A prince in practice moans for the attention that he wants
but most of this town won't even dignify his ignorance with a response
left to a crowded foster home by a 15 year old mom
never been held in anyone's arms when you've never been moved its really hard to move on
A young saleswoman sets up shop when the sun sets
she'll make your wildest dreams come true at a price you wont forget
The sadly married set up alibis no harm no regret
hoping they meet an angel in bed that can wrestle the devil right out of their heads
This city runs fast, no one has time to sit with themselves,no time to look into our pain
or see the same despair in everyone else
its here, its there, its everywhere tears soak each card the dealers dealt
But time taught me how to see every second as heaven even though they're perfectly disguised as hell
And I refuse to let past bruises cover the light
it ain't all good, but its all good enough,
so I know I'm alright
agony is truth its our connection to the living I accept it as perfection and keep on existing in the now

I can only build if I tear the walls down
even if it breaks me I wont let it make me frown
I'm falling but no matter how hard I hit the ground
I'll still smile
I can only build if I tear the walls down
even if it breaks me I wont let it make me frown
I'm falling but no matter how hard I hit the ground
I'll still smile

...ear to ear as if that's all I'm here for
despite the wars founded by the rich, funded by the poor
kids barely 18 are dying so billionaires can make more
elsewhere hungry mothers watch their babies starve to death in a beat up shack on a dirt floor
The aged professor quotes "Freedom's without a path"
now he dresses like a widow and preaches "love is dead" in every class
But curiosity killed the cat and taught
the dog in him how to act
and it burned his bridge to Jill so he tries to drown the guilt with a bottle of Jack
Self proclaimed rebels say "We must oppose the system!"
"You gotta take a stand!" "If your not against them your with them!"
signs read "Support the troops bring em' home!" "No more innocent victims!"
but when a homeless veteran asks for spare change your to busy protesting to even listen
And I'm no different I live in conflict and contradiction but it can be so beautiful
when I don't reject what lies within
It's beautiful the way agony connects us to the living
I think of the world when I hurt, and keep on existing in the now

I can only build if I tear the walls down
even if it breaks me I wont let it make me frown
I'm falling but no matter how hard I hit the ground
I'll still smile
I can only build if I tear the walls down
even if it breaks me I wont let it make me frown
I'm falling but no matter how hard I hit the ground
I'll still smile.


Lyrics submitted by str8lowlife

Smile song meanings
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13 Comments

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  • +5
    General Comment

    I don't think he is saying be optimistic. He is saying be realistic, yet don't let the horrors of this world paralyze your ability to live and enjoy life. There are three main points in this music video: interconnectedness, agony, and perseverance. He wants people to be aware that everyone has difficult times. He discusses problems of poverty, lost loved ones, prostitution, malnutrition, and more. I think he does this because he thinks about it all the time and these thoughts are depressing. They make you wonder why am I alive, living so easily, yet there are mothers watching there children starve. Why do i get to live so well while around the world people are being tortured and mistreated? He acknowledges these atrocities in respect for these people. He recognizes the truth of the situation and accepts it. But is not comfortable with it. You have to make the best of the truth, not deny the truth. He opposes the ignorance is innocence bullshit that a lot of other artists seem to live by. It is wrong to disregard the bad in the world. In the music videos you see newspaper articles, all connected by thread. When you read a newspaper what are the big stories? They tend to be horrible things that have happened to people around the world whether it be war, crime, or corruption. Rarely do you see good news. Why are they connected? Because we all are a part of this world. Everything both good and bad is interdependent. You have a power to influence others, the same way they have the power to influence you. Self proclaimed rebels are the people mindlessly opposing governments and ideas just for the sake of being part of a so called "cause." In his mind there are no rebels. We are all just people. And we need to see the truth in order for it get better. If we just disregard that people are going through horrible times in other countries, or even right around the corner from us, how will those situations ever change. So don't be ignorant. Persevere through pain and agony. And do your best to help the people struggling. Even if you are one of them. Just cause you aren't starving in Africa doesn't mean you don't have a problem either but obviously the problems of "3rd world countries" are much more serious than our own. Remember that, even if it isn't a happy thought, and live as best you can. Suck it up and keep moving and helping the world

    yuhhhhhhhhhhhhhon October 09, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Great song, surprised no one commented yet

    basically means, be optimistic

    funkygurl714on May 21, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this is a excellent song

    marcieashon June 29, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    the lyrics are amazing , truley mind blowing...

    marcieashon June 29, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    R.I.P. <3

    skeptic_8on October 18, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    RIP Michael Larsen. You're already missed...

    MarcusHon October 18, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    RIP. Your words have always meant so much to me.

    sixteenmistakeson October 19, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    RIP. =[

    DeathMetalDemonon October 20, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion

    I already miss the guy.

    Crusader74on October 21, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Amazing song. love the lyrics.

    Blow85on March 18, 2011   Link

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