1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
We were just kids just living in
Wide-eyed, innocence
minivan floor like a tenement
We were just kids who believed in
More than just dreams in
More than just justified
Ends to a means
With the sky wide-open
Like a child, eyes-open
like a child, unbroken
by the wheels gone by
We know
Who we are
(in the fever of our youth)
Who we are
(We've got nothing left to lose)
Who we are
(There's still time enough to choose)
Who we are
Who we are
Who we are
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
We were just kids
Just limited, misfit, itinerant
Outcasts singing bout the dissonance
We were just kids, wide-open
Like a child, eyes-open,
Like a child, unbroken
by the wheels gone by
We know
Who we are
(in the fever of our youth)
Who we are
(We've got nothing left to lose)
Who we are
(There's still time enough to choose)
Who we are
Who we are
Who we are
Who we are
Who we are
They said it's complicated
They said we'd never make it this far
But we are
They said the fight would break us
But the struggle helped to make
Who we are
Who we are
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
Who we are
(in the fever of our youth)
Who we are
(We've got nothing left to lose)
Who we are
(There's still time enough to choose)
Who we are
Who we are
Who we are
Who we are
(I wanted something with meaning)
Who we are
(Yeah I wanted something to believe in)
Who we are
(Yeah, sure as I'm here breathing)
Who we are
(I wanted more)
Who we are
(Yeah, I wanted more)
Who we are
(Yeah, I wanted more than just a feeling)
Who we are
Who we are
(Yeah, for more than just a season)
Who we are
Who we are
(Yeah, we become what we believe in)
Who we are
Who we are
Who we are
Who We Are
Who We Are Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration
Switchfoot's song "Who We Are," released alongside its video on September 19, 2013, immediately sets a contemplative tone, punctuated by a rhythmic count that seems to ground the reflections that follow. The lyrics journey back to a time of youth, describing a state of wide-eyed innocence and simple beginnings, suggesting a sense of being overlooked or limited, perhaps even living nomadically ("minivan floor like a tenement," "misfit, itinerant, outcasts"). Yet, even in this early stage, there was a conviction and belief in something greater than just superficial existence or simply achieving ends through any means. This childhood perspective is characterized as "unbroken," holding onto a sense of wonder despite the passage of time and challenging experiences.
The central theme of identity becomes a powerful assertion through the repeated declaration, "Who we are." This is not a question, but a statement of established selfhood. The parenthetical phrases accompanying this refrain offer layers of understanding. They reference the intensity of youth ("in the fever of our youth") where choices and actions are often driven by passion. The idea of having "nothing left to lose" suggests a freedom that comes from stripping away pretense or external expectations, allowing for authentic self-expression. The realization that there is "still time enough to choose" highlights agency and the ongoing nature of shaping one's identity rather than accepting a predetermined fate. This core assertion of "Who we are" is reinforced multiple times, building a sense of defiance and certainty.
The song confronts external skepticism and doubt directly. The lyrics note that others imposed limitations ("They said it's complicated," "They said we'd never make it this far") and predicted failure ("They said the fight would break us"). However, the narrative flips this adversity into a source of strength. The struggle itself is credited with forging identity, transforming potential defeat into a formative experience: "But the struggle helped to make Who we are." This message resonates with the idea that challenges are not obstacles to identity but integral components in its construction, highlighting resilience and growth through hardship.
Later verses expand upon the inherent motivation behind this journey of self-discovery. The repeated desire voiced is for "something with meaning," "something to believe in," and fundamentally, "more." This yearning goes beyond fleeting sensations or temporary satisfactions ("more than just a feeling," "for more than just a season"). It speaks to a deeper search for purpose and enduring significance. The culmination of this pursuit is captured in the powerful concluding thought: "Yeah, we become what we believe in." This line encapsulates the song's inspirational core, suggesting that identity is not just found but actively created through one's convictions and beliefs, encouraging listeners to hold fast to their own values and aspirations, which ultimately define "Who we are."
