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Songfacts:  You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.

In the September 2000 edition of Spin magazine, Scott Stapp explained that this is is not about Christ's ascension to heaven or taking a big bong hit, but is about the power of lucid-dreaming: "You're physically asleep, but you're awake in your mind," he explains. He read a book about Hindu monks who have perfected the technique and thought it might help him squelch a recurring nightmare: He's running down a highway, closely pursued by a man with a gun. He turns left and hides behind a pillar beneath an overpass but gets shot anyway. Stapp says that once he learned how to lucid-dream, he was able to alter the nightmare so that he turned right and escaped. After he wrote "Higher" about the experience, he never had the nightmare again.

Comments:

He is talking about a place where you can go and be free. Do whatever makes you happy. Whatever makes you, you. Whatever you sit in class dreaming about.
- Richie, Pearland, TX

this song was set to my wife sky diving the first time to release her brothers ashes who was a skydiver and died in a plane crash with 9 others. Both of us cry everytime we view the video and the music makes it all the more special. So a big thanks to the band Creed.
- Ron Gilmore, snohomish, WA

Because of the fact that I am going through a bout of depression because of my divorce, I feel this song has touched me a lot more because of my own experience. I lost my grandfather a year before I got married and both my former wife and I loved that man more than can be put into words. I dream of him weekly, however less and less as time goes on. When I do dream of him, at the time he is still alive, as though nothing has changed. I have been in that morning, waking from a dream of my grandfather and feeling like I dont want "to wake from this place". I believe that this song is about the yearning of a lost loved one and not waiting until we(I) see them again in heaven.
- tom, south bend, IN

This is a beautiful song. I love it and I love Creed. I wish they hadn't broken up! It's very inspirational and wonderful to think how to get your life in a peaceful mode. One of their best songs ever.
- Gabreya, Pine Bluff, AK

Awsome!!! pretty self explanitory...just listen to it!
- julie, taylor, TX

this song has such strong meanings for me because i think of it as a challenge to myself to go as high as i can in life and work as hard as i can to make my dreams become realities. and the line "can you take me higher" is sort of like a challenge to myself to see what im actually capable of.
- emma, mississauga, Canada

ive read most of the comments people have posted and i really dont know why ur arguing over the meaning of the song, evryone has their own interpretations of what it means to them so who are u people to argue whether its about being on drugs, heaven or whatever else. to scott stapp himself yes it was about overcoming a nightmare he was having, but his written it in such a way that the listener can interpret however they want and bring to it there own meaning
- kellie, albury, Australia

What are you people on? This song is about the power of lucid dreaming. The part about "Golden Streets" and "Where blind men see" could just be a reference to Scott?s "utopia". It is not a reference to heaven. And the lines about Mark Tremonti ripping off Iron Maiden's Powerslave, Had it occurred to you morons that Mark just might have been inspired by them. For that matter do any of you even play guitar? I do and the 2 licks are slightly different. Mark was probably trying to "recreate" it to make their music sound unique. as apposed to a lot of the grunge and punk that was popular at the time. in an interview I read that Mark was heavily inspired by 80's metal. So he may have been trying to recreate that sort of sound. That's what made their music so famous. I do agree that Mark is a Pretty underrated guitarist. The man is a musical genius. By the way Esbjorn, have you heard of Alter Bridge? It's Mark's new band and they are 200 times better than Creed was. all the same band members except Scott. They brought in Myles Kennedy to sing and boy is he f***in' good. He makes Scott look like a joke. If no than the name of their cd is "One Day Remains". I also recommend that the rest of you pick it up also. It's much better. If you have any questions you can reach me at www.robert_a_cook@yahoo.com. By the way love this song. Very insightful on the ways the human mind works. And a cool riff too. Props to Mark. Rock on man!
- Kara, Cadillac, MI

I don't think it's particularly about Heaven. I think it's about dreaming of a better world, then waking up to the realization that it was all just a dream. And how he wants Earth to be like the place in his dreams. It's just about wanting peace. Has anyone given peace a thought? If we stopped war and hatred it truly would be Heaven on Earth.
- Ashley, Moncton, Canada

Worst guitar riff ever
- Alex, Madrid, Spain

The riff takes the song higher. Very well writen by Mark Tremonti which in my opinion is one the worlds most underrated guitarists...
- EsbjÃ?rn, Viborg, Denmark

I can't believe there is any debate about this song ripping off Iron Maiden. After seeing the comments about it here, I popped Powerslave into my CD player to compare for myself. Yeah, I think I hear the part you're referring to, but it's not really that close, and certainly not close enough to claim it as being ripped off. In fact, here's a couple of Song Facts for you: 1) There are only something like 12 notes on the musical scale, and 2) -- BELIEVE IT OR NOT -- Iron Maiden didn't invent them. Has it occured to any of you "Rip Off" flag wavers that Mark Tremonti may be a fan of Maiden, and that that particular guitar lick was a nod of appreciation towards them? Judging on his playing style and other documented sources of influence, I wouldn't be surprised if he finds Iron Maiden to be a musical inspiration for him. Rock on, Mark! The current state of music could use a few more Maiden-sounding bands!
- Jon, Warner Robins, GA

