You bought a star in the sky tonight
Because your life is dark and it needs some light
You named it after me, but I'm not yours to keep
Because you'll never see, that the stars are free

Oh, we don't own our heavens now
We only own our hell
And if you don't know that by now
Then you don't know me that well

All my life I've been so lonely
All in the name of being holy
And still, you'd like to think you know me
You keep buyin' stars

And you could buy up all of the stars
But it wouldn't change who you are
You're still living life in the dark
It's just who you are, it's just who you are

You bought a star in the sky tonight
And in your man-made dark
The light inside you died

Oh, we don't own our heavens now
We only own our hell
And if you don't know that by now
Then you don't know me that well

All my life I've been so lonely
All in the name of being holy
And still, you like to think you own me
You keep buyin' stars

And you could buy up all of the stars
But it wouldn't change who you are
You're still living life in the dark
It's just who you are, it's just who you are

Yeah, you know only how to own me
You know only how to own me

You're buying stars to shut out the light
We come alone and alone we die
And no matter how hard you try
I'll always belong in the sky

(You could buy up all of the stars
It wouldn't change who you are
You're still living life in the dark
It's just who you are)

And you could buy up all of the stars
But it wouldn't change who you are
You're still living life in the dark
It's just who you are, it's just who you are

It's who you are, it's who you are
It's who you are, it's who you are
It's who you are, it's who you are
It's who you are, it's who you are


Lyrics submitted by LivingInAStateOfDreaming, edited by RhysOG, delayed

Buy the Stars Lyrics as written by Marina Lambrini Diamandis

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Buy the Stars song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

17 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +4
    My Interpretation

    I think the song is about the kind of relationship where one lover is possessive of the other. They maybe buy gifts for them or just spend a lot of money on them. It's like having your love bought. They're a controlling lover who wants to be in charge of the other's life. She's saying that she's a free spirit of sorts and that lover doesn't own her. She's as free as the stars, how could you own a star? it's impossible to hold on to.

    weirdgirl32on October 29, 2012   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
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
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
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
When We Were Young
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Album art
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it. “I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.