Switchfoot: Meant to Live Meaning

Song Released: 2003

Meant to Live Lyrics

Fumbling his confidence
And wondering why the world has passed him by
Hoping that he’s bent for more than arguments
And failed attempts to fly, fly

We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?
Somewhere we live...

1. 1TOP RATED

   #1 top rated interpretation:
   christian317

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   Dec 19th 2005 !⃝

   "Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither." - C.S. Lewis
   
   Our world is broken. There is a flaw in it we all can feel. Just as an animal is born with an innate sense of pain as a method of survival, humans are bestowed with an inborn sense of emptiness as a method of survival. We can feel that we were meant to live for so much more.
   
   If you are searching for what more for which to live, look. Ask. Seek, and you will find. A good place to start that I would recommend is "Evidence that Demands a Verdict" by Josh McDowell. Test it, take it for what it's worth, test every theory imaginable, if you will. You will find.

2. 2TOP RATED

   #2 top rated interpretation:
   GritznGravy

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   Apr 18th 2009 !⃝

   When Switchfoot refers to "mice or men" they're talking about Steinbeck's novel "Of Mice and Men" where a man must ultimately choose between himself or the others closest to him without regret. This song is about determining whether we live for ourselves or one another. No one who interprets this song differently is ignorant or an idiot, it's only how it really applies to us individually. Bitches.

3. 3TOP RATED

   #3 top rated interpretation:
   anonymous

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   Nov 30th 2005 !⃝

   I think that the song is saying that people were meant to have a purpose and live for something greater than themselves, but somewhere along the line the lost that and started living for more selfish and superficial things.
4. Jeannie Newbury

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   Mar 14th 2011 !⃝

   I agree with practically everyone.
   
   I just wanted to share my experience with this song.
   
   I had a friend pass away 2 years ago of an overdose. When I heard this song, I had to suggest it get played at his funeral. He lived for those pills, he got lost in them. He was only 18 years old. He was a great guy with a big heart, regardless of being on drugs. He wasn't your typical screw everyone over drug addict. He had purpose that he lost track of because of those pills. HE was meant to live for so much more. By playing this song at his funeral, I had hoped that the friends he kept, the ones I once knew as kids that got lost along the way, would hear this song and get the meaning I was trying to get across, that somewhere THEY live inside. Some it did, some it didn't....
5. anonymous

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   Feb 13th 2011 !⃝

   Meant To Live is a great one. Its simply means people were meant to live life just to live it. Enjoy it and cherish it. It means to live life to the fullest.
6. anonymous

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   Jan 28th 2010 !⃝

   I guess everyone may have their own opinion and everyone may interpret the song differently, but I believe this song has a much deeper meaning than just finding our place. I believe it dances around the fact that this isnt our planet. Perhaps we were never meant to twist this world into our own perfect little society. Maybe it isnt our world to change, to morph to our liking. Maybe progress is leading us to hell. It discusses how life has such a deeper meaning, and that we are not living as we should. We are not seeing the world, experiencing it, truely living, as we should. This beautiful planet that we have the gift of walking on, we no longer see it as our most ancient ancestors could. We are not truely living.
   
   Well, that is my interpretation. I hope others might share this opinion.
7. anonymous

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   Nov 29th 2009 !⃝

   Switchfoot is letting us know that we weren't put on this Earth to live for ourselves. We were put on this Earth to live for something SO MUCH MORE ourselves, to live for and praise the name Jesus Christ.
8. anonymous

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   Nov 14th 2009 !⃝

   one of you guys said the rest of you are idiots... haha, and then said it means we are supposed to live for more than ourselves... ironic
9. anonymous

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   Nov 14th 2009 !⃝

   I think 1 Corinthians 15 sort of explains this song... I wouldn't be surprised if that's what they based it on.
10. anonymous

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    Sep 2nd 2009 !⃝

    I believe this song is a reflection on our society and the superficial illusion of intelligent life that we sustain. We live for so many things that are useless and have expectations that mean nothing in the 'grand scheme of things'. How many people worry about their mobile phones or Myspace and don't live their lives outside of technology in the reality. We go to wars over race or religion which are tiny difference between us (when so many more important things can be seen to. We as society are ignorant. We don't experience, we don't change, we don't think! As it says we were meant to live for more than what we have established as 'life'.
11. anonymous

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    Jul 17th 2009 !⃝

    It's about the Human Condition. Go ahead. Tell your friends.
12. anonymous

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    May 28th 2009 !⃝

    I'm the same guy that made the long post above this one. I forgot to mention, providence isn't just a religious term. It can also mean preparation, as in not being taken by surprise, and preparing for the future or a future event. Pretty much, being prepared for whatever comes your way, and dealing with the way you see fit. Don't just label this song a religious one because of that word.
13. anonymous

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    May 16th 2009 !⃝

    This song could be about anything. It could be referring to having a goal and not obtaining it, then striving to reach it again, or it could be about finding that goal in the first place. It could even be a ploy to join the Marine Core for all we know. Yes, it could be about religion, but everyone sees things the way they want them to be, if at all possible. Everyone who has described the song as religious has been religious themselves, creating a horrible bias in their respect. Ultimately, this song is about finding what you want to do and doing it, whether it be tracking down your high school crush, joining the military, moving to a country that isn't in debt so deep China technically owns it, or serving God or your gods. Personally, I think the people that say this song; or any others that haven't been clarified by the band as to what they are singing about; is religious are just attempting to throw more religion into their lives, trying to suck up to their God/gods. The song is meant to be interpreted differently by everyone. It's meant to inspire you to go and complete whatever task you feel the need to, or to fill any holes you sense in your life, not to become religious or convert to Christianity.
14. anonymous

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    May 15th 2009 !⃝

    Sorry, that was supposed to be "selfless atheists", not "selfish atheists". Sorry.
15. anonymous

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    May 15th 2009 !⃝

    well, to state the obvious, this song is about a boy or man who seems to have realized that his life hasn't gone the way he hoped. he wants to try again but wonders if he will get the chance.
    
    despite the line about providence, i don't think this song has to be interpreted in a strictly religious way. i think it's saying that people have something that they need to live for that's bigger than teir own lives, whether it's the happiness of another person or helping those who are in need of it, or helping the environment.
    
    obviously religion plays a big part in many people's lives, and gives them something to strive towards. however, i have met some horribly selfish christians and some wonderfully selfish atheists, and the other way around. everybody needs to live for something.
16. anonymous

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    Mar 16th 2009 !⃝

    This song is about how God created us for living in a sinless world where there would be no sin . But because of adam and eve we arent in a perfect world
17. anonymous

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    Jul 18th 2008 !⃝

    I think it relates the the story "Of Mice and Men" which is actually stated in the lyrics. "if mice and men have second tries." Its mainly about Lenny Dieing and a sad loss to George. This is honestly ment to be from George's eyes.
18. haehyun

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    Jan 13th 2008 !⃝

    I thought it connected to the book by John Steinbeck "Of Mice and Men"
    basically describing the feeling of losing sight of the "American Dream" george and Lennie always wanted. In end, it resulted in death. a fatal loss and a sad ending in George's world.

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