Sorry Christians - the song is not about Heaven. It's not about drugs either. In the September 2000 issue of "Spin Magazine," Scott Stapp told the interviewer the song was inspired by a book from a Hindu monk. The book was about staying awake in your mind to change your dreams. Quote: Creed finish with "Higher," which Stapp says is not about Christ's ascension to heaven or taking a big bong hit - it's about the power of lucid-dreaming. "You're physically asleep, but you're awake in your mind," he explains. He read a book about Hindu monks who have perfected the technique and thought it might help him squelch a recurring nightmare: He's running down a highway, closely pursued by a man with a gun. He turns left and hides behind a pillar beneath an overpass but gets shot anyway. Stapp says that once he learned how to lucid-dream, he was able to alter the nightmare so that he turned right and escaped. After he wrote "Higher" about the experience, he never had the nightmare again. Source: http://www.passionbreedsfollowers.com/media/print/magazines/spin.shtml
- Anthony, Long Island, NY

Come on people! A place where blind men see! Golden Streets! Listen to the lyrics!Theres 0nly one explanation. They can deny it all they want in interviews. HEAVEN! "Earth and my dreams." Earth and heaven. Listen to their other songs! They are christians, not necessarily Christian, as in evangelical, but this song is definitely religiously inspired.Peace out.
- James, Cape Town, South Africa

I completely relate and agree with you, Jackie.
- Leon, Waterbury, CT

I love creed, especially this song. to me, its really insperational
- Jill, Up The Hill, France

"Cause I don't want to leave the comfort of this place/'Cause there's a hunger, a longing to escape/From the life I live when I'm awake " Anyone who has had severe depression can relate to these lines. I've had weeks were getting out of bed is a struggle to make you want to give up, to go back to the dreams in your head. I still have mornings like this. The dream is so much an escape, you can't let it end. This is not seeking heaven, but a return to the world of dreams where he is not fighting himself constantly. If someone sees heaven as a dream, then it can be both (he doesn't say exactly *what* he's dreaming about - why do some feel like they have to define it?) And for the riff - if it works, good. It well tied to the lyrics and the rest of the music. Has anyone looked to see if inspiration is give to Iron Maiden? Music is not made in a vacuum, the best musicians know this.
- Jackie, Virginia Beach, VA

Ok so they used the same guitar riff, big deal. People do that a lot, i don't think they just "take it." Either you like the band, or you don't. And if you don't, what's the point of coming here? 2 continue... I love this song, But, my friend, I'd sacrifice all those nights If I could make the Earth and my dreams the same The only difference is To let love replace all our hate is my favorite part. :)
- Michelle, Anaheim, CA

You guys do know that Creed started as a christian rock band. Do I need say more?
- Nathan, Defiance, OH

Ashley, you are right that little riff is great... but you can't credit Creed with that riff, they stole it from Iron Maiden! Listen to the song 'Powerslave' by Iron Maiden and you will know what I mean. Its too bad that the one good thing about Creed (that riff) is just a ripoff of an Iron Maiden riff. Creed sux btw
- Jose, New York, NY

shes right Ashley just listen to Iron Maiden's powerslave Creed sucks bigtime for stealing that riff(this is to creed:stop stealing Riffs from Iron Maiden) >:[
- Francisco, South gate, CA

The little guitar thing done after"can you take me higher..." , you know what I mean, is the awesomest ever.
- Ashley, MOncton, Canada

This song is an anthem song for sure. I still can get all hyped by listening to it. I'm not really a Creed fan, but this song was really well done.
- Dee, Indianapolis, IN

This song was the soundrack of WWE Christmas in Iraq 2004... Nuff said...
- georwyn, paradise city, FL

He may have wrote it to be heaven then. It's obviously his dreams of a heaven. The main reason he told people it's not the heaven is because he feels he has to cave in his own ethos and satisfy his fans who think religion is a bad place to go. "Faceless Man" is blatantly a reference to God.
- Dude, TX, TX

Yeah I'd think that too If Scott hadn't said in EVERY INTERVIEW ever that it was about dreams NOT HEAVEN. He ran away from Religion. Not towards it. But it means different things to everybody, if you want it to mean drugs/heaven to you then let it. its just not what he wrote it for.
- Dawn, Vernon, Canada

i also DO think that they are talking about heaven, i mean, golden paved roads, blind men see...
- ali, QC, AZ

It's about lucid dreams...not drugs, war, heaven or anything else. Where do people get their information from these days?
- ReA, Edmonton, Canada

I personally think that this song is about war, and how dreaming is an escape from the cruel world we live in..and he doesn't like waking up and realizing where he really lives. He wishes he could go to this higher "place"..that is perfect (where blind men see) He'd sacrifice all his wonderful dreams if the world were just like them, and wants love to replace all the hate in the world. Best song ever - love it.
- Dawn, Toronto, Canada

TO go along with the songfacts; "Can you take me higher" is him "asking" the drugs whether they can take him to heaven ("...to a place where blind man see")
- Dick, Simi, CA

This song makes me think about how I can help myself, and do better in life. I especially liked the line, "To a place where blind men see".
- Paul, Toledo, OH