Live Like We’re Dying by Kris Allen Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Urgency of Now
Lyrics
We’re hiding behind skin that’s too tough
How come we don’t say I love you enough
‘Til it’s too late, it’s not too late
Our hearts are hungry for a food that won’t come
And we could make a feast from these crumbs
And we’re all staring down the barrel of a gun
So if your life flashed before you, what would you wish you would’ve done
Yeah gotta start
Looking at the hands of the time we’ve been given here
This is all we got then we gotta start thinkin’ it
Every second counts on a clock that’s tickin’
Gotta live like we’re dying oh
We only got 86 400 seconds in a day
To turn it all around or to throw it all away
Gotta tell ’em that we love ’em while we got the chance to say,
Gotta live like we’re dying oh
Well if your plane fell out of the skies
Who would you call with your last goodbye
Should be so careful who we left out of our lives
So when we long for absolution, there’ll be no one on the line
Yeah we gotta start lookin’ at the hands of the time we’ve been given here
This all we got then we gotta start thinkin’ it
Every second counts on a clock that’s tickin’
Gotta live like we’re dying oh
We only got 86 400 seconds in a day
To turn it all around or to throw it all away
Gotta tell ’em that we love ’em while we got the chance to say,
Gotta live like we’re dying
Like we’re dying oh
Like we’re dying
Like we’re dying oh
Like we’re dying
We only got 86 400 seconds in a day
To turn it all around or to throw it all away
Gotta tell ’em that we love ’em while we got the chance to say,
Gotta live like we’re dying oh
You never know a good thing until it’s gone
You never see a crash until it’s head on
Why we think we’re right when we’re dead wrong,
You never know a good thing ’til it’s gone
Yeah we gotta start lookin’ at the hands of the time we’ve been given here
This all we got and we gotta start thinkin’ it
Every second counts on a clock that’s tickin’
Gotta live like we’re dying oh
We only got 86 400 seconds in a day
To turn it all around or to throw it all away
Gotta tell ’em that we love ’em while we got the chance to say,
Gotta live like we’re dying
Like we’re dying oh
Like we’re dying
Like we’re dying oh
Like we’re dying
We only got 86 400 seconds in a day
To turn it all around or to throw it all away
Gotta tell ’em that we love ’em while we got the chance to say,
Gotta live like we’re dying oh
The tick of the clock, the fleeting nature of life, and the human condition’s delicate balance hang suspended in the lyrical prowess of Kris Allen’s ‘Live Like We’re Dying.’ A song that’s more than just a melodic plea, it is a searching siren call to embrace our mortality and the precious moments we often let slip through our grasping hands.
Allen’s anthem is not merely about death, nor about fear; it is an empowering battle cry championing life, love, and the acute awareness of our temporal passage through existence. It implores the listener to understand the true currency of humanity: time and the love we exchange within its confines. Below, we explore the heart-thumping, soul-stirring depths of Allen’s work, unearthing the song’s fundamental calls to action and its philosophical embodiment of carpe diem.
When the Skin We Hide Behind Becomes Our Prison
Allen’s opening verse paints a universal portrait of human defensiveness, a natural tendency to shield our most vulnerable selves from the outside world. But this protective barrier morphs into a prison when it stops us from expressing our deepest emotions.
The song’s initial words, ‘Sometimes we fall down and can’t get back up / We’re hiding behind skin that’s too tough,’ speak to this internal struggle and the tragedy of unspoken love. Herein lies a veiled plea for authenticity — for the courage to be open with our affection and to break free from self-imposed emotional shackles before time renders our intentions obsolete.
Counting Down with Purpose: The Mathematical Motif of Mortality
At the core of ‘Live Like We’re Dying’ is a numerical mantra stark in its clarity — ‘86,400 seconds in a day.’ Allen employs this figure not just as a casual reminder, but as an existential alarm clock that jolts us awake to the scarcity of time.
In this chorus that cleaves into our consciousness, Allen calls for an inversion of our approach to life. To ‘turn it all around or to throw it all away’ is a choice presented starkly, reminding us that the abundance of seconds belies their individual preciousness. By laying bare the quantified value of a day, Allen is not prompting a countdown to oblivion, but a count-up towards meaningful action and pronounced declarations of love.
A Carousel of Hypotheticals: The ‘What If’ Whirlwind
‘Well if your plane fell out of the skies / Who would you call with your last goodbye?’ In asking this, Allen spins a carousel of hypotheticals that force us to confront our mortality head-on, challenging us to consider the weight of our relationships and the regrets that hitch a ride on the words left unsaid.
The song’s bridge serves as a catalyst for introspection. It is not a morbid fixation on death’s inevitability but rather a gateway to understanding life’s intrinsic value. Allen’s probing inquiries into our final moments are designed to ignite a recognition of who truly matters in our lives and to rouse a proactive nurturing of these vital bonds.
The Profound Echo in ‘You Never Know a Good Thing ‘Til It’s Gone’
Within the folds of ‘Live Like We’re Dying’ lies a didactic echo that rings through time — ‘You never know a good thing until it’s gone.’ This line resonates with an age-old wisdom that imparts a simple truth about human nature’s tendency to take for granted the beauty that surrounds us.
Allen weaves a common narrative of realization and repentance, seeking to alter the course of our stories by encouraging us to acknowledge and appreciate our blessings while they’re still within reach. The song asks us not to wait until the epilogue of our days to understand the value of what – or who – was there all along.
Living with Fervor: The Hidden Meaning Behind the Anthem of Now
Beyond its poignant lyrics and catchy chorus, ‘Live Like We’re Dying’ contains a hidden meaning that goes to the heart of what it means to exist authentically. Allen’s song isn’t advocating for a hedonistic frenzy in the face of mortality; it is a clarion call for mindful presence and genuine connections.
Wrapped up in the energetic tempo and the urgency of the message is a fundamental philosophy of life. It’s a reminder to take ownership of every tick-tock of the clock, to live with fervor, and to color every second with intentionality. Kris Allen, thus, delivers not just a song but a soundtrack for the deliberate life, urging us to seize the poignant beauty of the ‘now’ lest it slip into the realm of ‘what could have been.’
