Stop & Stare lyrics by OneRepublic, 19 meanings. Stop & Stare explained, official 2024 song lyrics | LyricsMode.com
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OneRepublic – Stop & Stare lyrics

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OneRepublic – Stop & Stare lyrics
This town is colder now, I think it’s sick of us
It’s time to make our move, I’m shakin' off the rust
I’ve got my heart set on anywhere but here
I’m staring down myself, counting up the years

Steady hands just take the wheel
Every glance is killing me
Time to make one last appeal
For the life I lead

Stop and stare
I think I’m moving but I go nowhere
Yeah, I know that everyone gets scared
But I’ve become what I can’t be, oh

Stop and stare
You start to wonder why you’re here not there
And you’d give anything to get what’s fair
But fair ain’t what you really need
Oh, can you see what I see?

They’re tryin' to come back, all my senses push
Untie the weight bags, I never thought I could
Steady feet, don’t fail me now
I'm gonna run till you can’t walk
Something pulls my focus out
And I’m standing down

Stop and stare
I think I’m moving but I go nowhere
Yeah, I know that everyone gets scared
But I’ve become what I can’t be, oh

Stop and stare
You start to wonder why you’re here not there
And you’d give anything to get what’s fair
But fair ain’t what you really need
Oh, you don’t need

What you need, what you need
What you need

Stop and stare
I think I’m moving but I go nowhere
Yeah, I know that everyone gets scared
I’ve become what I can’t be
Oh, do you see what I see?
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Stop & Stare meanings Post my meaning

