Fireflies – English Lyrics

• By: Owl City

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a whimsical journey with Owl City's "Fireflies," a song that transforms sleepless nights into a dreamy soundscape of wonder. Learn English through its imaginative lyrics, explore the beauty of simple moments, and discover how insomnia can spark creativity. This unique blend of synth-pop and dreamy imagery makes "Fireflies" a captivating experience for language learners and music lovers alike.

[English]

(drifty music begins)

♪ You would not believe your eyes ♪

♪ If 10 million fireflies ♪

♪ Lit up the world as I fell asleep ♪

♪ 'Cause they fill the open air ♪

♪ And leave tear drops everywhere ♪

♪ You'd think me rude but I would just stand and stare ♪

♪ I'd like to make myself believe ♪

♪ That planet Earth turns slowly ♪

♪ It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake ♪

♪ When I'm asleep ♪

♪ 'Cause everything is never as it seems ♪

♪ 'Cause I'd get a thousand hugs ♪

♪ From 10,000 lightning bugs ♪

♪ As they tried to teach me how to dance ♪

♪ A foxtrot above my head ♪

♪ A sock hop beneath my bed ♪

♪ A disco ball is just hanging by a thread, thread, thread ♪

♪ I'd like to make myself believe ♪

♪ That planet Earth turns slowly ♪

♪ It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake ♪

♪ When I'm asleep ♪

♪ 'Cause everything is never as it seems, when I fall asleep ♪

♪ Leave my door open just a crack ♪

♪ Please take me away from here ♪

♪ 'Cause I feel like such an insomniac ♪

♪ Please take me away from here ♪

♪ Why do I tire of counting sheep ♪

♪ Please take me away from here ♪

♪ When I'm far too tired to fall asleep ♪

♪ To 10 million fireflies ♪

♪ I'm weird 'cause I hate goodbyes ♪

♪ I got misty eyes as they said farewell, they said farewell ♪

♪ But I'll know where several are ♪

♪ If my dreams get real bizarre ♪

♪ 'Cause I saved a few and I keep them in a jar ♪

♪ Jar, jar, jar ♪

♪ I'd like to make myself believe ♪

♪ That planet Earth turns slowly ♪

♪ It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake ♪

♪ When I'm asleep ♪

♪ 'Cause everything is never as it seems, when I fall asleep ♪

♪ I'd like to make myself believe ♪

♪ That planet Earth turns slowly ♪

♪ It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake ♪

♪ When I'm asleep ♪

♪ 'Cause everything is never as it seems, when I fall asleep ♪

♪ I'd like to make myself believe ♪

♪ That planet Earth turns slowly ♪

♪ It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake ♪

♪ When I'm asleep ♪

♪ Because my dreams are bursting at the seams ♪

♪♪♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
fireflies /ˈfaɪr.ˌflaɪz/ B2	noun - bioluminescent insects that produce flashes of light
hugs /hʌgz/ A2	noun - an act of wrapping arms around someone to show affection
believe /bɪˈliːv/ B1	verb - to accept as true or real
light /laɪt/ A2	noun - electromagnetic radiation that makes things visible adjective - having a lot of brightness
sleep /sliːp/ A2	noun & verb - the natural state of rest for body and mind; to be in the state of resting
dreams /driːmz/ B1	noun - series of images, thoughts, or feelings during sleep
seems /siːmz/ B1	verb - to give the impression of being something or having a particular quality
world /wɜːrld/ A2	noun - the earth, or the people and things on it
escape /ɪsˈkeɪp/ B2	verb - to get free from a situation or place
night /naɪt/ A2	noun - the time from sunset to sunrise
lost /lɒst/ B1	adjective & verb - unable to find one's way; to be deprived of something
jar /dʒɑːr/ B1	noun - a container for storing food or other items, usually with a lid
believe /bɪˈliːv/ B1	verb - to accept as true or real

Key Grammar Structures

• You would not believe your eyes

  ➔ Modal verb (would) for hypothetical situations

  ➔ The word "would" is used to express a hypothetical or imaginary situation, here describing what someone might experience.

• If 10 million fireflies

  ➔ Conditional clause (If) for hypothetical situations

  ➔ The word "If" introduces a conditional clause, setting up a hypothetical scenario involving 10 million fireflies.

• 'Cause they fill the open air

  ➔ Contraction ('Cause) for informal tone

  ➔ The contraction "'Cause" is a shortened form of "because," used here for a more informal and conversational tone.

• I'd like to make myself believe

  ➔ Conditional contraction (I'd) and infinitive verb (to make)

  ➔ The contraction "I'd" stands for "I would," expressing a wish or desire. "To make" is the infinitive form of the verb, used here to express purpose.

• When I'm asleep

  ➔ Present continuous contraction (I'm) for ongoing action

  ➔ The contraction "I'm" stands for "I am," used here in the present continuous tense to describe an ongoing action (being asleep).

• Please take me away from here

  ➔ Imperative mood with adverbial phrase

  ➔ The imperative mood is used to give a command or make a request. The adverbial phrase "away from here" specifies the location or direction of the action.

• I'm weird 'cause I hate goodbyes

  ➔ Contraction ('cause) and present simple for habitual action

  ➔ The contraction "'cause" is used for "because." The present simple tense with "hate" describes a habitual action or feeling.

• If my dreams get real bizarre

  ➔ Conditional clause (If) and comparative adjective (bizarre)

  ➔ The conditional clause "If" introduces a hypothetical situation. The adjective "bizarre" is used in a comparative sense to describe the strangeness of dreams.