In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
I want to burn out bright
Does it have to start with a broken heart
Broken dreams, bleeding heart
We were young and the world was clear
Young ambition disappears
I swore it would never come to this
The average, the obvious
How I'm still discontented down here
I'm still discontented
If we've only got one try
If we've only got one life
If time was never on our side
Then before I die I want to burn out bright
I want to burn out bright
So a spark ignites in time and space
Limping through this human race
You bite and claw your way back home
But you're running the wrong way
The future is a question mark
Of kerosene and electric sparks
There's still fire in you yet
Yeah there's still fire in you
If we've only got one try
If we've only got one life
If time was never on our side
Then before I die I want to burn out bright
I keep cleaning up the mess I've made
I keep cleaning up the mess I've made
I don't want to run away
I can't sleep in the bed I've made
I can't sleep in the bed I've made
If we've only got one try
We've only got one try
If we've only got one life
We've only got one life
If time was never on our side
Time was never on our side
Then before I die I want to burn out bright
Before I die I want to burn out
Before I die I want to burn out
Before I die I want to burn out bright
If time was never on our side
Then before I die I want to burn out bright
Does it have to start with a broken heart
Broken dreams, bleeding heart
We were young and the world was clear
Young ambition disappears
I swore it would never come to this
The average, the obvious
How I'm still discontented down here
I'm still discontented
If we've only got one try
If we've only got one life
If time was never on our side
Then before I die I want to burn out bright
I want to burn out bright
So a spark ignites in time and space
Limping through this human race
You bite and claw your way back home
But you're running the wrong way
The future is a question mark
Of kerosene and electric sparks
There's still fire in you yet
Yeah there's still fire in you
If we've only got one try
If we've only got one life
If time was never on our side
Then before I die I want to burn out bright
I keep cleaning up the mess I've made
I keep cleaning up the mess I've made
I don't want to run away
I can't sleep in the bed I've made
I can't sleep in the bed I've made
If we've only got one try
We've only got one try
If we've only got one life
We've only got one life
If time was never on our side
Time was never on our side
Then before I die I want to burn out bright
Before I die I want to burn out
Before I die I want to burn out
Before I die I want to burn out bright
If time was never on our side
Then before I die I want to burn out bright
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These are the clips on the website. I'm changing all these to the full songs when the CD comes out.
This song is a great representation of Switchfoot's message of living life to the fullest and taking advantages of the life we are given. "Before I die I want to burn out bright" Foreman is talking about the desire to use his life to make a difference for the greater good.
this song reminds me of the kurt cobain quote "its better to burn out than to fade away". and jon is a nirvana fan, so it could very well be an allusion.
That's what I thought of when I heard it too. You know that quote is actually a lyric from a Neil Young song.
this song rocks out loud! so original and meaningful. the lyrics are clever, especially "i keep cleaning up the mess i've made, i can't sleep in the bed i've made,"etc., jon and tim's writing on this are great. really makes you think about life and that we still can make a difference and live out our dreams!
Foreman is really putting emphasis on the inevietability of death
we've only got one life, it's short, it will end, so lets make the most of it while we have the chance... hell yeah!
Yeah this song is basically telling us to not take life for granted, it's short and even though we all eventually die, we have to make the best of it if not we will all have lived in vain.
Does anyone else see this song as a more intrapersonal version of "Awakening?" Like it's teh same message, but in more personal terms, like more within yourself, more restricted to jsut you? But it's also about making a difference in this world. Like the fire bruning in you is passion, and when you're hurting and lost, it doesn't mean the fire's lost, it just means that your futrue has to be filled with "kerosene and electric sparks." (Fuel for your fire.)
So a spark ignites in time and space Limping through this human race You bite and claw your way back home But you’re running the wrong way
are really good lyrics.
but my favorite are:
If we've only got one try We've only got one try If we've only got one life We've only got one life If time was never on our side Time was never on our side Then before I die I want to burn out bright
switchfoot is such an amazing band and they try to convey such a strong meaning... its such a relief from all the artist who dont actually believe what they're saying. You can tell when they sing that they actually believe it, and the fact that they write their own lyrics makes it a hundred times better.
I LOVEE SWITCHHFOOT