Maroon 5 – Daylight

"Daylight" as written by Adam Levine, Samuel Denison Martin, Max Martin and Mason David Levy....
Here I am waiting, I'll have to leave soon
Why am I holding on?
We knew this day would come, we knew it all along
How did it come so fast?
This is our last night but it's late
And I'm trying not to sleep
'Cause I know, when I wake
I will have to slip away

And when the daylight comes I'll have to go
But tonight I'm gonna hold you so close
'Cause in the daylight we'll be on our own
But tonight I need to hold you so close
Ooh whoa, ooh whoa, ooh whoa
Ooh whoa, ooh whoa, ooh whoa

Here I am staring at your perfection
In my arms, so beautiful
The sky is getting bright, the stars are burning out
Somebody slow it down
This is way too hard
'Cause I know, when the sun comes up
I will leave, this is my last glance
That will soon be memory

And when the daylight comes I'll have to go
But tonight I'm gonna hold you so close
'Cause in the daylight we'll be on our own
But tonight I need to hold you so close
Ooh whoa, ooh whoa, ooh whoa
Ooh whoa, ooh whoa, ooh whoa

I never wanted to stop
Because I don't wanna start all over, start all over
I was afraid of the dark
But now it's all that I want, all that I want, all that I want

And when the daylight comes I'll have to go
But tonight I'm gonna hold you so close
'Cause in the daylight we'll be on our own
But tonight I need to hold you so close

And when the daylight comes I'll have to go
But tonight I'm gonna hold you so close
'Cause in the daylight we'll be on our own
But tonight I need to hold you so close
Ooh whoa, ooh whoa, ooh whoa
Ooh whoa, ooh whoa, ooh whoa

Ooh whoa (yeah), ooh whoa (yeah), ooh whoa (yeah)
Ooh whoa (yeah), ooh whoa (yeah), ooh whoa


Lyrics submitted by thrwmyhrtawy.

"Daylight" as written by Samuel Denison Martin Adam Levine

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Daylight song meanings
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41 Comments

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  • +9
    My InterpretationThis song is clearly about a long-distance relationship. Anyone that has had one can identify with the lyrics. The desire to make the night last as long as possible, dreading the dawn....these are all the things that one experiences when they have to leave their loved one for yet another time. Since musicians of this level of popularity tour extensively, I am sure that the songwriters have had many, many times where they have had to leave their loved one for an early- morning flight. The song really does a great job of expressing the acute sadness that accompanies this experience. There are some that think it's about the end of a relationship, but that is probably because they have never been in this type of situation.
    snuckyon February 23, 2013   Link
  • +5
    My InterpretationI think the song is about two people who have waited a long time to see eachother (perhaps their relationship must be kept a secret for whatever reason) and finally get to spend the night alone. They want to hold on to eachother and the moment for as long as they can before it all just becomes a memory. They know that when they part they will be back to square one and will have to go through the wait all over again before they can be back in eachother's arms.
    MelissaC21on February 04, 2013   Link
  • +5
    My OpinionWhy does no one instantly think of soldiers upon hearing this? I know soldiers, and hope to be one someday. And I know that even during training they have to wake up at (or before) the first daylight. Could he be implying this is a soldier about to leave his loved one for training/battle. That is just my educated opinion.
    KatGunhadaon February 26, 2013   Link
  • +2
    My InterpretationThe song is powerful to me because of the nature of my relationship. Living a few hours from my girlfriend work only allows us to see each other every 2 weeks for the weekend. On the last day you just don't want it to end. You just hold on to each other and wish that this didn't have to happen. And you don't want to sleep at all. And then you wonder if this is worth it? Is it worth it to keep up the relationship? The whole song fits into the idea of having to leave your significant other for whatever reason have.. and it's sad for that reason...
    Dark_Rider2k3on February 01, 2013   Link
  • +2
    My OpinionI heard this song today and it really spoke to me in my situation. I've met someone who is 1000 miles away from me, and we've chatted for a little over the month already. I feel like we have so much connection, and never in a million years would I think that I would fall for someone so far away. I've made plans to go on a trip to his country, and when I heard this song, I can only think about the last night we'll spend together with each other. "Why am I holding on, we knew this would come, we knew it all along"....I feel like this is exactly how I feel right now. As much as I want to be with him, I know that this is probably too good to be real. I doubt things will work out, but yet I'm investing so much emotion into him. It makes me sad to think that I want to be with someone so bad, that is so far away from me. It's like a dream =(
    jojobeanson February 21, 2013   Link
  • +2
    General CommentThis song is a really meaningful song and one of my favourites. I think that daylight is being used as a metaphor for the future or change and 'you' as in the person who is being talked about is used as a metaphor for the past or memories. The whole song is basically about not wanting to let go if the past memories because the writer is scared of moving on or change. Cuz I like writing about the meaning I am gonna tell you the meaning para wise.

