Rise above gonna start a war
Whatcha want whatcha need whatcha come here for
Well an eye for an eye and an F for fight
Takin' me down is a prisoners right

Got shackles on my wings on tight
Beggin' makin' compromise
Fast enough it's hard to hide
Sometimes I want to disappear

When I feel good I play under warm distress
Pass it up on a better day
Well you got whatcha want you never knew
Perfect gift from me to you

Yeah yeah yeah

Got shackles on my wings on tight
Beggin' makin' compromise
Fast enough it's hard to hide
Sometimes I want to disappear

(Raise up to your ability)
You never knew what I could find
What could come when we realize
Don't no one want to compromise

(Raise up to your ability)
Yeah I'm scared but I'll disappear
Runnin' around before I'll come with you
Like he's from an

(Raise up to your ability)
I know that you wanna
'Cause it was easy to see
Of my ability

(Raise up to your ability)
Yeah you're undecided
Yeah so I can see it
Yeah I'm gonna wipe your mind

Focus on your ability
Focus on your ability
Now focus on your ability
Focus on your ability

Gain again what they want to steal
Gain again what they want to steal
Gonna gain again what they want to steal
Gain again what they want to steal


Lyrics submitted by 5oclock, edited by smexybak, indierox, ARonTheory

Houdini Lyrics as written by Mark Foster

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Houdini song meanings
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22 Comments

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  • +10
    General Comment

    FTP focused their ability on making the catchiest song ever

    chewthegumon April 09, 2011   Link
  • +8
    Lyric Correction

    I got the CD today, and here are a few corrections to the lyrics. Unfortunately the end of the song where he starts singing "raise up to your ability" doesn't have any lyrics listed. :/ Also, I wrote what it says in on the album lyrics, but I still kind of think when I listen to the song it sounds like he singing "gain again what they want to steal". It's hard to tell.

    Rise above, gonna start the war! Oh, what you want, what you need, what'd you come here for? Well, an eye for an eye and an 'f' for fight They're taking me down as the prisoners riot

    Got shackles on, my words are tied Fear can make you compromise With the lights turned up, it's hard to hide Sometimes I want to disappear

    When I feel kinda bad and don't want to stress I just pass it off on ability Well you got what you want, what you never knew It's a perfect gift from me to you

    Got shackles on, my words are tied Fear can make you compromise With the lights turned up, it's hard to hide Sometimes I want to disappear

    (Raise up to your ability)

    You gotta focus on your ability Focus on your ability Now focus on your ability Focus on your ability Then they can't get what they want to steal Can't get what they want to steal

    vitalvessalson May 23, 2011   Link
  • +5
    Song Comparison

    this song is about what its like to be a performer and how a magician can hide behind smoke and mirrors but a musician has to reveal very personal things about themselves or at least that pretty much what they said when they were preforming live on AltNation a couple days ago

    colonel95on May 23, 2011   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    This and Helena Beat have been on repeat for me for the last three days continuously. I think they need to work on perfecting their slower tunes (Chin Up, etc.) but damn they can do catchy realllly really well. <3

    kerrigwenon April 15, 2011   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    Just for the record, I love the line, "f for fight." That says it all. This song is about self-efficacy--believing in yourself and your ability to do.

    Fear will make a person compromise and reach lower than they ought to. But nobody should fear when they've got abilities other's do not have. Gotta find your niche is all.

    charmedone89on October 08, 2012   Link
  • +1
    Song Meaning

    This song is about a person that have social problems and therefore have difficulty of making compromises. The first part is like how someone with this kind of trouble feel when pin down in a social situation or an emotional discussion. The second part is how he deals with the situation and this is his ability, to avoid and to be invisible. And that might be a gift for the others because you save them from your emotional troubles that makes you antisocial.

    gabrielhspon November 11, 2023   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i can't stop listening to this song. it is really catchy and dance-able! i am in love with the lyrics as well! at the Coachella Festival 2011 he introduced this song saying it was about his "favorite magician"..obviously.

    floatandflutteron April 18, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Thanks for listing the one's from the album! I assumed those are right, and also listened to a live recording on 91X on youtube, and a live recording in brisbane, along with the album to clarify the other lyrics not listed. He definitely says different things in different performances. I think these lyrics are what he actually says from watching his lips move, and they make more sense as well.

    Rise above, gonna start the war! Oh, what you want, what you need, what'd you come here for? Well, an eye for an eye and an 'f' for fight They're taking me down as the prisoners riot

    Got shackles on, my words are tied Fear can make you compromise With the lights turned up, it's hard to hide Sometimes I want to disappear

    When I feel kinda bad and don't want to stress I just pass it off on ability Well you got what you want, what you never knew It's a perfect gift from me to you

    Got shackles on, my words are tied Fear can make you compromise With the lights turned up, it's hard to hide Sometimes I want to disappear

    (Raise up to your ability)

    You never knew that I could find What could come when we realize Some won't stop with the compromise

    (Raise up to your ability) Can't stand when i disappear Runnin around i'm filled with fear I can't do it cause my lifes a wreeeck

    (Raise up to your ability) I know that you wanna Throw me into the Sea For my ability

    (Raise up to your ability) Yeah i don't want (to) decide it Yeah just want to leave it IIiii just wanna walk(says run sometimes) away

    (Raise up to your ability)

    You gotta focus on your ability Focus on your ability Now focus on your ability Focus on your ability Then they can't get what they want to steal Can't get what they want to steal

    ggobooon October 10, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i know you feel it too these words get overused when WE get up and over it and over them up and over it and them i know you feel it too these words get overused when YOU get up and over it and over them oh oh, hell no oh oh, hell no.

    omfgmattyon November 03, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion

    this is one of their best songs, it's so catchy. I love it.

    liveyourlifetoyourownbeaton December 03, 2011   Link

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