Lucid dreaming interpretation of "Fireflies" by Owl City.

**BeeClock** · 11-03-2011 12:37 AM

Do you guys think that Fireflies can be about lucid dreaming? (This song has many interpretations, and this is just one interpretation).

"You would not believe your eyes
If ten million fireflies
Lit up the world as I fell asleep"

This would be a WILD. The fireflies could represent the beauty of the dream world (it is lit up as if sparkling, which indicates beauty).
Or it could be hypnogogia. The fireflies are in the person's room making it beautiful.

"Cause they fill the open air
And leave teardrops everywhere
You'd think me rude, but I
Would just stand and stare."

It is so beautiful that one would cry in happiness (teardrops). The "rude" part I don't know how it would relate to lucid dreaming though. (Anyone have any ideas?)

"I'd like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly."

Other than time dilation (concept that dream time can be longer than real time, and so therefore represented by the Earth spinning slower) I don't know what this could mean.

"It's hard to say that I'd
Rather stay awake when I'm asleep,
Cause everything is never as it seems."

Mentally awake while asleep is basically lucid dreaming or sleep paralysis. The "hard to say" part I'm not too sure on.
"Never as it seems" I not too sure on either.

"Cause I'd get a thousand hugs
From ten thousand lightening bugs
As they tried to teach me how to dance."

Dancing is considered fun, and so is lucid dreaming. Getting hugged by the hypnogogia? Or something else?

"A foxtrot above my head,
A sock-hop beneath my bed,
The disco ball is just hanging by a thread."

More dancing imagery.

-Above repeated-
then
"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.)"

The door could represent the connection (such as a portal) between dream world and physical world. Therefore the door represents sleep paralysis.
"Take me away" means that the person wants to leave the physical world by going into the dream world. Probably pleading with his body to fall asleep (because of the conflict with insomnia)
Insomnia is obviously a hard struggle for some lucid dreamers, so that represents a conflict.

"Why do I tire of counting sheep?
When I'm far too tired to fall asleep"

More insomnia.

"To ten million fireflies.
I'm weird, cause I hate goodbyes
I got misty eyes as they said farewell"

The person probably has fallen asleep at this point and the dream must end, so he is saying goodbye to the dream (misty eyes is crying - goodbyes are sad)

"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."

If the person's future dreams are bizarre enough, they will know that they are dreaming (DILD), and therefore they can find the fireflies, or the lucid dreams/hypnagogia again.
The person "saved a few", probably meaning remembered them by writing the dream in a dream journal.

The final part of the song is a repeat of what I previously analyzed.

So what does everyone think? Can anyone come up with ideas about how to relate the parts to lucid dreaming that I was not able to?
Thanks

**~~Alyzarin~~** · 11-04-2011 11:55 PM

I love that song.

I don't know about this though. Some of it seems to fit, but other parts not exactly. If it is related to lucid dreaming, I'd bet that it's more of a narrative of a personal experience than just going over lucid dreaming in general, that could cover some of the less clear parts. Of course, because it's a song, there could just be some poetic-sounding mumbo jumbo thrown in too.

Good theory though, it's got me thinking.

**Twisty** · 11-06-2011 01:42 PM

I'm such a hipster. I liked this song before it was popular, but nobody believed me when I said it was a good song.

Now that you mention it though, this does seem like it's based of of lucid dreaming. Very interesting...

**Taffy** · 11-28-2011 12:34 AM

I heard it the other day and instantly thought, YES, he could he talking about lucid dreaming! And then I found this thread.

**Patrick** · 12-09-2011 10:21 PM

I'm a big Owl City fan - went to see them live in Glasgow in September. Best night of my life

**taylord94** · 10-12-2012 04:27 AM

I hate to revive an old thread, but I've recently had this thought, too. After Googling, I was brought to this thread (conveniently enough on DreamViews). I think the "I'd like to make myself believe/That planet Earth turns slowly" means he wishes he had more time to sleep and more time to dream. And I agree with everything else you've said here. The "rude" part is just referring to the fact that staring is a rude action.

Many of his other songs are relating to dreams and dream-like themes.. It's very interesting!