Counting Stars Lyrics

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  • Type out all lyrics, even repeating song parts like the chorus
  • Lyrics should be broken down into individual lines
  • Use section headers above different song parts like [Verse], [Chorus], etc.
  • Use italics (<i>lyric</i>) and bold (<b>lyric</b>) to distinguish between different vocalists in the same song part
  • If you don’t understand a lyric, use [?]

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About

Genius Annotation

The first track on OneRepublic’s third studio album Native, “Counting Stars” was inspired by lead singer Ryan Tedder’s writing sessions with Beyonce in the Hamptons. The song has sold over ten million copies in the United States alone.

The annotations on the left suggest a literal positive view of life and religion, an affirmation of care for his partner, a rejection of materialism and hope for the future.

Alternatively, it could be an ironic view of a questionable religious cult. Hence, the singer feels ‘something so right doing the wrong thing, something so wrong doing the right thing’. He’s ‘doing what he’s told’ mindlessly, without questioning. The crocodile in the music video could be a representation of the serpent. The cult leader is a dishonest bully who provokes convulsions in one woman. There are shady undertones to this lyric, depending on interpretation. A clever conundrum.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What did OneRepublic say about "Counting Stars"?
Genius Answer

OneRepublic has said about this song that it is about:

“laying in bed awake at night when you’re stressed out of your mind, thinking ‘How are we gonna make ends meet? How are we gonna pay the bills?’ You know, all those things you wanna do with your life – how are we gonna make them work? How’s this actually gonna happen or come to pass? So, instead of counting sheep, we’re counting stars.”

Has this track received any certifications?
Genius Answer

Yes, “Counting Stars” was certified 10x Multi-Platinum by the RIAA on August 20th, 2018. It was originally certified gold on September 16th, 2013.

why there is a crocodile in the video?
Genius Answer

With lyrics like “No more counting dollars we’ll be counting stars” and “Take that money watch it burn”, Counting Stars is a song rejecting the greedy desires of humans. In various cultures, crocodiles are regarded as the symbol of greed in the same way they consider lions for bravery and foxes for cunningness.

Credits
Written By
Phonographic Copyright ℗
Bass Guitar
Lead Vocals
Keyboards
Assistant Mixing Engineer
Assistant Recording Engineer
Mastering Engineer
Recording Engineer
Mixing Engineer
Recorded At
Black Rock Studios (Santorini, GRC), RAK Recording Studio (London, GBR) and Patriot Studios (Denver, CO, USA)
Release Date
March 25, 2013
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