You my friend
You're a lot like them
But I cut your line
And you know I did
Now I'm lost in you
Like I always do
And I'd die to win
'Cause I'm born to lose

Firefly, could you shine your light
Now I know your ways
'Cause they're just like mine
Now I'm justified
As I fall in line
And it's hard to try
When you're open wide

Take my hand
We'll be off and then
We'll come back again
To a different land
Now I like this way
You can go away
If you guess the name
You cannot replace

Firefly, could you shine your light
Now I know your ways
'Cause they're just like mine
Now I'm justified
As I fall in line
And it's hard to try
When you're open wide

Bring me your enemies
Lay them before me
And walk away, walk away, walk away

Firefly, could you shine your light
Now I know your ways
'Cause they're just like mine
Now I'm justified
As I fall in line
And it's hard to try
When you're open wide

Fuck you firefly
Have you lost your light
Now I hate your ways
'Cause they're just like mine
So you've lost my friend
Such a sorry end
And I don't know why
So I choke and smile (smile)


Lyrics submitted by thewhitepony33, edited by BrokenKnives, Aarend

Firefly Lyrics as written by Jeremy Hummel Benjamin Burnley

Lyrics © Walt Disney Music Company

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Firefly song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

72 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +3
    General Comment

    The lyrics are wrong... The band's discography says they're (fixes in all caps were caught):

    You my friend You're a lot like them But I CAUGHT YOUR LIE And you know I did Now I'm lost in you Like I always do And I'd die to win 'Cause I'm born to lose

    Firefly Could you shine your light Now I KNOW your ways 'cause they're just like mine Now I'm justified As I fall in line And it's hard to try When you're open wide

    Take my hand We'll be off and then We'll come back again To a different land Now I like this way You can go away If you guess the name You cannot replace

    Firefly Could you shine your light Now I KNOW your ways 'cause they're just like mine Now I'm justified As I fall in line And it's hard to try When you're open wide

    Bring me your enemies Lay them before me And walk away

    Firefly Could you shine your light Now I KNOW your ways 'cause they're just like mine Now I'm justified As I fall in line And it's hard to try When you're open wide

    Fuck you firefly Have you lost your light? Now I hate your ways 'cause they're just like mine So you lost my friend Such a sorry end And I don't know why So I choke and smile

    missteddyon June 07, 2009   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    Great song.To me this song is about a young man looking up to someone.The person is a symbol of greatness to him.He tries his best to be like that person and follow his advice(won't you shine your light?asking for advice).However once he becomes like this person he realizes this person isn't as good and kind as he thought he was when he was younger. Just a thought.

    IronicCooperon August 22, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Britt Erin, the opening line means that this person he's loved, "the firefly" is turning out to be like "them", which seems to be his enemies in the world. when you have someone "on a line", you're supporting and protecting them, keeping them near. when you "cut someone's line" you're setting them free, letting them care for themselves.

    this song is about caring and protecting someone, and having them change completely into something you despise, and the anger this illicits.

    it's a frigging amazing song.

    hollowblackstaron March 13, 2005   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    To me this song is all about being on your own. This song seems to say that the guy's always been following a leader (firefly) who will explain everything and show him how everything is to be done. Now his own and he doesn't have a clue what to do

    Sort of like leaving home, huh?

    PainfulLullabyon May 15, 2005   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    i think this song is about someone who finally gets who they want after trying so hard. he/she had to break them away from who they really are and bring them into "their world". after this person got them he/she finds out who this person really is. he/she thought he/she could handle their problems and issues, but then he/she realizes what they got themselves into. this person isn't really who he/she thought she/he was. this person won't change.

