Meant to live- Switchfoot
Fumbling his confidence-And wondering why the world has passed him by-Hoping
that he's bent for more than-arguments-And failed attempts to fly, fly-We were meant
to live for so much more-Have we lost ourselves?-Somewhere we live inside -Somewhere
we live inside -We were meant to live for so much more-Have we lost ourselves?-
Somewhere we live inside-Dreaming about Providence-And whether mice or men have
second tries-Maybe we've been living with our eyes half open-Maybe we're bent and
broken, broken-We want more than this world's got to offer-We want more than this
world's got to offer-We want more than the wars of our fathers -And everything inside
screams for second life, yeah-We were meant to live for so much more -Have we lost
ourselves?-We were meant to live for so much more -Have we lost ourselves? -We were
meant to live for so much more -Have we lost ourselves?-We were meant to live-We were
meant to live
Explanation: The reason I chose this song is to reflect the mutual feeling
between the Yanakakis family of being meant to live for more than an underground
compound. The line, “Wondering why the world has passed him by,” expresses Eli’s
thoughts as he lives in the compound, contemplating why he is where he is. The chorus
“We were meant to live for so much more. Have we lost ourselves? Somewhere we live
inside,” is a perfect description of the attitude of the entire family, esp. when they are
struggling to maintain sanity. The entire Yanakakis family would play this.
The Blues- Switchfoot
Is this the New Year or just another night?-Is this the new fear or just another fright?-
Is this the new tear or just another desperation?-Is this the finger or just another fist?-
Is this the kingdom or just a hit n' miss?-A misdirection, most in all this desperation-Is
this what they call freedom?-Is this what you call pain?-Is this what they call
discontented fame?-It'll be a day like this one-When the world caves in-When the
world caves in-When the world caves in-I'm singing this one like a broken piece of
glass-From broken arms and broken noses in the back-Is this the New Year or just
another desperation?-You're pushing till you're shoving-You bend until you break-Till
you stand on the broken fields where our fathers lay-It'll be a day like this one-When
the world caves in-When the world caves in-When the world caves in-When the world
caves in-When the world caves in-When the world caves in-There's nothing here
worth saving,-Is no one here at all?-Is there any net left that could break our fall?-It'll
be a day like this one-When the sky falls down and the hungry and poor and deserted
are found-Are you discontented?-Have you been pushing hard?-Have you been
throwing down this broken house of cards?-It'll be a day like this one-When the world
caves in-When the world caves in-When the world caves in-Is there nothing left now?-
Nothing left to sing?-Are there any left to haven't kissed the enemy?-Is this the New
Year or just another desperation?-Just as I could find you, do the wicked never lose?-Is
there any honest song to sing besides these blues?-And nothing is okay-Till the world
caves in-Till the world caves in-Till the world caves in-Till the world caves in-Till the
world caves in-Until the world caves in-Until the world caves in-Until the world caves
in-Until the world caves in-Until the world caves in-Until the world caves in
Explanation: This song, much like the last, address the family’s own
thoughts, whether public or private, about their lonesome and troubling situation. This
song also expresses the process of their mentality (or at least Eli’s); it goes from
misdirection and desperation to pushing and shoving (implying hostility) to
hopelessness and eventually depression. The music in this song also fit the mood quite
well (for a reader) because the music is sad and emotional. Eli would mostly play this
song about his life, but could also be played by any of his family members.
Gone- Switchfoot
She told him she'd rather fix her makeup-Than try to fix what's going on-But the
problem keeps on calling -Even with the cellphone gone-She told him that she believes
in living -Bigger than she's living now-But her world keeps spinning backwards and
upsidedown-Don't say so long, and throw yourself wrong-Don't spend today
away-‘Cause today will soon be-Gone, like yesterday is gone-Like history is Gone-Just
trying to prove me wrong-And pretend like you're immortal-She said he said live like no
tomorrow-Every day we borrow-Brings us one step closer to the edge (infinity)-
Where's your treasure, where's your hope-If you get the world and lose your soul-She
pretends like she pretends like she's immortal-Don't say so long-You're not that far
gone-This could be your big chance to makeup -Today will soon be-Gone, like yesterday
is gone,-Like history is gone-The world keeps spinning on-Your going, going, gone-Like
summer break is gone-Like Saturday is gone-Just try to prove me wrong -You pretend
like your immortal your immortal-We are not infinite-We are not permanent-Nothing is
immediate-We're so confident-In our accomplishments-Look at our decadence-Gone,
like Frank Sinatra-Like Elvis and his mom-Like AL Pacino's cash nothing lasts in this life-
My high school dreams are gone-My childhood sweets are gone-Life is a day that doesn't
last for long-Life is more than money-Time was never money-Time was never cash-
Life is still more than girls -Life is more than hundred dollar bills-And roto tom fills-
Life's more than fame and rock and roll and thrills-All the riches of the kings end up in
wills-We got information in the information age-But do we know what life is outside of
our convenient Lexus cages-She said he said live like no tomorrow-Every moment that
we borrow-Brings us closer to the God who's not short of cash-Hey Bono I’m glad you
asked-Life is still worth living- Life is still worth living- Life is still worth living
Explanation: Though, musically, the song doesn’t match the mood, the
lyrics do match the mood in the sense that they focus on the saying, “You never know
what you’ve got till it’s gone.” The song also describes some of the relationship
between Eli and Lexie, “She told him she’d rather fix her makeup than try to fix what’s
going on.” This song would be played by Eli about Lexie.
