too optimistic if anything. The songs actually pretty sad, when you think about it :( |
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