    1st Para
    The writer is trying I tell us that soon he is gonna have to move on with his life and accept the changes that are occurring but he doesn't want to accept that even though he knew that nothing lasts forever.

    2nd Para/4th Para/6th Para/7th Para (They're all the same)
    Now the writer is beginning to accept that eventually he'll have to let o but at the same time he also wants to make the most of the present and live life to the fullest.

    3rd Para
    Again he is watching everyone around him change and knows that soon everything and everyone will be different that is why he is taking in everything and keeping it safe in his memories.

    5th Para
    The writer is telling us that earlier he wanted things to change because he wasn't very happy with the situation but now all he wants is the 'dark' because the dark means that the 'daylight' which is the future stays away.

    Conclusion
    No matter what the writer wants the daylight is inevitable, no matter what it will always come around eventually which signifies that life keeps going on no matter what and we just need to accept it.

    PS: hope this helped n pls reply if you don't agree with what I've written or if you can add something to it. Always open for constructive criticism. :D
    MusicLover52on August 20, 2013   Link
    • 4 Replies
  • +1
    General CommentWhen I fist heard the song, I thought it was about a relationship that was kept secret or had to end. When, 'Cause in the daylight, we'll be on our own,' I think it means that they have to go their own separate ways. '"Cause I know when I wake, I will have to slip away,' meaning that he or she has to leave. He says he's gonna hold her so close, I feel that it means he doesn't want to let her go, but knows he has to. He trying to make best of what he has. 'Cause in the daylight, I'm gonna have to go,' it basically explains it self, he has to leave when the sun comes out. He says he's afraid of the dark but it what he wants now. The one thing that threw me a bit off was the music video. I mean the music video was great but it's more about a change in the world, what people think of it. The song, in my opinion, didn't have much to do with it. Well, anyways, this was what I think the meaning of Daylight is.
    ughlameon December 29, 2012   Link
  • +1
    My InterpretationMy interpretation of the song, which I am trying to relate it to the music video, is the fact that we have to bring change and daylight to topics about ourselves. I believe that because in the video people talked about what they loved, what they hated, what they wanted to do, who they missed, what change they wanted to see. Also, it seemed like the music video was really talking about how we should love the ones that we are with now; that we should love them for who they are, and be there for them no matter what. It was really moving. Again, this is just my interpretation from what was presented in the music video.
    channell76on January 20, 2013   Link
  • +1
    My InterpretationThis song relates a lot to a long distance relationship I feel like. Well atleast it does to me. My boyfriend lives in California, and I live in Michigan. And this song reminds me of the feeling you get before we leave eachother. The part where it says "why am i holding on? We knew this day would come?" You always have the feeling of why am i doing this? Its so hard. But you know you cant go because you love them to much. And when youre spending that last night together, you just look at them and it reminds you of all the great reasons why the distance is worth it. And how badly you want the night to drag on because you are dreading when they leave in the morning.
    andmoeon February 01, 2013   Link
  • +1
    My InterpretationHi. I am a 17 year old boy living in Ireland. I have a girlfriend who is from Lithuania (she moved to Ireland 5 years ago). I have grown very fond of her and have fell in love. We have had our arguments but we always get through them.
    Well, her granny is very sick and she had told me about a month ago that she had to go back to Lithuania for 2 weeks. I didnt think this would be too bad, but eventually time caught up with us and now she is away.


    Our last night together was the most amazing day of my life. We went for a walk and sat under the stars together. We talked about our future and this moment was the best in my life.
    I feel that this song relates to me as when the daylight came (the next day) she left for 2 weeks. That night I held her so close. And i have been listening to this song for hours every day.

    This song is about losing a loved one. It may be for an hour, for a month, or forever. Either way it is about losing that special someone we love. And it is hard.
    MusicGinge96on October 10, 2013   Link

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