Do you know where your heart is
Do you think you can find it
Did you trade it for something, somewhere
Better just to have it

Do you know where your love is
Do you think that you lost it
You felt it so strong but nothings
Turned out how you want it

Well bless my soul
You're a lonely soul
Cause you wont let go
Of anything you hold

Well all I need is the air I breathe
And a place to rest my head

Do you know what your fate is
And are you trying to shake it
You're doing your best and
You're best look
You're praying that you'll make it

Well bless my soul
You're a lonely soul
Cause you wont let go
Of anything you hold

Well all I need is the air I breathe
And a place to rest my head
Said all I need is the air I breathe
And a place to rest my head
Do you think you can find it
Do you think you can find it
Do you think you can find it
Better than you have it
Do you think you can find it
Do you think you can find it
Do you think you can find it
Better than you have it
Better than you have it

Said all I need is the air I breathe
And a place to rest my head
Said all I need is the air I breathe
And a place to rest my head

Do you know where the end is
Do you think you can see it
Until you get there
Go on
Go ahead and scream it
Just say?


Lyrics submitted by WizX2126

Say (All I Need) Lyrics as written by Zack Filkins Ryan Tedder

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, O/B/O DistroKid, Downtown Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Say (All I Need) song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

59 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +7
    General Comment

    The song is about materialism "All I need is the air I breathe, and a place to lay my head on".

    "Do you know where your heart is // Do you think you can find it // Did you trade it for something, somewhere"

    "Do you know where your love is // Do you think that you lost it"

    "Well bless my soul // You’re a lonely soul // Cause you wont let go // Of anything you hold"

    Your soul has become lonely because you have lost the love in your life (not attributing love to any one person, but more to a higher love), just let go of the material things, because you don't need them.

    jajajadedon November 29, 2007   Link
  • +6
    Translation

    This song has nothing to do with a girl, he's singing to his audience(everyone who listens) for god sake.... It's about humans in general, how we think we are disconnected of everything. Colorless humans who play, school, work, retire, dies. It's rare to find an artist with his belief, hes realize the "truths".

    Chieu10on April 13, 2012   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    Okay, I'm being honest here, check the Wikipedia to this song if you don't believe me and see for yourself...The lead singer, Ryan Tedder, himself, said that this is what he song is about...

    "This song is about being happy with what you have in life, and not obsessing over what you don't have. Whether it's a person or relationship, love, or success, or even fame, we wanted to make a piece of art and do something beautiful and inspiring,"

    That's what he said and that's what the song is about, just to clear things up for everybody, and like I said if you don't believe me, check it up for yourself, you'll see what I mean. :)

    xSpringxon August 06, 2012   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    Awesome song first off.

    Short and Sweet here, he's singing to a girl that he is in love with. Possibly she won't give him all of her, she won't admit that she loves him as much as he does her.

    He's telling her to just let go of everything and fall in love with him cause she's all he needs.

    I love the line that says "Well bless my soul you're a lonely soul cause you wont let go of anything you hold"

    like he's saying please come into my life, you are lonely cause you can't let the past go

    Greggumzon November 23, 2007   Link
  • +3
    My Interpretation

    In the past, she's been too dependent on her love:

    "Do you know where your heart is? Do you think you can find it? Did you trade it for something, somewhere? Better just to have it"

    He's telling her to be more independent, and to let go and fall in love with him.

    soulmeetsmollyon September 17, 2009   Link
  • +3
    Song Meaning

    he is singing to me. the my, the your - is the same - doesn't matter. when i hear this song, it is asking me, do you know where your heart is? it's telling me - you're doing your best, you're praying that you make it. then i'm reminded - all i need is the air i breathe and a place to rest my head. that is where and when i will find my heart.

    this songs about my lonely soul, i won't find my heart and the love unless i let go - let go of anything that hurts, anything that i hold onto because of fear.

    do you know what your fate is, are you trying to shake it - i thought i know my fate, but I don't. i used to think my fate was a sad, lost, lonely one. and i've tried to shake it. i've changed my mind about that- as long as i follow my heart and listen to my heart, my fate will be something beautiful.

    do you know where the end is, do you think you can see it, go ahead and scream it, just say "what"?

    just say whatever is there - through this- you and i will find our way.

    sing2bfreeon June 12, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    This songs is AWESOME!

    "You felt it so strong, but nothing's turned out how you want it" - On this part I feel his girl left him and ended the relationship to persue something more inportant that "them" at the moment in time. And then the second part can be on that, what she pursued didn't work out or that the relationship didn't worked out for him like he wanted it to turn out.

    "Well, bless my soul You're a lonely soul" - Can this part mean he tell her "well I told you so", he moved on after the break up and now she is the lonely one!

    "Well, all I need is the air I breathe and a place to rest my head" - He has grew and the break up made him stronger, he doesn't need anything more then air in his lungs and a place to rest his head.

    "Do you think you can find it?" "Do you think you can find it better than you had it?"

    • Could be that he is still revering to the "purpose" she left him... Happyness...Success... For the last part "better than you have it" that she wasn't happy with him.
    kiepieon December 14, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    If I could make a video for this song I would start it out with him and a woman fighting in a house (the camera’s are out side) then you see him in slow motion walk out of the house and slam the door and get in his car with a quick glance at the woman standing with tears in her eyes as he peels away. Its night time and he drives off in the rain – song starts. He tilts the rear view mirror at himself and see’s himself sitting behind him (kind of like an out of body experience) in the back seat singing the words in his ears “do you know where your heart is? Do you think you can find it..” This is him finally being honest with himself about what is important in life. This is his self realization of how sometimes the things you hold on to as if your life depended on it can also be the exact same things you need to let go of to start your life. Only then can you find your heart - “do you think you can find it?”.

    YoMamma123on December 18, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Oh yea..and the chorus is sarcastic - meaning we all need way more in life then we realize but its him trying to not accept that. He wants to tell himself or say that all he needs to air and a place to rest his head. Thats why the song is called SAY (all i need) like keep telling yourself that. And the last sentence alludes to that when it says until you get there go ahead and scream it..just say" like until you get that you need more go head and keep fooling yourself.

    YoMamma123on December 18, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    What a powerful meaningful beautiful song. This song can have many meanings to it. But personally I think it could have a double meaning. This song could tell a story of yourself, all the love you have lost, all the betrayal you have dealt with, and all the sorrow you have felt. You feel like you are alone now and have nobody and you don't want to move forward because you can't get rid of the scars from your past. Then you realize that you need to move forward and I think this song captivates freedom. Forget about everything in your life that has caused pain and just be free. No more being a lost soul, it focuses on leaving behind your old life, all your facades and truly being free from everything.

    PyarForeveron April 03, 2008   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
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere. In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Album art
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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
Magical
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Album art
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.