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.
La-da-da-da-da, la-da-da-da-da
Da-da-da
We are searchlights, we can see in the dark
We are rockets pointed up at the stars
We are billions of beautiful hearts
And you sold us down the river too far
What about us?
What about all the times you said you had the answers?
What about us?
What about all the broken happy-ever-afters?
What about us?
What about all the plans that ended in disaster?
What about love? What about trust?
What about us?
We are problems that want to be solved
We are children that need to be loved
We were willin', we came when you called
But man, you fooled us, enough is enough, oh
What about us?
What about all the times you said you had the answers?
What about us?
What about all the broken happy-ever-afters?
Oh, what about us?
What about all the plans that ended in disaster?
Oh, what about love? What about trust?
What about us?
Oh, what about us?
What about all the plans that ended in disaster?
What about love? What about trust?
What about us?
Sticks and stones, they may break these bones
But then I'll be ready, are you ready?
It's the start of us wakin' up, come on
Are you ready? I'll be ready
I don't want control, I want to let go
Are you ready? I'll be ready
'Cause now it's time to let them know
We are ready, what about us?
What about us?
What about all the times you said you had the answers?
So what about us?
What about all the broken happy-ever-afters?
Oh, what about us?
What about all the plans that ended in disaster?
Oh, what about love? What about trust?
What about us?
What about us?
What about us?
What about us?
What about us?
What about us?
What about us?
Da-da-da
We are searchlights, we can see in the dark
We are rockets pointed up at the stars
We are billions of beautiful hearts
And you sold us down the river too far
What about us?
What about all the times you said you had the answers?
What about us?
What about all the broken happy-ever-afters?
What about us?
What about all the plans that ended in disaster?
What about love? What about trust?
What about us?
We are problems that want to be solved
We are children that need to be loved
We were willin', we came when you called
But man, you fooled us, enough is enough, oh
What about us?
What about all the times you said you had the answers?
What about us?
What about all the broken happy-ever-afters?
Oh, what about us?
What about all the plans that ended in disaster?
Oh, what about love? What about trust?
What about us?
Oh, what about us?
What about all the plans that ended in disaster?
What about love? What about trust?
What about us?
Sticks and stones, they may break these bones
But then I'll be ready, are you ready?
It's the start of us wakin' up, come on
Are you ready? I'll be ready
I don't want control, I want to let go
Are you ready? I'll be ready
'Cause now it's time to let them know
We are ready, what about us?
What about us?
What about all the times you said you had the answers?
So what about us?
What about all the broken happy-ever-afters?
Oh, what about us?
What about all the plans that ended in disaster?
Oh, what about love? What about trust?
What about us?
What about us?
What about us?
What about us?
What about us?
What about us?
What about us?
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
What About Us Lyrics as written by John Mcdaid Alecia B. Moore
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Although upon interview with the song writer (billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7905034/pink-what-about-us-songwriter-meaning-question-interview), he mentioned that the song does not specify anything on to whom the question "What about us?" is addressed, I believe this is directed towards a deity and/or to the people that represents that deity's authority.
Looking at the first verse, it describes us humans full of potential and ambition. But the problem is that humans are lead into something they don't deserve. Maybe through misdirection of faith. This was amplified through the verse next to the first chorus:
"We are children that need to be loved We were willin', we came when you called"
At first glance, one might think that this means the adherents of faith that followed their leader or their deity but then was tricked as the next line says:
"But man, you fooled us, enough is enough, oh"
Furthermore, the chorus can imply that the deity was marketed to have all the answers to humanity's questions and hopes but are left unanswered.
On the last verse before the last chorus, the writer calls for the people to stand up and break free from the ideas that were lead to them and still in this case, faith to something higher.
To sum up, this song is all about questioning something higher (can be a deity) and calling for people to stand up and take action.
I agree. At first I thought it was about lovers as many of the pop balads are, but once I took closer look at the lyrics it dawned on me. It is about God and its relation to people. Additionally might also be about political/governmental authorities or just any authority in general that is supposed to be build on trust and supposed to do good for people (as the music video and also the lyrics part "it's time to let them know" implies).