    "You're a lot like them But I cut your line" he/she took her/him from their "world"

    "Firefly Could you shine your light Now I know your ways 'cause they're just like mine" him/her wanting her/him to "shine their light" like a firefly lights up... comprende? to make sure that it's there

    "Take my hand We'll be off and then We'll come back again To a different land Now I like this way You can go away" him/her asking her/him to come with them into their "world"

    "Bring me your enemies Lay them before me And walk away" him/her thinking they can take on hers/his problems/issues

    "Fuck you firefly Have you lost your light "Now I hate your ways 'cause they're just like mine So you lost my friend Such a sorry end And I don't know why So I choke and smile" he/she realize who this person really is and how they didn't change when he/she took her/him out of their world when he/she thought her/him could

    xanticromberrockeron July 18, 2005   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I love Ben's voice... and Breaking Benjamin is awesome!!

    punkrebelgalon August 20, 2005   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    i love this song!!! the guy is tryingto tell the girl not to conform to the crowd or anyone for that matter, just follow yourself and listen to yourself. but the guy loves the girl and wants to follow her "firefly could you shine your light",

    pixie_janeon September 28, 2005   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    “You my friend are a lot like them so I cut your line and you know I did” That would be him taking the person from what they were (What brought him to them)

    “Now I'm lost in you like I always do and I'd die to win 'Cause I'm born to lose” He’s saying that even though he’s not giving up he knows its going to end badly.

    “Firefly, could you shine your light? And I know your ways ‘cause they’re just like mine Now I’m justified as I fall in line and it’s hard to try when your open wide” He’s talking about how in the process of making the person into him he’s slightly slipping into that they are.

    “Take my hand we’ll be off and then we’ll come back again to a different land Now I like this way you can go away if you guess the name you cannot replace” He’s talking about changing the person’s views on things again.

    “Bring me your enemies lay them before me and walk away” He’s talking about protecting them. Maybe to preserve the person they once were before he starting changing them.

    “Fuck you firefly Have you lost your light? Now I hate your ways ‘cause they’re just like mine so you’ve lost my friend such a sorry end and I don’t know why so I choke and smile” He’s saying he’s completely lost the person he cared about because he changed them so much there was nothing left to like.

    BobbingSoldieron August 06, 2005   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I think the verses describe how the singer feels about someone and the choruses describe the conflict between head and heart. "Firefly" is the heart. The last chorus is where "the heart" stops loving someone. "Choke and smile" is the gutted feeling when you see the girl with someone else

    nachoson December 12, 2005   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    i love this song... sorta makes me think of myself at the first tho in the sense of where it says "cut your line" meaning to let the person go out and experience life on their own... my parents wont let me go... i have always led a sheltered life never experienced anything really... and i know they just want to protect me and they mean well but all it really does is hinders me and cuts off my ability to grow and understand the world around me... i mean i am 18 now and i dont know how i am going to react when i try to get out on my own... i wish they would just realize i am growing up and they cant protect me forever... but anywaze enough of my ranting... i love this song.... its WONDERFUL

    lilcutie8806on October 09, 2006   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Step
Ministry
Both as a standalone and as part of the DSOTS album, you can take this lyric as read. As a matter of public record, Jourgensen's drug intake was legendary even in the 1980s. By the late 90s, in his own words, he was grappling with massive addiction issues and had lost almost everything: friends, spouse, money and had nearly died more than once. "Dark Side of the Spoon" is a both funny & sad title for an album made by a musical genius who was losing the plot; and this song is a message to his fans & friends saying he knows it. It's painful to listen to so I'm glad the "Keith Richards of industrial metals" wised up and cleaned up. Well done sir.
Album art
Techno Ted
Audioslave
Techno Ted may be a person who caused Chris incredible emotional pain & trepidation as well as moments of peace & happiness but now is removed and awaiting his fate. Darling may be a different person who is also free of him and can live her life free of Ted's tyranny. "In between all the laughing, and daydreams ... lies: a desert of truth" Lies are like a desert or the omission of Truth: Where there were Lies then Truth was absent. The song, "Techno Ted", may be a cathartic celebration of the downfall of this person.
Album art
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Album art
When We Were Young
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Album art
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.