Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: emo
Song Meaning of “Earthquake” by Hit The Lights
‘Earthquake’ is a song written by band Hit The Lights, released in 2010. It is about surviving through and overcoming difficult times and being able to conquer any obstacle in life, despite all the emotional distress one has to deal with.
The song begins with the lyrics “Everyone is crawling on their knees, fighting off the shaking in their knees”. The use of the word “everyone” is meant to portray a feeling of universality- everybody has faced some kind of hardship. The lyrics also resonates the metaphor of an actual earthquake, where the shaking of the ground eludes to the shaking of one’s emotions.
The song shifts to the chorus, as the comparison of the earthquake to life’s hardships become notably resonant, as the title implies. The lyrics of the chorus “We can build a city back, we can shake a city down” suggests the idea that we can build ourselves up even after tough times, even if we have to, figuratively, shake life down.
The second verse of ‘Earthquake’ continues to explore the idea of the battle within person’s inner-self, while still referencing the physicalities of an actual earthquake. The lyrics “I can feel the trembling of the ground, I can feel the bones within my chest” is meant to convey an emotional literalism- the speaker of the song is referencing not only the physical experience of an earthquake, but also the inner turmoil of grappling with emotions.
The song ends with an uplifting message of hope and strength, reinforcing the idea of the metaphor of an earthquake. The lyrics “We can be saved, like it’s a matter of fact” suggesting that no matter how overwhelming life may seem, it is possible to save and conquer it.
Overall, ‘Earthquake’ by Hit The Lights is an inspirational song that demonstrates the strength that is gained from overcoming hardships. The idea of the physicality of an earthquake is used to evoke a feeling of the power of resilience and redemption. The lyrics depict the reality that the shaking of life can cause us to surrender, though the strength that is gained from this struggle and overcoming is truly invaluable.