Howie Day: Collide Meaning
Song Released: 2004
Collide Lyrics
A light shining through
You're barely waking
And I'm tangled up in you
Yeah
I'm open, you're closed
Where I follow, you'll go
I worry I won't see your face
Light up again
Even the best fall down sometimes
Even...
-
1TOP RATED
#1 top rated interpretation:I think (again no right and wrong just an opinion) that the song is about a guy and a girl who are great together but for some reason it isn't working out. Their perfect match (the star) is "refusing to shine" but he is saying that soon she will find out that they can not fight their connection because no matter what they will meet again and find their love has not died and be together. Someday they will be together.
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2TOP RATED
#2 top rated interpretation:The dawn is breaking
A light shining through
You're barely waking
And I'm tangled up in you
Yeah
I'm open, you're closed
Where I follow, you'll go
I worry I won't see your face
Light up again
Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills my mind
I somehow find, you and I collide
I'm quiet, you know
You make a first impression
I've found I'm scared to know
I'm always on your mind
Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the stars refuse to shine
Out of the back you fall in time
I somehow find, you and I collide
Don't stop here
I've lost my place
I'm close behind
Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills your mind
You finally find, you and I collide
You finally find
You and I collide
You finally find
You and I collide
---------------
This is how I interpret the lyrics:
The narrator is a boy (or man) who is quiet ("I'm quiet, you know") and sees himself as weak in some way. The subject of the song is a girl he's been observing, admiring, and putting on a pedestal; he sees her as a confident leader who knows where she's going ("You make a first impression"), a source of strength. The problem is that when she responds to his pursual of her, she opens up and shows her weakness and wants to lean on someone (him), while he's not sure he wants her to because he liked leaning on her.
"The dawn is breaking
A light shining through
You're barely waking
And I'm tangled up in you"
The first verse conveys that he's liked her a long time and she is just "waking up" to him and beginning to fall in love. "The dawn is breaking" on their relationship.
"I'm open, you're closed
Where I follow, you'll go
I worry I won't see your face
Light up again"
This second stanza of the first verse relates that the narrator sees himself as a follower, and the girl as a leader. She is strong and has set ways of doing things ("closed") and makes a path where she goes that he is "open" to just following.
The last two lines of the stanza are a response to his realization that she's actually looking at him the same way he's looking at her. SHE'S the strong brilliant one, SHE'S got it all together. If she sees me as something great, that can't be good for her. He's losing his illusion; he liked just observing her from afar and having this warped sense of who she is--no one can be completely strong all the time, but that's what he enjoyed believing about her.
"Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills my mind
I somehow find, you and I collide"
The first chorus shows that the narrator is coming to terms with the fact that the girl he admires might have weaknesses ("Even the best fall down sometimes") and he actually seems to be realizing that things could still be okay between them. He is toying with the notion that even the most unlikely matches can work ("Even the wrong words seem to rhyme"), so maybe a strong girl really could love a weak boy.
"I'm quiet, you know
You make a first impression
I've found I'm scared to know
I'm always on your mind"
Again, he is scared ("to know [he's] always on [her] mind") because he wanted to just sit back and let her be everything, but she is actually giving him credit as a person, which also puts responsibility on him.
"Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the stars refuse to shine
Out of the back you fall in time
I somehow find, you and I collide"
This is where it gets confusing and I'd greatly appreciate some input. The second line is clearly about the girl desiring to be out of the lime-light for a while, but i don't understand the third line. What is "the back"? She "falls in time"--is that like, in time with a beat, as in, she becomes a follower? Or what?
