What does Faded mean?

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Alan Walker: Faded Meaning

Song Released: 2015



Faded Lyrics

Alan Walker - Faded Lyrics

[Verse 1]
You were the shadow to my light
Did you feel us?
Another star, you fade away
Afraid our aim is out of sight
Wanna see us, alive

[Pre-Chorus 1]
Where are you now?
Where are you now?
Where are you...

  1. 1TOP RATED

    #1 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Nov 13th 2021 report

    Though most people interpreted it as a song about a lost love, I would say it is about self discovery. Walker is talking about having been someone different than who he is now, and the song being as nostalgic as it is, probably misses who he was. He is apparently looking for his lost self, hence the iconic line "Where are you now?"

    Walker, in the very first line "you were the shadow to my light," is talking about how who he was was always keeping him from being who he was meant to be;yet he keeps trying to him.

    In the chorus, the reference to Atlantis means Walker's other self was pretty much as mythical as the lost city, yet he keeps trying to find it.
    In the second verse says

    "these shallow waters were never what I needed
    I'm letting go, a deeper dive"

    Which means he is indeed starting to let go and accept that his older self was shallow, but not completely, for he starts calling out to his old self again in the pre-chourus.

    And finally

    "I'm faded
    I'm faded
    I'm faded
    So lost
    I'm faded"

    Means that Walker's older self has, indeed, faded and he has to find a way to get along as he is now.





  2. 2TOP RATED

    #2 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Feb 2nd 2019 report

    It's about longing for the romanticized love of your youth and coming to question whether it was real.

    You were the shadow to my light
    Did you feel us?
    (We were different but complimentary, like night and day, yin and yang. Did you feel the same?)

    Another star
    You fade away
    (But like the many stars in my sky you faded away)

    Afraid our aim is out of sight
    Wanna see us, A light
    (Our expectations were too high. We were young, chasing a fairy tale)

    Where are you now
    Was it all in my fantasy
    Were you only imaginary
    Where are you now
    Atlantis
    Under the sea
    (Atlantis, an ancient paradise that is lost, that everyone searches for, that in reality probably never really existed. Here Atlantis represents the true love that we feel exists but remains lost beneath the surface.)

    These shallow waters, never met
    What I needed
    I'm letting go
    A deeper dive
    (My shallow life and relationships never satisfied me. I'm moving deeper in search of "Atlantis")


    Eternal silence of the sea
    I'm breathing
    Alive
    Where are you now?
    (But I find that I'm alone down here. Where are you now that I'm ready for you?)

    Under the bright
    But faded lights
    You set my heart on fire
    Where are you now
    (We shared an intense moment that I idealize but that moment is fading.)

    Where are you now
    Where are you now
    Atlantis
    Under the sea
    Under the sea
    Where are you now
    Another dream
    The monsters running wild inside of me
    (The loneliness is consuming me as I'm lost searching for Atlantis, but you're nowhere to be found.)

    I'm faded
    I'm faded
    So lost
    I'm faded
    I'm faded
    So lost
    I'm faded

  3. 3TOP RATED

    #3 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Apr 27th 2020 report

    The simple chord progression of Am F C to G, this masterpiece, like many other songs, talk about a past memory. Not necessarily love or friendship but rather emotional connections and memories from the past. I guess you could call this a modern poem for it features non-traditional instruments but rather electronic generated beats and melodies. The opening lines mentions a non-traditional relationship: rather a light to the shadows as for guidance, the guidance was taken away by someone. The person also puts into question whether they felt the same, strong feelings as they did. They go deep into their minds and compares the memories to Atlantis, a majestic palace that is now gone and impossible to find. The same feelings the person is looking for are no longer felt and are lost but instead of giving up, they make an effort to search for their happiness by metaphorically diving into their sea of memories. With no luck, they get lost in thoughts and what they thought was real was pure imagination and are unable to seek joy. They become lonely while the dark abyss surrounds them and while the loneliness slowly consumes them, they are lost and faded. Not only does the song have some darkness behind it, but it also shows many characteristics of a poem. With the basics, there are rhymes throughout this piece. Light and sight, fantasy and imaginary, sea and me, dive and alive are some of the rhymes mentions. Another feature of the song is the motifs. The lister gets a lot of “faded”, “now”, and “sea” to truly understand the distress of the person in the song. While it is a song, it is also a story. It introduces the subject/purpose (the search for escape or guidance to the light), the adventures and trials of attempting to accomplish, and a bitter ending. Like all poems, this song teaches us something. Through the metaphors in the song, the meaning lies in the first lines. The person in distress looked at the shadows taking away the light, taking away the opportunity for escape and life. While they are free now, this dark memory made its way back into the thoughts like a flashback and this person is searching a way out of this terrible memory and searches deep in their minds to get rid of it, but fails. They try to get their happiness back from this shadow but fail. The meaning behind this is to avoid the shadows in the first place. The person is going through the pain for others. It means to live in the moment and enjoy the given opportunities to make happy memories and not letting the dark ones in. It means to leave the past behind and move on because by looking back you just relieve the moment and it becomes an endless cycle. This song a very popular among the EDM fan base, maybe it is because of its sick beats but maybe it is to show how hard it is to move past this song and listen to another and how hard it is to let go. These dark memories may represent abusive parents, abusive relationships, a victim of being bullied, a war veteran, or others.

