Times when I just can't
Bring myself to say it loud
Afraid that what I'll say comes out somehow awry

That is when it seems
We move in circles day to day
Twist the drama out f the play to get us by

And it feels like fear
Like I'll disappear
Gets so hard to steer
Yet I go on
Do we need debate
When it seems too late
Like I bleed but wait
Like nothing's wrong

You lift my spirit, take me higher, make me fly
Touch the moon up in the sky, when you are mine
You lift me higher, take my spirit, make it fly
Where all new wonders will appear, oh

Like the other day
I thought you won't be coming back
I came to realize my lackluster dreams

And among the schemes
And all the tricks we try to play
Only dreams will hold their sway and defy

When it feels like fear
Like I'll disappear
Gets so hard to steer
Yet I go on
Do we need debate
When it seems too late
Like I bleed but wait
Like nothing's wrong

You lift my spirit, take me higher, make me fly
Touch the moon up in the sky, when you are mine
You lift me higher, take my spirit, make it fly
Where all new wonders will appear, oh

You lift my spirit, take me higher, make me fly
Touch the moon up in the sky, when you are mine
You lift me higher, take my spirit, make it fly
Where all new wonders will appear

Take me higher
Make me fly
Make me fly
Take me higher
Take my spirit
Make it fly


Lyrics submitted by FeLKoN, edited by AlanWake

Lift song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

9 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +2
    General Comment

    Goverment are pushing you down and keeping you there just like the coachroac or however it's written. You want to be the butterfly, express your ideas freely. Eventually they'll find you threatening to the goverment. Which means jail for you. Lovely song.

    Religious band? Sure. But I don't think this song can be related to God. So feel free to argue for your opinion.

    ledNaron February 12, 2009   Link
  • +2
    My Interpretation

    I feel as though this song is about how we can keep what we think or believe entirely to ourselves and because of that there is a certain perception of thoughts and ideals which have become such a norm we simply accept them and TWIST these beliefs in such a way that we forcibly conform them to our own. Hence the author's fear of disappearing. Despite this, there is someone or something wholly spiritual though not religious in nature which compels him to abandon the conformity and accept his own ideas and beliefs and give them wings. I personally believe that every reference made to "you" is actually the singer personifying his dreams. Do that and most of the song suddenly makes far more sense. The chorus really demonstrates this as dreams can lift ones spirit and one can also take this inspiration from a dream and make it their own.

    (And to anyone who has seen the music video, it is abundantly clear that this isn't a "God song" since there is a very provocative move the lead vocalist makes on the female parole officer. Pretty sure anyone under a Christian label would NOT be able to have that scene in a music vid.)

    Searching4implicationon August 26, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Damn good song, but i really dont know whats this song about...

    Meltsion April 17, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    What a great song. It deals with the loved one leaving after all the disputes, and the need for him/her to return.

    PaFon June 05, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    To me it's about someone telling their loved one that despite everything bad that happens or all the flaws that they have, they are the most important, uplifting and special part of their lives.

    A friend of mine also mentioned it could be put in a religious context. Now I know that POTF aren't a religious band, but I can definately see where she was coming from.

    eveningthoughton August 10, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Has anybody seen the music video. It makes the meaning even more confusing, but also in some ways clears it up. It starts out with a close up view of a roach. Then pans out to the singer who is in prison before a parole board. He releases a butterfly. They do a Roscharsch test and he tries to tell them it looks like a butterfly but the board thinks he's crazy. It's the buterfly that gives the video meaning. But anyway, I love Poets of the Fall and this is a great song.

    rabidhunteron May 16, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    He doesn't know why they do mean stuff to each other when they both know they love each other so much. He is also is sayin it doesn't matter cuz that person is their everything

    Vailon December 04, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    In my Interpretation, this song is about a lover who loves someone, although he isn't allowed to in legal ways. Let's say he is homosexual and lives in Saudi Arabia. Or loves someone else he isn't allowed to.

    So he always is afraid of disappearing (getting picked up by legal forces and get locked or killed), or of his lover to not coming back. (same thing).

    But he keeps on loving. Cause the other person makes him fly!

    Humble1992on December 27, 2019   Link
  • -2
    General Comment

    eveningthoughts friend hit it, i take it religious too, and yes they are a religious band. quite a few of there songs deal with God and needing him and stuff like that, the video to me was as if he was imprisoned for wanting god, and the butterfly is a symbolism for beauty, being that he sees beauty in everything when you have God, and them trying to get the evil to come out of him, and it almost works a few times, also im not sure but when they hit the chorus it looks like there in a church. but yeah thats the way i take it. bottom line is Christ is great!

    musicismyfavorite777on January 23, 2009   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Album art
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere. In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Album art
No Surprises
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Album art
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Album art
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.