I Lived

Album: Native (2013)
Charted: 29 32
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • While opening for U2 in the summer of 2012, OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder observed the effect of Bono's lyrics on the Irish band's fans, as they sung along to their songs. "These lyrics are so from his gut and so like honest, but poetic," Tedder told Radio.com. "They're not trying to be ambiguous or trying to be cool."

    Inspired, Tedder decided that with Native he was going to write lyrics people could relate to, which meant he would have to share a little bit of himself. Accordingly, nothing on the album is a work of fiction. This song, for instance is a love letter to the singer's son, Copeland Cruz, who was born in 2010.
  • The song's music video pays tribute to teenage fan, Bryan Warnecke, and his struggles living with cystic fibrosis. The clip ends with Tedder driving Warnecke to a concert at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado to see OneReublic perform.

Comments: 1

  • Linda from Oakland, Ca, UsaThis song is about living life to its fullest, but I interpreted it as to take risks because to live is to feel pain. "Hoping you take that jump
    But don't fear the fall, Hope that you fall in love/And it hurts so bad, With every broken bone/I swear I lived."
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Lecrae

LecraeSongwriter Interviews

The Christian rapper talks about where his trip to Haiti and his history of addiction fit into his songs.

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?Song Writing

A big list of musical marriages and family relations ranging from the simple to the truly dysfunctional.

Jon Anderson

Jon AndersonSongwriter Interviews

Jon Anderson breaks down the Yes classic "Seen All Good People" and talks about his 1000 Hands album, which features Chick Corea, Rick Derringer, Ian Anderson, and many other luminaries.

A Monster Ate My Red Two: Sesame Street's Greatest Song Spoofs

A Monster Ate My Red Two: Sesame Street's Greatest Song SpoofsSong Writing

When singers started spoofing their own songs on Sesame Street, the results were both educational and hilarious - here are the best of them.

Phone Booth Songs

Phone Booth SongsSong Writing

Phone booths are nearly extinct, but they provided storylines for some of the most profound songs of the pre-cell phone era.

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")Songwriter Interviews

A top country songwriter, Barry talks about writing hits for Little Big Town, Tim McGraw and Jason Aldean.