Switchfoot - Faust, Midas, and Myself Lyrics + Chords
Lyrics
This one's about a dream
I had last night
How an old man tracked me home
And stepped inside
Put his foot inside the door
And gave a crooked smile
Something in his eyes
Something in his laugh
Something in his voice
Made my skin crawl off
He said "I've seen you here before
I know your name
You could have your pick
Of pretty things
You could have it all
Everything at once
Everything you've seen
Everything you'll need
Everything you've ever had in fantasies"
"You've one life
You've one life
You've one life left to leave
You've one life
You've one life
You've one life left to leave."
I woke up from my dream
As a golden man
With a girl I've never seen
With Golden skin
I jumped up to my feet
And she asked me what was wrong
And I began to scream
I don't think this is me
Is this just a dream?
Or really happening
You've one life
You've one life
You've one life left to leave
You've one life
You've one life
You've one life left to leave
What direction
What direction
I'm splitting up
I'm splitting up
This is my personal disaffection
What direction
What Direction
What Direction now
I looked outside the glass
At golden shores
Golden ships and masts
With golden cords
As my reflection passed
I hated what I saw
My Golden eyes were dead
And a thought passed through my head
A heart that's made of gold can't really beat at all
I wanted to wake up again
I wanted to wake up again
Without a touch of gold
Without a touch of gold
What direction (what direction)
What direction (what direction)
What direction (what direction)
What direction (death or action!)
Life begins at the intersection
What direction
What direction
What direction now
I woke up as before
But the gold was gone
My wife was at the door
With her night robe on
My heart beat once or twice
And life flooded my veins
Everything had changed
My lungs had found their voice
And what was once routine
Was now the perfect joy
You've one life
You've one life
You've One life left to leave
You've one life
You've one life
You've one life left to lead
Video
Switchfoot - Faust, Midas, And Myself [Official Audio]
Meaning & Inspiration
Switchfoot’s “Faust, Midas, and Myself,” released on April 22, 2015, is a profound exploration of desire, consequence, and the singular value of life, drawing potent parallels to ancient cautionary tales and timeless biblical truths. The song begins with a dreamlike narrative, an encounter with an enigmatic figure who promises everything imaginable – a Faustian bargain offered with a chilling familiarity. This tempting offer, the ability to possess all that one has ever yearned for, directly echoes the temptation found in Matthew 4:8-9, where Satan offers Jesus all the kingdoms of the world. The insidious nature of such offers lies in their superficial appeal, masking a deeper emptiness. The repeated refrain, "You've one life left to leave," serves as a stark reminder of our finite existence, a truth scripture consistently emphasizes, as seen in Psalm 90:12: "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."
The dream’s terrifying aftermath, waking as a "golden man" with a similarly gilded companion, vividly portrays the Midas touch gone awry. The irreversible transformation, the horror at one’s own altered reflection, and the deadness in the eyes speak volumes about the hollowness of material wealth or unearned, superficial success. The protagonist’s lament, "A heart that's made of gold can't really beat at all," is a powerful metaphor for a life devoid of genuine connection, love, and authentic feeling, a spiritual death disguised as earthly fulfillment. This resonates with Jesus’ words in Mark 8:36: "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?" The desperate plea to "wake up again without a touch of gold" is a yearning for freedom from the gilded cage of ultimate materialism, a desire for the simple, unadorned reality of a life lived in truth and substance.
The song’s turning point arrives with the repeated question, "What direction?" This existential crisis, a moment of profound disaffection and fragmentation, propels the narrative towards a crucial decision: "death or action!" This stark dichotomy, presented as the "intersection" of life, aligns with the biblical call to choose life and pursue righteous action. Deuteronomy 30:19 urges, "choose life, that you and your offspring may live," emphasizing that our choices have eternal weight. The ultimate awakening, the shedding of the gold and the rediscovery of a beating heart and a voice, signifies a return to authentic living. The joy found in the mundane, the appreciation for what was once routine, speaks to a profound reorientation of values. It's a realization that true richness lies not in possessions, but in the very essence of being alive, in love, in breath, and in the capacity to experience life fully. The song concludes by shifting the refrain from "leave" to "lead," highlighting the active, intentional nature of a life lived with purpose and gratitude, a testament to the profound grace found in choosing a path of authentic existence over the illusion of superficial gain.