All this feels strange and untrue
And I won't waste a minute without you
My bones ache, my skin feels cold
And I'm getting so tired and so old

The anger swells in my guts
And I won't feel these slices and cuts
I want so much to open your eyes
'Cause I need you to look into mine

Tell me that you'll open your eyes
Tell me that you'll open your eyes
Tell me that you'll open your eyes
Tell me that you'll open your eyes

Get up, get out, get away from these liars
'Cause they don't get your soul or your fire
Take my hand, knot your fingers through mine
And we'll walk from this dark room for the last time

Every minute from this minute now
We can do what we like anywhere
I want so much to open your eyes
'Cause I need you to look into mine

Tell me that you'll open your eyes
Tell me that you'll open your eyes
Tell me that you'll open your eyes
Tell me that you'll open your eyes

Tell me that you'll open your eyes
Tell me that you'll open your eyes
Tell me that you'll open your eyes
Tell me that you'll open your eyes

All this feels strange and untrue
And I won't waste a minute without you


Lyrics submitted by enderu

Open Your Eyes Lyrics as written by Jonathan Graham Quinn Gary Lightbody

Lyrics © TuneCore Inc., Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Sentric Music, Songtrust Ave

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Open Your Eyes song meanings
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103 Comments

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  • +8
    General Comment

    good song. i think its about a relationship between two people who are in love... except one partner (to whom he's singing) is troubled...maybe depressed, insecure and is holding back and perhaps keeping him at a distance. "All this feels strange and untrue And I won't waste a minute without you" - he's saying there's no reason for them to not be together and spend their time apart, when they should be & want to be together.

    "My bones ache, my skin feels cold and I'm getting so tired and so old The anger swells in my guts And I won't heal these slices and cuts" - dealing with it makes him tired, weary and even angry.

    He's imploring (her) to open her eyes... "I want so much to open your eyes 'cause I need you to look into mine" - saying that they have love and that he needs her too.

    "Get up get out get away from these liars 'cause they don't get your soul or your fire." - she is misunderstood and not appreciated or seen as he sees her, by the people that surround her.

    "Take my hand knot your fingers through mine And we'll walk through this dark room for the last time. Every minute from this minute now We can do what we like anywhere." - he's encouraging her saying that he'll be there, that they can make a new start, overcome the pain, leave it behind and be free do do what they choose...what makes them happy, together.

    • went all out there... my first post =o)

    p.s. i relate to the song a lot, it's almost descriptive of my last relationship.

    jellycakeson April 04, 2006   Link
  • +5
    General Comment

    I think that the song is about someone in a coma and the person waiting beside him/her waiting for him/her to wake up.

    "My bones ache, my skin feels cold and I'm getting so tired and so old

    The anger swells in my guts And I won't heal these slices and cuts" -I think it's something like he and the person he loves were in some kind of accident. He came out concious, but the person he loves has not.

    "Get up get out get away from these liars 'cause they don't get your soul or your fire." -I think he's refering to the doctors who tell him that he/she may not wake up. The person who is concious is telling himself that they're not right and he/she's telling the person who is in the coma to wake up and prove them all wrong.

    "Take my hand knot your fingers through mine And we'll walk through this dark room for the last time." -The awake person is asking her to wake up so they can leave the hospital room.

    "Tell me that you'll open your eyes. Tell me that you'll open your eyes. Tell me that you'll open your eyes. Tell me that you'll open your eyes.

    All this feels strange and untrue And I won't waste a minute without you." -Contrasted with the begining, I think at this point, the person has awakened and he's telling her that he'll never leave her again.

    jkun17on August 06, 2006   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    Everyone has their demons but to varying degrees. Some peoples lives are taken over by hurts, scars and things from the past, things they cant seem to shake or escape. Loving and living daily life with a person who is thrashing their way through a depression or dealing with deep emotional hurts/scars can be an exhausting process. Sometimes in the process of dealing with their shit they hurt the ones they love and who love them. It's not that they want to, but cant help it because of the place in life they are in.