  4. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Jul 8th report

    This story was so sad... Now, that I know what does this song means, perhaps it will be my favorite song later on, I guess? I'm just a child, and I'm not related to this story since that I've never experience these things before but I feel the emotions and the story.. I will be a hard part of you're life if you we're in this situation.. Thanks for the meaning, I really like this!! Please create more content about this, I swear, I'll always read it.. Thanks for this, bro! God bless you! <3 <3 :D

    ~Princess Liyah~

  5. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    May 31st report

    This song about someone who lost their loved ones. They tried looking for them but they couldn't find their loved ones. They then gave up and wanted them to come back, but they didn't.

  6. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Mar 15th 2023 report

    Verse1:
    You were the shadow to my light, can you see it. Another star you fade away. Afraid our aim is out of sight. Can you feel us at last.
    Chorous:
    Where are you now it’s mot a dream theres monster wild inside of me. I’m fading,

    I’m so lost i’m faded.

  7. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Sep 25th 2022 report

    I think this song is made up in a tragic shape because in some verses the poet telling about deep water and some time with great feeling of love with someone. But i got it a story of Atlantis which is drowned in sea . And the poet mourning on the the Atlantis and feel very lost for itself. Sometime he/she get Atlantis as himself talking about it. There is a long story behind this song but very interesting i listening it in the night and feeling very sad

  8. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Sep 25th 2022 report

    I think this song is made up in a tragic shape because in some verses the poet telling about deep water and some time with great feeling of love with someone. But i got it a story of Atlantis which is drowned in sea . And the poet mourning on the the Atlantis and feel very lost for itself. Sometime he/she get Atlantis as himself talking about it. There is a long story behind this song but very interesting i listening it in the night and feeling very sad

  9. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Sep 25th 2022 report

    I think this song is made up in a tragic shape because in some verses the poet telling about deep water and some time with great feeling of love with someone. But i got it a story of Atlantis which is drowned in sea . And the poet mourning on the the Atlantis and feel very lost for itself. Sometime he/she get Atlantis as himself talking about it. There is a long story behind this song but very interesting i listening it in the night and feeling very sad

  10. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Sep 25th 2022 report

    I think this song is made up in a tragic shape because in some verses the poet telling about deep water and some time with great feeling of love with someone. But i got it a story of Atlantis which is drowned in sea . And the poet mourning on the the Atlantis and feel very lost for itself. Sometime he/she get Atlantis as himself talking about it. There is a long story behind this song but very interesting i listening it in the night and feeling very sad

  11. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Aug 9th 2022 report

    I think the song is about a perfect relationship that makes the writer not to achieve much, which then disappears suddenly like a star..imagine 'light' and a 'shadow'...on the other hand,the writer is also worried/afraid that their aim..what they wanted to achieve despite the situation they are in now may be hard to reach..as the lyrics goes on, the writer is struck by the thought that maybe what they had was just an imagination..a fantasy..the writer kind of wants it back when he asks "where are you now?" but he knows that it will be another dead end..so he is lost in the confusion(so lost)and he is unable to see things clearly (I'm faded)...in the second stanza, the writer expresses the insatiability of what they had(shallow Waters never meant what I needed) but he has made his mind to let it go(I'm letting) and he is taking a step towards finding himself(a deeper dive)..and it looks like he has succeeded, he has found himself in the place he has reached in his life now, which it is comfortable in a way( eternal silence of The sea.. I'm breathing, Alive)..he is finally breathing..alive.

    The part that says "Under the bright with faded lights you set my heart on fire"Expresses how the writer is hurt by the way they were under a perfect relationship(the bright) but with less advantages(but with faded lights) broke his heart ( set my heart on fire)...He then continues asking where are now? But this time with the impression that says.. where are you to see me now... see how I'm handling myself without you.. The writer compares how far/distant the love/lover is in the moment to Atlantis.. Under the sea and he is angered by the fact that he can't reach it....

    Anyway.. thank you guys so much for taking your time to read through this.. I hope that I helped shine some light in the complicated staff I have written up there.. reply with #tag d101 if you agree with me..

  12. XYZ
    click a star to vote
    Jun 8th 2022 report

    I don't understand this song at all so please do some explaining here. It's an interesting song and I love but.....what does it mean?

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
  13. XYZ
    click a star to vote
    Jun 6th 2022 report

    I weirdly for the first time almost feel like it's about someone staring into the stars and choosing one for them. But then sadly the star starts to fade as they fade too.

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
  14. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    May 24th 2022 report

    I know nobody will like or read this but, here we go.

    I think this song was written about a breakup, but to me it has an extremely deep meaning. Much more than just a breakup. I think it’s about how when the other half of you is gone, you feel like your fading. Lost. So you have to find you again.

    “Atlantis, under the sea, under the sea”
    I think these lyrics describe how they are feeling. Like the sunken Atlantis. Lost and never to be found.

