He says he looks in the mirror
And he can't tell anymore
Who he really is and who they believe him to be
And he says he walks a thin line
Between what is and what could be
And he's getting closer
To something he can understand

Cause there's a crack in his plastic crown
And his throne of ice is melting
He climbed his ladder
There was nothing there
And now it's a long way down
It's a long way down

[Chorus]
On and on and on he goes dancing on the grave
Of what he thought was still alive
On and on and on he goes
Dancing in mansions made of twigs
And castles made of sand

He says his head is filled with
Cartoons and fairy tails
And he's trapped inside a dungeon of dolls
With smiles on their faces
He's built a pretty cage
His shows on a beautiful stage
With candy coated prison bars
And chains that look like jewelry

Cause there's a crack in his plastic crown
And his throne of ice is melting
He climbed his ladder
There was nothing there
And now it's a long way down

[Chorus]

On and on and on and on he goes on and on
On and on and on and on he goes on and on

Cause he lives inside
Of fairy tails and castles now
And there's room inside
For false expectations and illusions

Cause there's a crack in his plastic crown
And his throne of ice is melting
He climbed his ladder
There was nothing there
And now it's a long way down
It's a long way down

[Chorus: x2]

On and on and on and on he goes on and on
On and on and on and on he goes on and on
On and on and on and on he goes on and on


Lyrics submitted by daniela_m_a, edited by Mellow_Harsher

Fairytales Sandcastles Lyrics as written by

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Fairytales Sandcastles song meanings
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19 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is alright, I guess. I've only listened to it twice (I just downloaded it) but it seems like it would have to be one of those songs that grow on you. To me it's speaking of a guy who's about to give up, but he just keeps going. For whatever reason.

    Ashleigh9169on May 05, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    it's about a kid, who's being fooled and used by everyone he knows, he keeps on telling himself that his friends are true (dancing in mansions made of twigs) but in the end he'll find out...

    kcion June 16, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think this song is about the loss of innocence. A kid is growing up and corruption is destroying his innocence. His throne of ice that he used to play with is melting. Now his castle is full of false expectations and illusions because the world is deceiving him. I think this is a powerful song if you read between the lines.

    DancingNanciesDMBon July 11, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    where can you download this song?

    got_shorties56on August 11, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    the first time i listened to this i only liked the lyrics, but, yes, it grows on you

    phantmsangelon September 15, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    "His shows on a beautiful stage with candy coated prison bars and chains that look like jewelery"

    RebelPancakeon March 11, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I havent really studied the lyrics to this GREAT song, but ive picked up a few lines...:

    "there's a crack in his platic crown and his throne of ice is melting."

    Rekebollaon July 16, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    hey, where did the last part of my post go?!? :O

    Rekebollaon July 16, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Well I have an opinion about what this song could mean, Some months ago I met this boy and we became into best friends, he knew everything about me and I used to think that I knew everything about him but suddenly I fell in love with him and then he stoped talking to me =( and I was really sad but then a friend told me that everything he told me was a lie! his life was such a lie, he wasn't who he told me he was, he was living in a "fairy tale" and I think he was making "castles made of sand" I think he wanted to be soomeone else and he had a problem and he didnt really know who he was, also he was telling everyone that I was his girlfriend and that wasn't true, so maybe when I reallized all this things "CAUSE THERE'S A CRACK IN HIS PLASTIC CROWN" AND HIS THRONE OF ICE IS MELTING AND HE CAN'T TELL ANYMORE WHO HE REALLY IS AND WHO THEY BELIEVE HIM TO BE AND HE SAYS HE WALKS A THIN LINE BETWEEN WHAT IS AND WHAT COULD BE

    Curiously he was the one who introduced me into the Lifehouse songs, and this one and Breathing were his favorites- well hehe just a opinion!

    mariani_walkeron February 04, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i absolutly love this song.

    my favourite part is: "CAUSE HE LIVES INSIDE OF FAIRYTALES AND CASTLES NOW, AND THERE'S ROOM INSIDE FOR FALSE EXPECTATIONS AND ILLUSIONS."

    its just a beautiful song :)

    bleedthecoloursopenon April 06, 2007   Link

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