You say life is a dream where we can't say what we mean
Maybe just some roadside scene that we're driving past
There's no telling where we'll be in a day or in a week
And there's no promises of peace or of happiness


Well is this why you cling to every little thing
And polverize and derrange all your senses
Maybe life is a song but you're scared to song along
Until the very ending


Oh, it's time to let go of everything we used to know
Ideas that strengthen who we've been
It's time to cut ties that won't ever free our minds
From the chains and shackles that they're in


Oh, tell me what good is saying that you're free
In a dark and storming sea
You're chained to your history, you're surely sinking fast
You say that you know that the good Lord's in control
He's gonna bless and keep your tired and oh so restless soul
But at the end of the day when every price has been paid
You're gonna rise and sit beside him on some old seat of gold
And won't you tell me why you live like you're afraid to die
You'll die like you're afraid to go


Oh, it's time to let go of everything we used to know
Ideas that strengthen who we've been
It's time to cut ties that won't ever free our minds
From chains and shackles that they're in
From the chains and shackles that they're in


Well life is a dream 'cause we're all walking in our sleep
You could see us stand in lines like we're dead upon our feet
And we build our house of cards and then we wait for it to fall
Always forget how strange it is just to be alive at all


Lyrics submitted by alyssawolf

Life is a Song song meanings
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    General Comment

    i agree with everyone but mostly with blondelep since im a freshmen in university and that this songs reminds me of my high school memories and many things more... im a huge fan of the oc and i've heard patrick park's something pretty on the oc mix 2 and i loved it, its a great song, i recommend it to everyone but life is a song is definitely the best. the night the last episode of the oc aired in our country was 2days before my prom night so it suited me very well as my high school years were coming to an end, so as the OC. as i listen to it, everytime it gives me hope and faith but at the same time gives me a chill that i feel how i matured over time and that it reminds me of my highschool memories&experiences so i feel sad as well. But overall, i think its about moving on even though your ties with some ppl have become loose, being able to let go of the things occured in the past and trying to appreciate the little things in life. well, it means a lot and i cant stop myself listening to it like at least 3-4times whenever i click play :)

    Raicyon November 24, 2007   Link

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