I try to picture the girl
Through a looking glass
And see her as a carbon atom
See her eyes and stare back at them
See that girl
As her own new world
Though a home is on the surface, she is still a universe

Glory God, oh God is peeking through the blinds
Are we all here standing naked
Taking guesses at the actual date and time
Oh my, justifying reasons why
Is an absolutely insane resolution to live by

Live high
Live mighty
Live righteously
Takin' it easy
Live high
Live mighty
Live righteously

And try to picture the man
To always have an open hand
And see him as a giving tree
See him as matter
A matter of fact he's not a beast
Oh no not the devil either
Always a good deed doer
And it's laughter that we're makin' after all

The call of the wild is still an ordination why
And the order of the primates
All our politics are too late
Oh my, the congregation in my mind
Is this assembly singing of gratitude
Practicing their lovin' for you

Live high
Live mighty
Live righteously
Takin' it easy
Live high
Live mighty
Live righteously

Let's take it out
And just take it easy
And celebrate the malleable reality
You see nothing is ever as it seems
Yeah this life is but a dream

Lift me up to the almighty
Raise your hands and start acknowledging
If you're living it righteously
Then you take the easy way
Just, just, take, take, take it easy

Live high, live high
Live mighty, mighty, mighty
Oh, live righteously
And takin' it easy
Live high, live mighty
Oh, live righteously
And just take, just, just takin' it easy high
Oh, live mighty, mighty
Oh, live righteously
Just take it easy
Say live high
Oh, live righteously, hey
Just take it easy


Lyrics submitted by beazer32

Live High Lyrics as written by Jason Thomas Mraz

Lyrics © Word Collections Publishing, Goo-Eyed Music

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Live High song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

20 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +2
    General Comment

    The first verse is a beautiful introduction into this Mraz-esque view of perception and perspective. He sees this girl as all these things, just a jumble of carbon atoms (which is basically what we all are too) and at the same time this entire world (which we also know people to be) existing amongst all these other worlds. A very cool way of looking at people as more than just other runners of the rat race. The rest seems to be the celebration of this realization that we're all worlds to ourselves, and worlds intertwining. We are so concerned with the 'why' that we don't seem to take enough time to appreciate that it simply is. I particularly like his explanation of God "peeking through the blinds" as if He were just sort of watching us casually at a pleasant enough distance. I think the second verse ties into this religion idea where it seems like Jason is describing how he sees God. I'm pretty sure he says "The call of the wild is still an order nation wide" which is to say that somewhere inside us we all still feel this communion with the world around us. We all feel, as hippie as it sounds, a connection with nature. I think he continues that kind of hippie idea into the next lines with "in the order of the primates, all our politics are too late" He's saying we have to realize that in the grander scheme of things we're grown up monkeys. Not in the literal sense of it, maybe, but we came from such humble beginnings even if you don't believe in evolution. I like how he touches on religion but never makes it the centerpiece to the song, he makes life the religion really. He preaches this attitude of living proud of who you are and what you are. There's endless possibility if you're brave enough to chase after it.

    Jag3892on August 03, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This is one of my favorite songs of Mraz, I can't wait to hear the album version! Live life 'taking it easy', basically, don't try and find a reason for everything, just let things be, and enjoy life because it's the only one we have.

    Also, it's 'This life is but a dream' not 'This life is full of dreams'

    mariamion March 19, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think that this song is about not taking life too seriously and also about acknowledging the gift of life that God has given us and praising him with gratitude daily.

    I think that maybe in the first verse Jason is trying to imagine what it is like to look through God's eyes. He is looking down at his own creation, a girl who is aware of him, looking back at him. She lives on Earth, yet she means the universe to him.

    Jason, I think, is writing about God's presence in his life. He knows that God is watching his actions and that by guessing at the date and time he is implying that compared to God's knowledge, we really know nothing - even about the things we feel sure of.

    Then, in the second verse, he is talking about God. If you remember a Children's book called The Giving Tree, it is about this tree that gives a little boy everything he had - his branches to swing on, some wood to burn for warmth, etc. The boy keeps taking and taking and never gives anything in return, yet the tree still nurtures him even when it is only a stump, it offers itself as a seat for the boy.

    I too am baffled by "the call of the wild" phrase. But whenever I hear it, I think of this movie I saw called "Expelled" (documentary with ben stein) about teaching evolution in schools and how the educational instutitution is so against teaching creationalism that many teachers are afraid to talk about it in schools in fear of being "expelled" from teaching. Anyway, "The order of the primates" is what made me think of it because I think of that famous picture that depicts how humans evolved from apes.

    The congregation in his mind is the church giving thanks to their loving creator.

    jazzkittenon October 15, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I adore this song. Especially because I don't understand exactly what it means. The second verse has me a bit perplexed. What is Jason trying to say when he mentions "the call of the world" and "the order of the primates...politics too late"? Ideas?

    walker.shannonon March 30, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i think is about marijuana alittle bit

    thegergs2on June 18, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    You know, I've always thought it was "Glory God or Goddess" instead of "Glory God, oh God". I'm not sure if it is, but I like it better.

    Great song. I think everyone above has pretty much summed it up. =)

    lauralunaticon July 27, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think this song is completely religious, and about God. I like the second verse best, because it's the most difficult. It's saying that the human race is good by nature (And see him as matter, matter of fact he’s not a beast/But oh not the devil either/He’s always a good deed doer). He backs this up by saying that it's laughter that we're making after all. By that, I think he means that we strive for laughter, and goodness, and good things. He then goes on to say that the call of the wild is still in order nationwide. I think that by that he means that there's a call for a utopia, (world peace, perfect world, you know the deal). the next line perplexes me, but if i had to guess that he's comparing our politics to that of animals.... saying that our politicians are corrupt maybe? The next two lines are about God, and how the congregations sing to him and praise him and tell him how much they love him. I also have to say that I like the second stanza. It's basically saying, so what if life itself is an illusion? Life is a GREAT gift, and we should live high. :)

    aaaaaalion August 22, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song just warms my heart. It is so easy in the world today to become so disheartened.

    I feel like Jason Mraz is trying to tell us that we are this amazing creation, and that showing our gratitude by living life in a beautiful way. I feel like he has put beautiful words to religion, non-denominationally.

    "The congregation in my mind..." I really feel like Mraz has brought such an untangled way to view the beauty of the life that we all have.

    I have not been moved by an artists lyrics in the way that Mraz is moving me in a very long time. Life is enhanced exponentially because of artists like this :)

    enlightenmeon September 13, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Well I think you've all made excellent translations and interpretations of the lyrics, I just wanted to express what I thought about the "In the order of the primates, all our politics are too late."

    Personally, I see this as a call to humans to stop and realize, that the desire to be in a position of power, is useless. Futile if you will. In nature, there are no politics, only to survive and reproduce. We get so caught up in the details of life that we don't realize that politics should be the last thing on our minds, but from a sociological standpoint, are the first. -cite current election- :)

    Awesome song though!

    JGivs09on January 20, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i agree with jazzkitten! i especially love part in the beginning about the girl...it just shows how much God loves his people.

    and i love this part:

    Oh my, the congregation in my mind Is this assembly singing gratitude, practicing their loving for you

    this is definitely how i picture "the congregation" too. the congregation should be thanking the Lord for what he's done, and should be practicing their love for him (through praise) and also through loving other people.

    i'm not sure what Jason Mraz's religious background is.. but this song seems to point that he is Chrisitian to me.

    takemeawayon February 08, 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
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
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.
Album art
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve. The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future. Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere" The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Album art
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.