Don’t be there- Switchfoot
Don’t be there-Don't be there-'Cause I'm on my way-And I'm already gone over-And
I'm on my way-And I can't recall myself-How I went down-Did I get shot -Or shoot
myself-I'm down here-I’m down here-And you're way up there-But that doesn't hurt
badly-But it stings right here- And I can't recall myself-How I went down-Did I get shot
-Or shoot myself -And I won't pretend there's nothing there-You be around and I'll be
square-Don't be alarmed if I'm not there-You be around and I'll be square-If you're a
rose-Then I'm the thorn-That's in your side-And does it hurt badly-'Cause it burns
right here- And I can't recall myself-How I went down-Did I get shot -Or shoot myself -I'd
like to say hello-I'd like to say I care-I'd like to let you know-That nothing here's the
same with me-Nothing here's the same- And I can't recall myself-How I went down-Did
I get shot -Or shoot myself- And I won't pretend there's nothing there-You be around
and I'll be square-Don't be alarmed if I'm not there-You be around and I'll be square-
Don't be around-Don't be there-Don’t be there
Explanation: Several of the lines in this song apply to the plot in the book;
mostly referring to the relationship between Eli and his late twin brother, Eddy. I
would quote a line from the song that directly applies to the book, but I feel that the
entire song could be seen to apply to book. If you listen closely, you’ll realize that the
song addresses very specific issues in the book, e.g., “If you’re a rose, then I’m the
thorn that’s in your side”(referring to Eli’s sore feelings toward his brother). This song
would be played by Eli about Eddy.
From where you are- Lifehouse
So far away from where you are-These miles have torn us worlds apart-And I miss you,
yeah, I miss you-So far away from where you are-And standing underneath the stars-
And I wish you were here-I miss the years that were erased-I miss the way the sunshine
would light up your face-I miss all the little things-I never thought that they’d mean
everything to me-Yeah, I miss you and I wish you were here-I feel the beating of your
heart-I see the shadows of you face-Just know that wherever you are-Yeah, I miss you
and I wish you were here-I miss the years that were erased-I miss the way the sunshine
would light up your face-I miss all the little things-I never thought that they’d mean
everything to me-Yeah, I miss you and I wish you were here-So far away from where you
are-These miles have torn us worlds apart-And I miss you, yeah, I miss you-And I wish
you were here
Explanation: I picked this song for the same reason as the last except that
this song is more general in terms of who it could be sung about or toward. I feel like
Eli could have written this song, word for word, about Eddy, his Grandma, any other
human relationship, or even the world. Eli’s family, especially his mother, could also
play this song. This song would be played by Eli.
Setting Sun- Switchfoot
I've got a wound that doesn't heal-Burning out again-Burning out again-I've not sure
which of me is real-And I'm alone again-Burning out again-My hope runs underneath it
all-The day that I'll be home-It won't be long, I belong-Somewhere past the setting sun-
Finally free, finally strong-Somewhere back where I belong-They're selling shares of me
again-But I'm not buying it-I'm not buying it-My wound goes deeper than the skin-
There's no hiding it-So I'm not trying it-My hope runs underneath it all-The day that I'll
be home-It won't be long-I belong somewhere past the setting sun-Finally free, finally
strong-Somewhere back where I belong-(Going back where we belong!)-(I'll find you)-
(The setting sun!)-Let the weak say I am strong, and it won't be long-Let the right say I
was wrong, and it won't be wrong-Let us find where we belong-Beyond the setting sun-
Beyond the setting sun-It won't be long-I belong somewhere past the setting sun-finally
free, finally strong, Somewhere back where I belong
Explanation: I feel as though I had to add this song for it’s lyrical
connection to the plot of the book concerning Eli and Eddy’s tradition of watching the
sunset together and Eli’s remorse brought by the loss of their custom. It also targets a
bit of Eli’s confusion over the matter of his brother’s death, “I’m not sure which of me
is real and I’m alone again, burning out again.” Though it is a sadder song, it also
speaks of Eli’s absurd yet optimistic hope that someday he could be reunited with his
brother, in death or life (Eli does have feelings that Eddy may be alive somewhere
simply because he thought that it would feel different). This song would be played by
Eli.
Awakening- Switchfoot
Face down with the LA curbside endings-With the ones and zeros-Downtown was the
perfect place to hide-The first star that I saw last night was a headlight-Of a manmade
sky, but manmade never made our dreams collide-Collide-Here we are now with the
falling sky and the rain-We're awakening-Here we are now with our desperate youth
and the pain-We're awakening-Maybe it's called ambition, you've been talking in your
sleep-About a dream, we're awakening-Last week saw me living for nothing but
deadlines-With my dead beat sky but, this town doesn't look the same tonight-These
dreams started singing to me out of nowhere-And in all my life I don't know that I ever
felt so alive-Alive-Here we are now with the falling sky and the rain-We're awakening-
Here we are now with our desperate youth and the pain-We're awakening-Maybe it's
called ambition, but you've been talking in your sleep-About a dream, we're awakening,
dream-We’re awakening-I want to wake up kicking and screaming-I want to wake up
kicking and screaming-I want to know that my heart's still beating-It's beating, I'm
bleeding-I want to wake up kicking and screaming-I want to live like I know what I'm
leaving-I want to know that my heart's still beating-It's beating... it’s beating…it's
beating...I'm bleeding!-Here we are now with the falling sky and the rain-We're
awakening-Here we are now with our desperate youth and the pain-We're awakening-
Maybe it's called ambition, but you've been talking in your sleep-About a dream, we're
awakening, dream-We’re awakening!
Explanation: The chorus and much of the pre-chorus of this song does a
fantastic job of displaying the feeling Eli and his family must have been feeling the
moment they had come out of the compound. It also reminds you in a few senses of
how much worse life in the compound was, e.g., “The first star that I saw last night was
a headlight of a manmade sky, but manmade never made our dreams collide”
(referring to Eli’s bedroom ceiling). This song expresses the ending mood of this book
perfectly. This song would be played by the entire Yanakakis family.