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

Dreaming about Providence
And whether mice or men have second tries
Maybe we've been livin' with our eyes half open
Maybe we're bent and broken, broken

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

We want more than this world's got to offer
We want more than this world's got to offer
We want more than the wars of our fathers
And everything inside screams for second life

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


Lyrics submitted by rjbucs28

Meant to Live Lyrics as written by Tim Foreman Jonathan Foreman

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.

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Meant To Live song meanings
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162 Comments

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  • +3
    General Comment

    I think that this song is for anyone who's "ever been through shit in their lives." To me, this song is so powerful. I can completely relate to the lyrics. The lyrics, to me, are saying that even though you're going through shit right now, you WERE meant for something more, so you'll get out of it and your life will get to be worth living again.

    RomanticAtHeart4on April 08, 2004   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Best band on the planet! :) Switchfoot ROCKS!

    madd_kittyon June 15, 2003   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I totally agree with the opinion of jvenrick. This is absolutely a christian band. The thing with Switchfoot though is that the songs require a bit more thinking. So I can see how people get confused. But when doing so...I personally realized how true their messages about life and religion are.

    switchfootfriendon May 22, 2004   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Although I'm atheist, I think this song is mostly about how man and a species has become infatuated with material things, mostly money, while we are "meant to live" to worship God. Like when he says "have we lost ourselves" he means "have me lost touch with the reason we are here".

    Adiophileon August 11, 2005   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I'm Christian and proud of it, but I don't necessarily like your typical "Christian Rock" band that the only way you can interpret their song is that it's about God and God alone. That's why I love Switchfoot. They have songs that are pretty clear they're about God and your relationship with God, but to the untrained ear they sound like they aren't. By the way, another good band like this is Relient K if anyone has my kind of tastes.

    AmericanaFUBARon August 15, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    OK. For starters, the lyrics are not bent to live. What kind of sense does that make?? OK. Next, Switchfoot is a christian band. All of their songs utimately are about God. This one can mean other things though. Personally I take it to mean that we were meant to live a life with God, honoring God, and bringing pleasure to Him. But it could just as easily mean that this guy is taking a look at his life and just wondering what he's meant for. I guess we all do that in at a point in our life. We all feel lost sometimes and feel like were just ambling along in life. Well whatever you want to think about it, the song is great. Its a really good song, and I love the guitar in it. -Jessica

    JessicaCaitlinon May 26, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    ok, i just started w/ this site, and i had the impression that we were to figure out what the band meant by the song, not what we want it to mean...but maybe not..my opinon is yes, they are christian entertainers, and most likelly have the desire to spread the love of Jesus through their music, whether is obvious or not, im sure they mean that we as a human race, not just america, but all of the world were meant to live for so much more than what we're living for, most of us live only for ourselves, we worship ourselves, ignoring God partly or completely...we were meant to live in peace and fellowship w/ God like Jesus, and ultimately we will in Heaven..we were meant for Heaven........i just love switchfoot to death and am very glad they're getting so popular, i just wish that people wouldn't look at their songs and go oh, it's about a girl, or something like that..oh well. much love

    seen from starson June 11, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    ITS ABOUT GOD OK MAN YOU WEIRDOS PLAIN AND SIMPLE

    thestevo999on October 02, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I cant say "Meant To Live" by Switchfoot has made me do anything but I listen to it all of the time, especially when Im feeling down. I want to say that it encourages me to always strive to be better. For example, I took a 4 year break from college. I just got sick of it and didnt think it mattered if I had a degree or not. One day while listening to this song it occurred to me after hearing the lyrics that I was meant to live for so much more.... 2 weeks ago I went back and signed back up for classes. I will have my degree July 2007 :-)

    Hereisgoneon March 10, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    ok honestly nobody cares what anyone thinks! there is a clear meaning to the song and yes it is the "we are on earth for a purpose" the entire christian band thing is what it IS ABOUT! we stray and stumble over our own selfishness, it is indirectly saying that if we aim for self salvation (do not take that out of context) we will fail, there is an honest way to live and that is the divinity of God. Everyone can take it and apply it to themselves but that doesnt mean it was written without meaning....they had intent behind the song, look it up and study the group. Understanding a band's music requires understanding the band and lyricists. have fun criticising me if you dissagree! kudos if you do!

    Milehighmazdaon January 24, 2008   Link

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