Owl City - Fireflies Lyrics
Lyrics
You would not believe your eyes
If ten million fireflies
Lit up the world as I fell asleep
'Cause they'd fill the open air
And leave teardrops everywhere
You'd think me rude, but I would just stand and stare
I'd like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems
'Cause I'd get a thousand hugs
From ten thousand lightning bugs
As they try to teach me how to dance
A fox-trot above my head
A sock-hop beneath my bed
A disco ball is just hanging by a thread
I'd like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems
(When I fall asleep)
Leave my door open just a crack
(Please take me away from here)
'Cause I feel like such an insomniac
(Please take me away from here)
Why do I tire of counting sheep?
(Please take me away from here)
When I'm far too tired to fall asleep
To ten million fireflies
I'm weird 'cause I hate goodbyes
I got misty eyes as they said farewell
(They said farewell)
But I'll know where several are
If my dreams get real bizarre
'Cause I saved a few, and I keep them in a jar
(A jar)
I'd like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems
(When I fall asleep)
I'd like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems
(When I fall asleep)
I'd like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
Because my dreams are bursting at the seams
Video
Owl City - Fireflies (Official Music Video)
Meaning & Inspiration
I spent a lot of time listening to this one back in the day, just letting the synths wash over me. It’s funny how a song about lightning bugs can feel like it’s reaching for something bigger, like trying to grab onto a sliver of light when the world feels dark or restless. There’s this constant pull between wanting to stay in the dream and the reality of being awake, which makes me think of how we’re told in Scripture that we shouldn’t be of this world, even while we’re stuck living in it. Paul talks about how things here are like a mirror, getting a glimpse of the glory but not seeing the whole thing clearly yet. The lyrics keep saying everything is never as it seems, and in a way, that hits on the truth that what we see with our physical eyes isn't the final word on what’s real.
But then I start to wonder if the song is just chasing after a feeling, trying to store up light in a jar to keep the darkness at bay. It feels like an attempt to manufacture peace or escape when things get hard. We’re told to let our light shine, but that light is supposed to come from the Spirit, not from catching fireflies to comfort ourselves when the world feels like too much. There’s a desperation in the line about needing to be taken away from here, and while I get that feeling of just wanting to be done with the struggle, I keep thinking about how Christ prayed that we would be kept from the evil one, not that we’d be taken out of the world entirely. It feels a bit like trying to find rest in a dream instead of in the person who actually promised a peace that passes understanding. I keep coming back to the idea of a jar. Is that where we keep our hope? In something we've captured for ourselves? It makes me pause, because if the light I'm holding onto is something I've manufactured to keep my own dreams bright, I’m not sure it’s going to hold up when the night actually gets deep.