    Finding who you really are is the most important part of life, I think. And this song really brings that feeling to the surface of my mind when this comes on.

    So, I’d like it if anybody who did read this would post their interpretation and put 110310 at the start if it is in reply to this. Again, even if it is about how you think this sucked.

  15. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Dec 14th 2021 report

    I feel it is a song that can be interpreted many ways. For myself, it reminds me of my late husband."You were the shadow to my light did u feel us?". We complimented each other well."Another star, fade away" He has passed away, so the "where are you now?" Makes me wonder where he is?... maybe Atlantis, under the sea. I also see the video. A lost wondering soul. We seperated. He was homeless, dressed like the person in the video and going to the same places.
    "I'm faded, so lost, I'm faded" is me. "The shallow water never met what I needed" me leaving him, while still in love with him. Part of the song sounds like it says "breathe". He overdosed and died. Stop breathing. Just a lot to it. Reminds me of losing someone. It was so good for so long, "was it just a dream, or my imagination"... was it real? I lost my soulmate.. Nov. 2019. They say breathing and alive a lot. The where are you now gets to me.. where is he???

  16. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Oct 10th 2021 report

    Conclusively, Mr. Walker has stated that the lyrical content of “Faded” is meant to be interpreted by the listeners themselves. That being said, there is definitely a storyline contained therein. And this story is one in which the singer is in search of something – whether it be a person, place or thing – or just trying to find her place in life in general.

    Read more at: https://www.songmeaningsandfacts.com/faded-by-alan-walker/


    For the recent interpretation. Agree, love don't disappear after 8 weeks. He only used you and really has a girl. Forget about him. You deserve someone who loves you without thinking of cars, money, things. Love yourself. Love your life. Love the special people in your life. Live life to the fullest. You'll meet the right guy for you. Be strong and be brave.



  17. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Oct 10th 2021 report

    I red a lot of comments, no one see the toxic relationship? When someone is coming to you for what you have, like a car, cigarettes, money?
    I recognize myself saying “Where r u”? You said that I’m the one, you make me feel crazy about you… And, you find better than me ( I was poor, 800.00$ a month) but he was coming from jail… So, he stay 2 month than go… and I said why? And he said, I was not in love… But but… You told me last Friday that you where so in luv with me… Dhuh ( on his cell ) heee what? Oh really??? I don’t remember. Sorry, got to go see a friend. ( he came back after 4 days… and, he took his thing,, say bye!!! The woman was waiting for him in her car… I was feeling stupid, and steel in luv with him. Did I was dreaming? You said the opposite after 2 months. This is not possible. Love don’t fall down after 8:weeks!!!

  18. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Oct 5th 2021 report

    The song is much about idealized love:

    "You were the shadow to my light
    Did you feel us
    Another start
    You fade away"

    Means that the loved person was a perfect complement to him, means can be darkness to his light, the purpose here is also about sin and negativity cause that could mean that a good person can love, deeply love, a bad one and this happens often, cause love it's truly blind in reality, people should not be similar to love one each other.

    "Afraid our aim is out of sight
    Wanna see us
    Alive"

    The aim was too high, impossible : a dream, a fairy tale, here idealization takes place. Now the singer think they're both not alive, cause they aren't together anymore, and they lived just together, that's the meaning, then after not anymore, they faded and are just shadows.

    "Was it all in my fantasy
    Where are you now
    Were you only imaginary
    ...
    Atlantis
    Under the sea"

    Start thinking it was just fantasy, unreal, a dream cause of the fading of emotions, very common when you lost someone forever and don't talk to that person anymore. A search for the impossible, or for something that never existed, cause it was just idealization of love, not reality.

    "Another dream
    The monsters running wild inside of me
    I'm faded
    I'm faded
    So lost
    I'm faded"

    Means he's now another person, that probably can't love anymore like that and have monsters, bad feelings, about the actual situation and the fact he's actually alone and faded, so a shadow of himself, based on the idealized love of above. Bad feelings, regrets, depression maybe and so on.

    "These shallow waters, never met
    What I needed
    I'm letting go
    A deeper dive
    Eternal silence of the sea
    I'm breathing
    Alive"

    Is an interesting part: he feels lonely and, probably, don't like superficial people or love, cause true love CAN'T BE superficial... Then the bad feelings realize or attempt to be realized: a deeper dive maybe means suicidal feelings in the 'eternal silence' of water: many people die this way for love, they drown. No matter if happens in the bathtube with drugs or in the sea, drowing is a typical suicidal situation where people refuse life.

    "Under the bright
    But faded lights
    You set my heart on fire"

    Probably the best part of the song: means that it was true love, under the sun means that nothing was done to hide that feelings and these feelings illuminated his life, for a while. The faded lights are about the two lovers at the beginning, that probably understood their reciprocal love in a condition of strong trust: people don't stay together alone under faded, say very dim, lights unless they trust one each other, especially girls avoid that. My idea about it is that happened outdoor, maybe in a street at evening or night, outside, in low light conditions. And there she set his heart on fire, no dubt, the first kiss I think. The lights appears now even more faded cause related to memories, as the general meaning of the song about fading away, living just of memories.

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