"Don't stop here
I've lost my place
I'm close behind"
A little bridge--not sure exactly about this either. I've thought a bit about the idea that maybe this is the girl speaking now because if you look at the last chorus:
"Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills your mind
You finally find, you and I collide"
SHE is the one that had doubts now. So what's that about?? -
3TOP RATED
#3 top rated interpretation:I am a music professor at a university in california. Your site is one in which we read opinions on the meanings of lyrics. Howie day's "collide" song has come up time and time again. After taking polls from multiple college students and individuals, the most popular interpretation is this: a guy and girl are together, boyfriend and girlfriend. He's been hurt in the past, afraid to start again with someone new. The girl with him has taken his breath away, has taken his heart, has totally engrossed him. She has fallen in love with him and he knows it, but is afraid to let his guard down, let his wall down, and admit his love for her. He goes back and forth, and back and forth, and she's getting tired of the on and off feelings which he gives. They break-up, he leaves on a train, and she goes after him and meets him at the train because she realizes that no matter what, he loves her and she loves him and they should be together. She meets him at the train, hoping that when he gets off and sees her standing there, that he'll finally get it, finally understand and basically take her in his arms and they're in love. We have watched the video to this song numerous times, and watch him leaving on the train, and leaving her behind feeling it's the right thing to do. It appears he is very happy to see her waiting for him when he gets off the train, maybe thinking he was an idiot for leaving and giving her up, but happy that she came after him. The dawn is breaking and all those words, could simply be saying that it's very early in the morning, nothing is going on in the world yet, she's still sleeping and he is already up going crazy over her, going nuts, while she's sleeping. He's also saying "don't stop and give up on me, please. Give me some time to get a grip on my feelings, but in the mean time, don't leave, don't give up on me, because I'm almost there in love with you like you are already with me. Don't leave me now" in other words. She probably thinks "forget it, you'll never love me, you'll never let your wall down, you'll never let your guard down, so go on your train and have a nice life" and then she realizes that she should go after him and give him time and patience and that little bit of room to finally come to grips that he loves her.
Anyone's opinion of this song can be correct. Only the original writer of this song could tell you what they meant when they wrote it. I am simply writing and telling you what many, many college students and individuals have gotten out of this song. If I was the songwriter, though, it would upset me to think that my lyrics could be misread in so many ways. Maybe next time, I would write more clearer so that there would be no misunderstandings of what I meant. If you watch the video, it is about a guy and a girl, so there is no question there on whether the individuals are gay or not. I know that question was also brought up. This video is seen quite often on mtv and vh1. Thanks for the opportunity to write this. -
The dawn is breaking
A light shining through
You're barely waking
And I'm tangled up in you
Yeah
I'm open, you're closed
Where I follow, you'll go
I worry I won't see your face
Light up again
Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills my mind
I somehow find, you and I collide
I'm quiet, you know
You make a first impression
I've found I'm scared to know
I'm always on your mind
Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the stars refuse to shine
Out of the back you fall in time
I somehow find, you and I collide
Don't stop here
I've lost my place
I'm close behind
Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills your mind
You finally find, you and I collide
You finally find
You and I collide
You finally find
You and I collide
---------------
at first , she/he narrating that the sunshine will come again and the girl/boy still not awake of the situation so theres still confusion regarding them(tangled)
the other one is open minded unlike the other
if she/he follows ,the other
go away from him
and that made him worried not to see the happiness into this person again
inspite of their indifferences somehow they found that their soul binds with this force called love (collide)
-
To me this song is about a girl that really loves this guy and he doesn’t like her back.
I can relate because “I found I’m Scared to know I’m always on your mind I can’t get my ex off my mind even though he has a new girlfriend. -
I interpreted this song as a guy had crushed on the girl, and he wish he has impact for her. That's why he scared that he's always on her mind,it lyrically same with the meaning of "Creep" song of radiohead
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The song always reminds me of the 2005 movie Crash. Not just because of the title. So many of the lyrics deal subconsciously with themes from the movie.
Even the best fall down sometimes
And even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills your mind
I somehow find you and I collide -
collide
[kuh-lahyd] Spell Syllables
Synonyms Examples Word Origin
verb (used without object), collided, colliding.
1.
to strike one another or one against the other with a forceful impact; come into violent contact; crash: -
My interpretation is so basically this guy is madly in live with the girl. It's just dawn and he's tangled up in her. He's open to her and she's closed up inside. "Even the best fall down sometimes." So he's saying everybody makes mistakes. The dude must of screwed up or something. So they might have broken up and she might have moved on. "Even the wrong words seem to rhyme." Everything they say seems to fit perfectly. They collide meaning their lives collide and that's wonderful. He's lost his place in her life and heart.. but he's close behind. He's making up for it and making the best of it. In the end she falls back in love with him and realizes how wonderful it is that their lives COLLIDE ;).
