It all started with a stumble
And I get old and I get humble
The sky cracked a million ways
Making me blind
And as the trees grew higher and higher
And the fish began to fly
I went and stole some wings
And thought why can't I

Get in the sunrise
I want to get in the sunrise

Put the world upon your shoulder
I'll stay young while I watch everyone getting older
You can take a million years
Out of my head
But I'm starting to lose my place
In the circles that I trace
And if I let go only then
Will my face

Get in the sunrise
I want to get in the sunrise

(Do you hear me now
Oh won't you hear me now)


Lyrics submitted by shayborg

Sunrise Lyrics as written by Christopher E Keating Anand Mathew Wilder

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Sunrise song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

9 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +1
    General Comment

    the lyrics reminds me of greek mythology...Phaethon, Atlas...such a groovy jam

    slinkstersarson May 14, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Evolution.

    vidon July 01, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think it's a song about the evolution of humanity. The song even mimics our growing obsession with youth. In the beginning of the song, he talks about how great it is to age, then at the end, he suddenly wants to stay young. In linear comparison with the song, in yesterday's society, getting older (hence lyrics: And I get old and I get humble) used to automatically be associated with respect and wisdom (I went and stole some wings). The wings could be symbolism for the intellectual freedom (to fly/go anywhere?) and depth you gain with age. Then as the song progesses, in linear parallelism with humanity's evolution and today's standards, our obsession causes us to want to "stay young while [we] watch everyone getting older".

    Haha. And I just got this random thought, but I guess I'll say it. I was wondering why the song is called "Sunrise". The sun is a prominent aging factor so ... haha?

    technicolorsoundon July 06, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    He sounds alot like Cedric, the singer from The Mars Volta. Its only on this song though.

    deadwing89on May 19, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    ^^haha I thought he sounded just like the guy from The Rapture

    this song has such a cool groove and those drums are amazing.

    leakegon October 01, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Icarus?

    artmavenon November 03, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    His voice reminds me of Phil Collins in this song. I love Phil. This is great song. I agree with the greek mythology connection, or sun worship in general.

    XLoveEpiphanyXon July 16, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    @ technicolorsound:

    Yeasayer's reference to the sunrise changes through the song, too, so I think your translation of the sunrise's meaning fits well. I think its less about evolution, though, and more so just about the aging process and how perspective changes from young to old.

    I think he's using 'sunrise' as that which is most desired. The first time he says "I want to get in the sunrise" is after the part of this song sang from the younger perspective. In this first reference 'sunrise' might mean attention or the spot light, maybe even fame. The second time he says "I want to get in the sunrise" sounds more like he's tired of the game he played through his youth and just wants to see the truth or the end. Here I would interpret the 'sunrise' to be death.

    TheMadBagon January 11, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    What's he singing right at the end? I cant hear it, but I love that part, ending sounds amazing!

    Tinkletuffson April 22, 2010   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
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
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version. Great version of a great song,
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
Magical
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Album art
Page
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.