Fireflies -- Owl City

"Fireflies" by Owl City 
Released: 2009
Song sentiment: My insomnia causes delusions.

Original lyrics in blue 
Analyzed lyrics in black

VERSE 1

You would not believe your eyes if 10 million fireflies lit up the world as I fell asleep, 'cause they'd fill the open air and leave teardrops everywhere. You'd think me rude, but I would just stand and stare.

If unprecedentedly large hordes of luminescent winged beetles were to ignite Earth as I entered a routine state of rest, you would be skeptical of the signals provided to your brain by your ocular organs, because the insects would enter the atmosphere's free space, then cry haphazardly (or cause others to do so). I would position myself upright and fixate my gaze upon this phenomenon, disregarding that this may offend you.

CHORUS

I'd like to make myself believe that planet Earth turns slowly. It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep 'cause everything is never as it seems.

My desire is to convince myself that when I divide the angular velocity of the celestial body we inhabit by 2π, the quotient is low. I find it challenging to articulate my preference for consciousness while unconscious, because reality has never once, in all of history, aligned with anyone's perception of it.

VERSE 2

'Cause I'd get a thousand hugs from 10,000 lightning bugs as they tried to teach me how to dance a foxtrot above my head, a sock hop beneath my bed, the disco ball is just hanging by a thread.

The reason for my most recent pronouncement is this: If the scenario I outlined were to materialize, I would receive 10 million affectionate squeezes from fireflies while they provided lessons in creative movement to music. Over my scalp, they demonstrate an early 20th Century couples dance, usually set to Big Band. Below my box spring, they showcase a mid 20th Century Rock-and-Roll dance targeted at high-school students. Meanwhile, a sphere covered in small square mirrors dangles flimsily from the ceiling.

(CHORUS)

BRIDGE

Leave my door open just a crack (Please take me away from here), 'cause I feel like such an insomniac (Please take me away from here). Why do I tire of counting sheep (Please take me away from here) when I'm far too tired to fall asleep? (Ha-ha)

I have diagnosed myself with chronic inability to sleep, so after exiting my bedroom, seal the entrance barrier but not completely. (Kidnap me, if you'd be so kind.) I am too exhausted to enter an unconscious state, and therefore don't understand why tallying wool-producing farm animals bores me. (Kidnap me, if you'd be so kind. Something is funny to me.)

VERSE 3

To 10 million fireflies I'm weird 'cause I hate goodbyes. I got misty eyes as they said farewell. But I'll know here several are if my dreams get real bizarre 'cause I saved a few and I keep them in a jar. 

The scads of aforementioned bugs find it peculiar that I have a strong distaste for exchanging pleasantries that precede the parting of ways. As the insects offered a somewhat formal and antiquated phrase to indicate this departure, my tear ducts were mildly activated. That said, if the vivid thoughts I conjure while asleep become particularly unusual, I will have no difficulty locating some Lampyridae because I trapped an indeterminable quantity of them in my sealed glass container.

(CHORUS x 2)