-
My interpretation is based off of examining the lyrics and hearing what he's actually saying rather than internalizing it and comparing it to my own relationships and making an interpretation based off my experience...that being said I now hear and understand what my best guy friend has been saying to me all along...
"The dawn is breaking a light shining thru, you're barely waking, I'm tangled up in you"
The reality of the situation is starting to show...She's just waking up to what he's been seeing all along.
"I'm open, you're closed."....he's noting how opposite they are
"Where I follow, you'll go"...again noting how opposite they are...He's more of a follower whereas she's more of a leader.
"I worry I wont see your face light up again"... Despite him thinking or knowing that their relationship wont work out b/c they're so opposite he don't want to lose her.
chorus: "Even the best fall down sometimes.
Even the wrong word seems to rhyme.
Out of the doubt that fill my mind
I somehow find you and I collide".
He's admitting that he's insecure and has his doubts of the relationship working out. That although it may seem right and look right he has doubts about it really being right. that's why he say even wrong words seem to rhyme...it looks right, sounds right but it don't mean that it actually rhymes. That doubt is there for a reason.
"I'm quiet you know. You make a 1st impression"...He's noting again their differences...He doesn't draw attention to himself upon 1st glances and he's not a smooth talker...whereas she easily gets attention from the opposite sex at 1st glance and turns heads? People like her as soon as they see her whereas one would probably have to spend time and get to know him to see his attractive qualities.
"I found I'm scared to know I'm always on your mind". Again he's stating his insecurity. Its scares him to know she has feelings for him b/c he doesn't have enough confidence in himself to take the relationship to the next level. He doesn't see himself as worthy of her attention in that way so it freaks him out.
Chorus: Even the best fall down sometimes.
Even the stars refuse to shine...
He's stating his insecurities and fear of failure...
Chorus: Out of the back you fall in time.
I somehow find you and I collide...
He's stating that he's so used to being in the background that he fears being the "star" he's sure to fall whereas if he was just a friend or secretly admiring her as he'd been he wouldn't have to worry about that failure. (She's probably really frustrated at his hesitation by now)
"Don't stop here; I've lost my place"
He's saying just b/c he's fearful of being with her he don't want things to end between them. He lost his place b/c he was so used to following her, now that she expects him to be with her he's lost. He's not sure what to do, he's so used to being a follower and following her direction, he's not ready to step up and be the leader.
"I'm close behind"...He's been the follower thru out the entire friendship...so if she stops they're sure to crash (collide) like a car close on another car bumper...if she stops he may not brake in time.
chorus: Even the best fall down sometimes.
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme.
Out of the doubt that fill your mind.
You finally found you and I collide.
Yeap she's frustrated now. Now she see what he's been saying all along...Now she's doubting everything. Once confident and sure, the irritation of them being so opposite fills her mind with doubt.
"You finally find you and I collide. You finally found you and I collide."
She finally see that its not working out.
I wonder if his hesitation is what caused her to doubt things working out, or did she see that they were just too opposite and had too many differences. Either way she found out that they collide, it just wasn't going to work. whether it was his insecurities or whether they were just too opposite. -
It's about a girl that finally admits to the guy she loves that she's been unfaithful after all he's tried to do was love her and only her!
-
I know for a fact what the song means. I listened to him interview with Ryan Seacrest. He wrote it for his brother who is deceased. Its about two little boys waking up tangled in blankets together and how their thoughts are so different yet they always seem to come together. Just thought I would share this with all of you. ~Miss M.
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I Personaly Believe its about 2 loves. people colliding in any way possible love hate or sex, you alwys do. Thats the way the world works. as for what He meant? Sometimes it better off left unknown. as a someone who writes that how i would want it.
