Counting Stars

Song meaning of Counting Stars by One Republic, and what it is about

"Counting Stars" was conceptualised in August 2012, according to Ryan Tedder. To get it right, there were arguably the most renditions of any song. Additionally, he stated that it was "one of [his] two favourite songs on the [Native] album".

A month or so after beginning to write "Love Runs Out," Tedder began "Counting Stars" while waiting for Beyoncé to arrive for a studio session. Tedder claimed in an interview with the Official Charts Company that he first had the concept for Counting Stars while vacationing in the Hamptons in the summer of 2012.

He continued: "I was out there for about five days and on the second day I woke up early and I started combing through the internet, searching for stuff that would inspire me for Beyoncé. I ended up coming across this weird song that had this indigenous folk sound to it that just struck me like lightning. I didn't like the verses or lyrics, but I loved the feel and movement of it. That ended up inspiring Counting Stars. I debated playing it for Beyoncé and putting it forward for her album, but it didn't feel like a song Beyoncé would record. I immediately came up with the chorus idea, went home and for the next three months finished the Native album."

I was working at the biggest mansion I've ever been in, which Jay-Z and Beyoncé were renting out. I was resolved not to collaborate with any other musicians when I was in the middle of recording Native, my most recent album with OneRepublic. I didn't keep my word because I also worked with Beyoncé that year. You accept Jay-Z and Beyoncé's invitation to stay with them in the Hamptons if they extend it.

One of the band's most popular singles, it peaked at number one in several nations, including Canada and the UK, number two in the US, and the top ten in 20 more nations.

Counting Stars lyrics by One Republic

Lately, I've been, I've been losing sleep

Dreaming about the things that we could be

But, baby, I've been, I've been praying hard

Said no more counting dollars, we'll be counting stars

Yeah, we'll be counting stars

I see this life like a swinging vine

Swing my heart across the line

And in my face is flashing signs

Seek it out and ye shall find

Old but I'm not that old

Young but I'm not that bold

And I don't think the world is sold

On just doing what we're told

I feel something so right doing the wrong thing

And I feel something so wrong doing the right thing

I couldn't lie, couldn't lie, couldn't lie

Everything that kills me makes me feel alive

Lately, I've been, I've been losing sleep

Dreaming about the things that we could be

But, baby, I've been, I've been praying hard

Said no more counting dollars, we'll be counting stars

Lately, I've been, I've been losing sleep

Dreaming about the things that we could be

But, baby, I've been, I've been praying hard

Said no more counting dollars, we'll be, we'll be counting stars

I feel your love, and I feel it burn

Down this river every turn

Hope is our four-letter word

Make that money, watch it burn

Old, but I'm not that old

Young, but I'm not that bold

And I don't think the world is sold

On just doing what we're told

And I feel something so wrong doing the right thing

I couldn't lie, couldn't lie, couldn't lie

Everything that drowns me makes me wanna fly

Lately, I've been, I've been losing sleep

Dreaming about the things that we could be

But, baby, I've been, I've been praying hard

Said no more counting dollars, we'll be counting stars

Lately, I've been, I've been losing sleep

Dreaming about the things that we could be

But, baby, I've been, I've been praying hard

Said no more counting dollars, we'll be, we'll be counting stars

Oh, take that money, watch it burn

Sink in the river the lessons I've learned

Take that money, watch it burn

Sink in the river the lessons I've learned

Take that money, watch it burn

Sink in the river the lessons I've learned

Take that money, watch it burn

Sink in the river the lessons I've learned

Every thing that kills me makes me feel alive

Lately, I've been, I've been losing sleep

Dreaming about the things that we could be

But, baby, I've been, I've been praying hard

Said no more counting dollars, we'll be counting stars

Lately, I've been, I've been losing sleep

Dreaming about the things that we could be

But, baby, I've been, I've been praying hard

Said no more counting dollars, we'll be, we'll be counting stars

Take that money, watch it burn

Sink in the river the lessons I've learned

Take that money, watch it burn

Sink in the river the lessons I've learned

Take that money ,watch it burn

Sink in the river the lessons I've learned

Take that money, watch it burn

Sink in the river the lessons I've learned