    This is what I think the song is about: The singer desperatly wants to lead his love through this deep valley, if only she would open her eyes and look into his and stop listening to the lies she hears about herself. He is saying take my hand and we will walk through this step by step, regardless of how tired I become or how hurt I get in the process. The first thing in getting away from the lies (that would take her sould or fire/spirit) is to open her eyes. He's saying "please open your eyes, look at me and how much I love you, look into my eyes and trust me to lead you out of this". The song ends with a promise: that he wont waste a minuite without her, and conversly any moment without her would be a wasted one on their journey through life together.

    Thats what I saw...

    thecontemplateron March 09, 2008   Link
  • +3
    My Interpretation

    I think it's about two people who are in love, except one person is holding back while the other is stuck waiting. But it seems like the other person is gonna wait because they love them so much

    cw0219on June 12, 2017   Link
  • +2
    Memory

    I agree with everyone with how it's a bittersweet song, and I really enjoy all the interpretations because I was never able to think of that song in such ways. But to me, the song is extremely sad.

    The first time I heard it I was just beginning to mourn for my father. He had landed himself in the ICU after attempting suicide with a bullet through the head. The outlook was grim, and we tried to hold onto him for as long as possible.

    He was in a coma for about a week, and for that whole time we watched him deteriorate in the hospital. This song nailed all my feelings perfectly and for that I cry almost every time I listen to it. First it's the disbelief at what's happening, then the anger and numbness come on to try to deal with all the hurt. All through it, I just wanted him to open his eyes at least one more time, so we could get out of there and enjoy ourselves before he had to be taken away. I /needed/ him to open his eyes, so I knew everything would be ok.

    It's an intense meaning for me, and even now I still regret what could have been. There was no happy ending for me.

    Bheithiron April 23, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    A lot of what you said makes sense.

    I think overall it's about two people who are clearly in love but not accepted. One isn't happy, I think that's a fair assumption to make, and the other cares so much that he/she is will to do anything to help the other, even running away and leaving everything behind, but first the person needs to open their eyes and realize things can be better, and that they deserve better. Also, this is definitely my favorite song on the new album.

    enderuon April 05, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I checked several places and "CUT UP ANGELS" is correct: the line is "And I won't FEEL these slices and cuts"

    That said, I believe this song is about a person who's significant other is dying or dead. And because of the aformentioned line, is dying due to an accident (perhaps car).

    He's pleading with them to "open their eyes"

    And he won't feel the cuts or slices because he wants her to open her eyes.

    And of course: "All this feels strange and untrue, and I won't waste a minute without you"

    This meaning, he can't believe this is happening and he can't imagnine life without them.

    And last but not least: "Get up get out get away from these liars 'cause they don't get your soul or your fire.:

    Meaning, get away from the doctors who are liars because the singer is saying they just can't be dead, they're lying. And that they don't understand that her sould is so "firey" that she just can't die, that she's a fighter.

    And that is why this is one of the saddest songs ever.

    Does anyone else hear this in the song?

    bittersweet1227on June 16, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I agree with the first coment, but one different thing. I don't think they gotta be together for this song. I think it's about a guy who likes a girl, they're perfect together but she just don't see it, he wants her to "Open her eyes".....

    Infectiouson December 02, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I also feel like this song is about hoping for the best. I believe it has a lot to do with someone dying and the other not wanting it to happen because they have not said their goodbyes. That they ended on a bad note, and now they is regret and its too late to say the things that needed to be said.

    AshKargelon June 20, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Can't believe what everyone is talking here.

    This song talks about the girl, that doesn't see his love towards her. The videos shows how he is trying to come to her through all corners, but it's very hard because she doesn't know how much he loves her.

    In the end he succeeds:

    "All this feels strange and untrue And I won't waste a minute without you"

    He finnaly opened her eyes, and he still can't believe, therefore he doesn't want to waste a time anymore. This is shown in the video, when he finally comes to her,... he opened her eyes.

    locodocoon June 16, 2013   Link

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