by Switchfoot · 2024
The song “Meant to Live” by Switchfoot is about feeling disillusioned with a shallow, unfulfilling life and longing for a deeper, more meaningful existence that aligns with our true purpose.
This song has been Shazamed over 1,285,247 times. As of this writing, Meant to Live is ranked 186
Meant to Live’ by Switchfoot is a song that makes us think about what life is really about. In this post, we’re going to talk about what the lyrics mean and why so many people connect with them. Let’s find out together what makes this song special. ⬇️
The atmosphere of “Meant to Live” feels heavy, restless, and a little bit desperate—like someone trapped beneath gray clouds, peeking up, searching for the sun. Its narrative is about longing for something bigger than what the world offers.
The chorus pulses with longing: “We were meant to live for so much more.” It’s a rallying cry, but also a whispered doubt, asking if we’ve somehow lost ourselves in the day-to-day grind, forgotten that we’re supposed to reach higher. When Switchfoot repeats, “Somewhere we live inside,” it almost sounds like they’re nudging us, reminding us there’s a brighter, untapped world buried deep within us—and suddenly, we’re not just listeners; we’re co-dreamers, wondering what’s possible if we actually wake up.
In the verses, we meet a character fumbling his confidence, feeling passed by, and questioning whether he’s meant for something more than failed attempts and arguments—a feeling most of us know too well. The lyric “Maybe we’ve been livin’ with our eyes half open / Maybe we’re bent and broken, broken” is both an admission and a challenge, inviting us to confront our own sleepwalking, our quiet acceptance of less. It’s as if the band is tossing us a flashlight in the dark, daring us to look around and ask, “Is this all there is?”
The bridge throws down the gauntlet, crying out for “more than this world’s got to offer” and yearning for “second life,” as if everything inside aches for a restart—a hunger that feels universal, even primal, like the itch to run barefoot or shout from a rooftop when no one’s listening.
At its core, “Meant to Live” is Switchfoot’s bold reminder that, yes, we’re cracked and tired, but we’re also brimming with possibility, and if we dare to remember, we can still reclaim what makes us truly alive.
Writer(s) of Meant to Live:
