Story Behind The Song
This is a very personal song but also, I hope, a song for anyone who has ever struggled with self-acceptance.
Song Description
This song is a powerful anthem of personal transformation and self-liberation. It opens with the realization of being trapped in a self-made prison, a life built on denial and suppressing one's true self. The lyrics reflect the profound impact of this awakening, describing it as a light that knocks the narrator down and frees their soul.
The chorus reinforces the resolve to reject societal expectations and embrace individual truth, with a defiant message of self-empowerment: "Don't ever let 'em tell you what you need to believe." It's a declaration of breaking free from the constraints of others' opinions and reclaiming personal agency.
As the song progresses, the tone shifts from introspection to celebration. The narrator acknowledges their past struggles but chooses to leave them behind, symbolized by the rearview mirror imagery. The recurring theme of the smile returning signifies the joy and fulfillment that come with living authentically.
The song closes with a triumphant embrace of the "real me," underscoring the liberation and self-acceptance that define the journey. It's an inspiring narrative of growth, courage, and the freedom found in self-discovery.
| Song Length |
3:24 |
Genre |
Pop - Rock, Rock - General |
| Tempo |
Medium Fast (131 - 150) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Subject |
Change, Courage |
Language |
English |
| Era |
2000 and later |
| |
Lyrics
That moment when the light went on in my head
Well, it knocked me down
When I realized the prison I was living in
I'd built myself
Living so long in denial
Of who and what my life should be
It was then that I noticed the smile
Coming back, coming back
Don't ever let 'em tell you what you need to believe
When you know what's true
If they think you'll stay blind and accept what they tell you
Well, they don't know you
Living so long in denial
Of who and what my life should be
It was then that I noticed the smile
Coming back, coming back
Coming back to me! Yeah!
That moment when the light went on in my head
You know it freed my soul
No longer trapped in a fun house reflection
That I did not know
Now I could live with a smile
Be who and what my life should be
The past receding in the rear view mirror
Say hello, say hello
To the real me! Yeah!
That moment when the light went on (Say hello to me)
Living so long in denial (Say hello to me)
That moment when the light went on (Say hello to me)
Now I could live with a smile (Say hello to me)
Say hello, say hello
To the real me! Yeah!