OneRepublic – Counting Stars lyrics

OneRepublic – Counting Stars lyrics

Lately, I've been, I've been losing sleep
Dreaming about the things that we could be
But baby, I've been, I've been praying hard,
Said no more counting dollars
We'll be counting stars, yeah we'll be counting stars

I see this life like a swinging vine
Swing my heart across the line
In my face is flashing signs
Seek it out and ye shall find
Old, but I'm not that old
Young, but I'm not that bold
I don't think the world is sold
I'm just doing what we're told
I feel something so right
Doing the wrong thing
I feel something so wrong
Doing the right thing
I could lie, could lie, could lie
Everything that kills me makes me feel alive

Lately, I've been, I've been losing sleep
Dreaming about the things that we could be
But baby, I've been, I've been praying hard,
Said no more counting dollars
We'll be counting stars

Lately, I've been, I've been losing sleep
Dreaming about the things that we could be
But baby, I've been, I've been praying hard,
Said no more counting dollars
We'll be, we'll be counting stars

I feel your love and I feel it burn
Down this river, every turn
Hope is a four-letter word
Make that money, watch it burn
Old, but I'm not that old
Young, but I'm not that bold
I don't think the world is sold
I'm just doing what we're told
I feel something so wrong
Doing the right thing
I could lie, could lie, could lie
Everything that downs me, makes me wanna fly

Lately, I've been, I've been losing sleep
Dreaming about the things that we could be
But baby, I've been, I've been praying hard,
Said no more counting dollars
We'll be counting stars

Lately, I've been, I've been losing sleep
Dreaming about the things that we could be
But baby, I've been, I've been praying hard,
Said no more counting dollars
We'll be, we'll be counting stars

Take that money
Watch it burn
Sink in the river
The lessons I learned

Take that money
Watch it burn
Sink in the river
The lessons I learned

Take that money
Watch it burn
Sink in the river
The lessons I learned

Take that money
Watch it burn
Sink in the river
The lessons I learned

Everything that kills me... makes me feel alive

Lately, I've been, I've been losing sleep
Dreaming about the things that we could be
But baby, I've been, I've been praying hard,
Said no more counting dollars
We'll be counting stars

Lately, I've been, I've been losing sleep
Dreaming about the things that we could be
But baby, I've been, I've been praying hard,
Said no more counting dollars
We'll be, we'll be, counting stars

Take that money
Watch it burn
Sink in the river
The lessons I learned

Take that money
Watch it burn
Sink in the river
The lessons I learned

Take that money
Watch it burn
Sink in the river
The lessons I learned

Take that money
Watch it burn
Sink in the river
The lessons I learned

Lyrics taken from /lyrics/o/onerepublic/counting_stars.html

Songwriters: Ryan Tedder

Counting Stars lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Corrected by bluskullgame

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7 meanings

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+ 77
Unregistered 2013-10-05 00:35:00

I think what the band is trying to communicate here us that our society is far from perfect. People are far too concentrated on money, and if we can just let go, we'll find that there's so much more. It's also about how everyone aspires to do something or has a specific dream, but sometimes they can take it way too far (like being really religious as suggested by "I've been praying hard")
This is, like, one of those rebellious songs that really make you think: are you happy with this world? It exposes some of the bad things about it. This song is really great from a musical and from a diction perspective.

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+ 38
Unregistered 2013-10-19 19:44:45

I've really taken a liking to "everything that kills me, makes me feel alive". The hardships encountered in life, the failures and mistakes, are the proof that you are alive. Take it as a lesson, rather than a defeat. Perhaps the "right thing" they refer to is the image of making lots of money, and that being viewed as the "right" way of success. Take more pleasure in doing the "wrong thing", if it's right and you feel it. I'd compare it to doing your best to get to a job you truly love. Love the song, wonderful motivation.

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+ 28
Unregistered 2013-10-22 12:37:11

I think the song is relating to a love story, sort of similar to what I am going through now. He had just broken up. He is losing sleep because he is thinking what could had happen between them if things doesn't go south. The relationship turn sour because they are always counting money spend in the relationship when they should be thinking about other things (stars) instead. He feels that it is so right to try to keep the girl close, when the love had been lost between them. On the other hand, when he let her go(the right thing), it just felt so wrong. At the end, he just choose to take the money spent as a lesson learn.

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+ 6
Julie Hanson 2016-01-14 15:05:12

I think it's about being a drug addict, mostly because of the verse "everything that kills me makes me feel alive". Also, "lately I've been losing sleep". I know that Ryan said it was about some other b.s., but I still think it's about a drug addict who is hoping to get clean.

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+ 5
Unregistered 2015-04-03 01:49:02

My 12yo with autism just introduced me to this song, wants to do it as a lip sync. I asked him what it meant to him so I could help him sort it all out on stage. He said the part: "I feel something so right, By doing the wrong thing I feel something so wrong By doing the right thing I could lie, could lie, could lie Everything that kills me makes me feel alive" expresses the struggle he feels when he thinks about when he talks to Jesus. When he does the "right" thing for Jesus, everyone thinks he's wrong. When he does the "wrong" thing for Jesus, everyone thinks he's right. And he could lie to the world, but... when he "kills" his selfish wants to make everyone happy he feels more alive and free.

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+ 4
bluskullgame 2021-05-12 20:11:10

I think it shows that whatever they dream. The real world is there. No matter what distraction the problems are always there. I guess the main meaning is whatever the struggles you are dealing in real life you lie and everyone what you do wrong and you feel it is the right thing to do. Like everyone criticizing the person and not focusing on the actual person characteristics. I guess what I am trying to say is now a days the society rates you on what you do not who you are. They also have some romance in there too. This is one of those songs that have multiple meanings.

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+ 3
Unregistered 2015-03-22 21:42:06

I think the everything that kills me makes me feel alive is about cutting. It's how I felt when I self harmed, it kills you but never have I felt so happy. I've stopped now, but it all makes sense. I think that everything that drowns me makes we wanna fly relates to sweat. Sweat means hard work, and the harder you work, the more you want to suceed Or fly in this case. Lately I've been I've been losing sleep dreaming about the things that we could be probably means he can't stop thinking, and somethings are just ringing in his mind. Take that money, watch it burn, sink in the river the lessons are learnt means money is hardly earned but easily spent. It talks about how life is a slope, once you take one small slip, you are going down, there isn't going back. This song has a very strong meaning and ilism <3.

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