  • o
    + 7
    oluseyi 2008-12-03 02:58:36
    To me, the point of the piece is to deviate from the status quo. The rigid nature of the status quo is choking the individual causing them to wan to get away regardless of what is going. It is the status quo which allows terrible things to happen because it is so rigidly uniformed. He wants people to look around and see how crazy the world it yet, we as individuals, have the ability to change those horrors. The person is trying to gain enough courage to break away from the status quo but it is a very long process.
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  • U
    + 5
    Unregistered 2015-07-10 21:23:55
    I think this song sends out a good message. It's talking about how our life could be so much better than it really is. And we need to take advantage of that. When the song says "untie the weight bags I never thought I could" this is a very strong, lyrical statement saying that all the weight or pressure that was once put on you is now out of sight. Also when the song says "I think I'm moving but i go nowhere" this means that your life seems like it has changed but really. It hasn't changed all that much and your still stuck in the same situation, just a different setting and time. I really think this is a great song and it conveys a strong message. The message is to respect life the way it turns out. This song is just amazing with the lyrics and the music.
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  • claire3000
    + 5
    claire3000 2009-02-10 03:50:04
    I saw them live. And they sang this song. It was uh-mazing. Ha. When I got the cd it was only for Apologize but I loved the whole thing. I listened to it so many times the firsy day that I memorized all the songs. Xd.
    Okay! So I hate, no loath, I loath that they play this on the radio. It always makes me want to murder the song! Dx.
    Add your reply
  • l
    + 5
    lilkimmyc3995 2008-05-04 19:16:26
    I think this song sends out a good message. Its talking about how our life could be so much better than it really is. And we need to take advantage of that. When the song says " untie the weight bags i never thought i could " this is a very strong, lyrical statement saying that all the weight or pressure that was one put on you is now out of sight. Also when the song says " i think im moving but i go nowhere " this means that your life seams like it has changed but really. It hasn't changed all that much and your still suck in the same situation, just a different setting and time.
    I really think this is a great song and it conveys a strong message. This song is just ah-mazzing with the lyrics and the music. I love it.
    Add your reply
  • k
    + 4
    kimmmycoco 2008-07-25 07:35:11
    Yes, it is a really sad song. It depends on your own situation when you listen to this song, it means something different. I love this song because it means much to me, I only live a small part of the song "i think I'm moving but i go nowhere". Yes, I made mistake and life turned to be misery, I wanted to leave all behind and move forward but it's hard to do, really hard even though I tried my best.
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  • k
    + 4
    KRashBash 2008-05-10 02:26:34
    I think this song is about the many out looks on life. And if you don't use them they are gone, you aren't getting them back. To try and see things diffrent than what they actually physically are. And when the song says " i think im moving but i go nowhere " I think it means that people are moving past and your not noticeing what your can be loosing out on when in fact you can get alot out ofit,.
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  • U
    + 3
    Unregistered 2012-06-11 03:51:20
    I think the meaning to the song is different for everybody. For example, for me it's about life and the choices we make as we get older: "i'm staring down myself counting up the years". Also I think the song might be about regret as well as moving on past that regret: "you start to wonder why you're here not there". It's more or less about someone who is stuck in the past and can't let go and therefore can't move on.
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  • U
    + 2
    Unregistered 2015-05-06 22:38:55
    This is one of my favorites songs of all, because the meaning that it has for me is very emotional, is kind of my back up song. It reminds me that life sometimes is very tough and time passes by really fast, it makes me think of where I am right now and the struggle to get where I wanna be, all the difficulties I've been through. But the phrase that really hits me is "but fair ain't really what you need," because it tells me that I can get a lot more than fairness, I can get what I want in life because I want it! Stop and stare!
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  • U
    + 2
    Unregistered 2012-06-29 16:54:37
    Stop and stare to me means that someone is trying to hold someone ba ck from achieveing what they want out of life. I think this song gives a clear meaning as to this character in the song is going to break away from all the people and things and follow his dreams no matter what risks are at stake(: reminds me of myself such an inspirational song to a sixteen year old female. Have a great day.
    Add your reply
  • l
    + 2
    LJS181 2008-12-18 03:08:32
    The lyrics to this song indicate that the author can visualize the life he wants but there is something holding him back from achieving his goals ("you start to wonder why you're here not there"). He believes that he has been working hard all along to achieve his ideal life but then realizes that the objectives he set for himself don't work to accomplish his goal ("I think I'm moving but I go nowhere"). He realizes that the person he has become is not the person he wishes to be in order to achieve fulfillment; perhaps because of a fear of failure or even a fear of success. ("I know that everyone gets scared but I've become what I can't be"). He then finds the courage to pursue the life he wants ("Steady hands just take the wheel" and "steady feet don't fail me now").
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  • ChrisFishA-CrossRiff
    + 2
    ChrisFishA-CrossRiff 2008-08-08 15:23:28
    In the first verse, he's driving in a car with another person (I'm assuming a girl). They're leaving their home to start a new life. The "Every glance is killing me. Time to make one last appeal for the life I lead" part makes me think she keeps glancing at him, angry that they're leaving and he's trying to explain his reason for doing so.
    In the second verse, he talks about his senses coming back to him and he removes the burden that was holding him down. Maybe he had to leave the girl because she was holding him back. He runs because he knows what he's doing isn't going to be easy, so he wants to get away from anything that will remind him of her.
    In the chorus he's stopping to take a look at himself. He knows he's alive, but not producing anything of value for his life. Everyone gets scared to make a change, but he knows he has to do it because he doesn't like what he's become. You start to wonder what got you there in the first place and that it's not fair. But what right isn't what's always fair.
    Could be him in a bad relationship. Or since he's a Christian, he needs to progress in heart and get rid of anything that will hold him back. Only he knows the real reason. These are just my guesses.
    Add your reply
  • lou22sethut
    + 2
    lou22sethut 2008-06-16 01:02:39
    I think this song is about how in life we get so caught up in materialistic things that we forget about the only thing that actually important in life God.
    The phrase "i think i'm moving but i go nowhere" means that no matter how you think youre getting to the top your actually not going anywhere
    because this wont matter if and when you get to heaven.
    The phrase "but i've become what i cant be" meaning that he's not happy with how and why he's become who he really is.
    Add your reply
  • r
    + 2
    rollypollie420 2008-04-18 07:11:56
    I only like Phill Collins songs, but this song is pretty good because one time I was Albertson's buying pastrami and this f'ing guy was staring at my cart hella long. I was getting really pissed off, but then this song came on my mp3 player that my dad got me for X-mas and it was a really weird coincidence that this dude was just stopping and staring at my cart and this song was on. Needless to say I started hysterically laughing. Really weirded the dude out:) this guy's voice is cool 2. Rolliepollie___.
    Add your reply
  • s
    + 1
    shabefish2000 2011-03-15 05:24:53
    Someone who is staying somewhere that is holding them down because they think they are "owed" something there. When in reality the heaviness of the old place they need to leave, but are having difficulty is putting weight bags on their feet. They never wanted to be there, like a dead end relationship or situation that they never wanted to be in that they need courage to change. Because life's not fair, so we need to take the step to change things sometimes when we are moving and not going anywhere. Its about keep moving forward or else complacency will kill you.
    Add your reply
  • s
    + 1
    saska22 2008-07-22 18:38:54
    This song means 2 me that he just wants 2 kill him self cause he has a horible life and that he wants everyone 2 stop a stare at him when he dies he wants everyone 2 no that he died. And before he died he had a funarl for him self. And I just love the song because its just awsome 2 me. And inspering. I love one rebublic cause they make good songs. Stop and statre is great. This is for one rebublic. I love you guys! Bii!
    Add your reply
  • b
    + 1
    BobbyAlexander1 2008-06-28 12:21:25
    In response to lou22sethut - People tell you that you can't do things that you wanna do throughout your life. Sometimes it feels like where goin nowhere and everything is movin so fast around us we "stop and stare". So don't spend your life "stopping and staring" otherwise you'll go nowhere.
    I think the line "but i've become what i cant be" means that he has made the impossible possible. So the song ends on a positive note and gives a moral to the story/song. And that's basically what I got from it anyways.
    Add your reply
  • c
    0
    cinderella_27 2008-07-17 04:40:02
    It's like you thought you're headed to the right direction but something crumbles and you find yourself lost. You'll make an introspect and realize that you're not really going anywhere but staying on the same ground. But these realizations make you a better person - something that you thought you wouldn't be. This happens to everyone. It's true that you make a choice, there's no turning back. But sometimes, we need to stop for a while, reflect & pick up every lesson from past mistakes and move on with our lives as better individuals.
    Add your reply
  • t
    0
    Taunra 2008-06-27 09:02:25
    I think the song is about leaving the place you grew up because its a dead end life and you see what it has done to you and how you are someone you don't like because of it. And even though your scared and it kills you to leave you don't want to just run away because its not fair to everyone else and you want to spare their feelings, but you need to drop the extra baggage and just leave. That's what meaning I found in it.
    Add your reply
  • manager022
    - 1
    manager022 2009-02-28 03:36:56
    I agree Claire3000 they play thi song so much it gets annoying! I mean they play it like evry 5 minutes! This sing is just like Leona Lewis's Bleeding Love and Leona Lewis's Better In Time because they always play these songs so much that they start to become very stupid and annoying songs. But it is a good song though I didn't understand how the video had anything to do with the song!
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    Top meanings Post my meaning

    • o
      + 7
      oluseyi
      To me, the point of the piece is to deviate from the status quo. The rigid nature of the status quo... Read more →
    • U
      + 5
      Unregistered
      I think this song sends out a good message. It's talking about how our life could be so much better... Read more →
    All Stop & Stare meanings →

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    [Intro][Verse][Pre-Chorus][Chorus][Hook][Bridge][Outro]