-
I Personaly Believe its about 2 loves. people colliding in any way possible love hate or sex, you alwys do. Thats the way the world works. as for what He meant. Sometimes it better off left unknown. per writter
-
I fell in love with the person who told me this song so the way I see it is probably completely different to you guys but in some way I always see it relates to my life
I'm open, you're closed
Where I follow, you'll go
I worry I won't see your face
Light up again
I think at the beginning the boy really liked this girl despite their differences but the more he sees how different they are the less he has hope and he ends up being the one giving up on the relationship hence "I worry I won't see your face light up again"
Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills my mind
I somehow find you and I collide
so they had a really good relationship but everything just seems to be crumbling apart and despite all the doubt and second thoughts he's having they stillhave a way of colliding even thoughthey are no longer together
Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the stars refuse to shine
Out of the back you fall in time
I somehow find you and I collide
he's saying you know I might have broken up with you, you still find a way of fitting in somewhere else and your doing just fine and not falling apart
Don't stop here
I lost my place
I'm close behind
Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills your mind
You finally find you and I collide
You finally find you and I collide
You finally find you and I collide
we can't go back now were not right for each other we just got to keep our heads up and keep looking forward and then the very last few lines he's saying yeah were both completely different people living different lives with different interests but somewhere down the line we always find a way of our lives colliding like they did when they first met.
I might be totally wrong but that's what I think! thanks from E
I love you D.B -
This song is about a relationship which is going through hardship. She is scared and he is giving her confidence that things will work out.
The dawn is breaking
A light shining through
You're barely waking
And I'm tangled up in you
- For me this can be taken both literal and as a metaphor. In the metaphor it means.. after the hardships (the night) the light of the dawn is coming again: hope, peache, the good things.. they made it through... He is tangled up in her meaning he is really in love and holding on (holding on to them after the hardships which are represented as the night) to her while she is barely waking... she is still in the dark, afraid. Literally its just two people, he's hugging her and she's waking up
I'm open, your closed
Where I'll follow you'll go
I worry I won't see your face
Light up again
- This I take as two things: one- he is open to their love while she is scared and she closes herself.. he is telling her that he will follow her wherever she goes and he's scared that he will lose her. 2) Maybe he is telling her that he is open to follow her wherver she will go and that she's closed to the idea of moving if he leaves.. so he says that he's scared that if that happens he won't see her again. (or he's saying that he's scared that the fear is still consuming her. He's scared that the light mentioned in the previous verse will not reach her)
Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills your mind (This is how he sings it in the acoustic version.. he says "yours")
I somehow find you and I collide
- He is telling her that even if things are rought at the time things wil work out. He says that even if she has doubts about them, things will work out and be ok. they will be together. you take this part as it says in the CD version I interprete it as it follows.. He is telling her that even though he is afraid as well he is confident on their relationship.. he is telling her its ok to be scared
I'm quiet you know
You make a first impression
I've found I'm scared to know
I'm always on your mind
- He tells her that its ok to be scared that he is also scared by love
Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the stars refuse to shine
Out of the back you fall in time
I Somehow find you and I collide
- following what I previously said he is giving her confidence... "out of the back you fall in time" she is understanding what he is saying, she is in tune with him.
Don't stop here
I lost my place
I'm close behind
- This i take as the following.. he is telling her not to stop ther now that she is following him regaring the feeling.. she tells him she feels lost because she is letting go into this love "i lost my place" and then he answers back giving her confidence saying "I'm close behind" - allusion to the 2nd verse where he says he'll follow her wherever she'll go, he'll always be with her..
Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills your mind
You finally find you and I collide
- She finally realises that this will work out and that they are meant to be :)
-
I believe the song is about different stages of love, at first the narrator - the guy feels he is head over heels for the girl wheras she at this point us just starting to realise her feelings for him (you are just awaking and I'm tangled up in you).
As the song progresses the guy starts having doubts as to whether they are right for each other (even the best fall down sometimes) she is his best, and he starts having doubts, hence realises that her image in his eyes falls.
Then the girl starts warming up towards him, he at this point has his doubts and worries he won't be enough for her, and she will realise that he is not as great as she perceives him.
So through out the song the narrator describes how their feelings for each other keep changing out of sync, they both have doubts, yet they both realise that they are meant for each other against all odds, its just that the realisation of the above comes to each of them at different times of their relationship. -
Call me negative, but I always interpreted this song differently... I always thought they were a couple in the beinning... That they loved each other or thought they did. Then he started to realize how different they were... How many problems they were having. When he says "I finally find you and I collide" I take that to mean, they clash... They are too different. They aren't meant to be... He "gives in to the doubts that fill his mind", in a sense. Its sad.. The realization that theyre wrong for each other... And finally she sees it the same way... She realizes that they aren't meant to be.
That's just how I view it, but I do tend to see many things in a negative light... I dont think any interpretation is wrong, every person thinks differently...
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