What does The 18th Floor Balcony mean?

Blue October: The 18th Floor Balcony Meaning

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Album cover for The 18th Floor Balcony album cover

The 18th Floor Balcony Lyrics

I close my eyes and I smile

Knowing that everything is alright

To the core

So close that door

Is this happening?

My breath is on your hair

I'm unaware

That you opened the blinds and let the city in

God, you held my hand

And we...

  1. 1TOP RATED

    #1 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
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    Dec 20th 2015 !⃝

    This song is definitely not about heart break. I think it's a song about someone he loved at the time. This song is just happiness. It's a statement that says: I love her. I love her so much and nothing else matters but her. I took the time to get to know you and I'm so amazed that we are together. The 18th story balcony probably is a real personal reference where Justin may have met the girl he's referencing but it also represent that "altitude" of their love. The balcony is a symbol there isolation, but in a good way; a way that means: we are here alone and that's okay because we are here together.

  2. 2TOP RATED

    #2 top rated interpretation:
    cisum
    click a star to vote
    Mar 17th 2010 !⃝

    I'm probably not even close.. but this is what I gather from this song...

    "I close my eyes and I smile
    Knowing that everything is alright
    To the core
    So close that door
    Is this happening?"

    --he basically falls in love with this girl.. and has never felt that way before...and can't believe it..

    My breath is on your hair
    I'm unaware
    That you opened the blinds and let the city in
    God, you held my hand
    And we stand
    Just taking in everything.

    --He's never been so happy "open the blinds and let the city it" just basically means that she let and wanted everyone to know that they were in love.

    And I knew it from the start
    So my arms are open wide
    Your head is on my stomach
    And we're trying so hard not to fall asleep
    Here we are
    On this 18th floor balcony.
    We're both flying away.

    --AND he knew from the start that she was the one for him..he let her in..and being on this 18th floor balcony basically means..when you're in love nothing else seems to matter.. So they use the line.. 18th floor balcony to resemble that it's just them.. and they're in love.. and they're both flying away..

    So we talked about mom's and dad's
    About family pasts
    Just getting to know where we came from
    Our hearts were on display
    For all to see
    I can't believe this is happening to me

    -- they got to know each other let each other in. and they let everyone else know they were in love. I can't believe this is happening to me...means..she stopped loving him.

    And I raised my hand as if to show you that I was yours
    That I was so yours for the taking
    I'm so yours for the taking
    That's when I felt the wind pick up
    I grabbed the rail while choking up
    These words to say and then you kissed me...

    --so he tried and tried to prove to her that he wanted her and he didnt' want her to go..the wind picking up.. His world crashing and he grabbed the rail because he felt like he was falling..he was so high on love.. That when she stopped loving him..he couldn't belive it. and she kissed him goodbye...

    And I'll try to sleep
    To keep you in my dreams
    'til I can bring you home with me
    I'll try to sleep
    And when I do I'll keep you in my... dreams

    --he'll never forget her..

    and basically the last verse of the song re interprets it to they both go they're separate ways.

  3. Gooch
    click a star to vote
    Nov 10th 2022 !⃝

    To me, this is certainly a story of someone getting to know a lady and realizing that he is falling deeply in love with her. His arms are open wide to her love and he knew it from the start. They don't want to fall asleep for fear they would miss those moments together. He wants to tell her that he's falling in love with her and building up the courage when she interrupts him with her kiss. They are basically both flying away together in love. But it's just beginning, and he knows that there will be times when they are apart. He feels that eventually they will be together but until then, "I'll keep you in my dreams"

  4. anonymous
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    Sep 19th 2021 !⃝

    Words from Justin himself. It's about actually meeting up with a girl on the 18th floor of a hotel in Kansas City. He was awestruck with her beauty.

  5. anonymous
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    Jul 29th 2019 !⃝

    I feel so strongly that HE left HER in the end- cuz he’s ultimately too afraid to love :( he’s caught up in the beginning, amazed, delighted, sharing. But he’s afraid of loving too hard and of being abandoned- so he does it before she can do it. The additional piece after the dead air sounds as if this is him talking now after he’s left her- speaking almost resentfully to anyone who would suggest differently, that “it’s just me & I’ll find a way to make it”- but he still loves her deep down & always will... the rest of the album also seems to follow that theme- congratulations, into the ocean I think it’s called- he couldn’t handle a love that big so he will always miss her.

  6. anonymous
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    Sep 2nd 2018 !⃝

    I took this to mean they were having an affair and perhaps the 18th floor is where they met all the time. They “couldn’t believe” it was happening. Then as they got to know each other they fell I love. And he dreamt of the day he could take her home. He was hers for the taking. He would leave his wife and go with her.

    Also pointing to this is the head on stomach trying not to fall asleep. They could steal moments but not really sleep in peace. Can’t fall asleep if you have ro get back home.

  7. anonymous
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    Oct 11th 2017 !⃝

    He's fallen in love, they hv a strong bond..Then she flys fr balcony,(suicide). He only wants her, to be where she is.. He goes to the place they loved,& he lost her, 18th floor,(balcony) Ready to fly to her, He feels her hand, saving him from same date as her own..
    I Think anyone who's suffered severe depression, or have a love who has, will relate to the words, ppl who see this as a love song, It is, Just not the "They lived Happily ever after" type. When a Sufferer opens up ( they never open up all the way) you see it is a dark world for them..She flew Knowing her life would Never be better than That moment..He will keep her with him, & love her, Always..

  8. anonymous
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    Jul 1st 2017 !⃝

    So this is not a song about true love? And shouldnt be my wedding song?


    Opinions pleassssssssseeeeee

  9. anonymous
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    Mar 26th 2017 !⃝

    I think he fell in love with a girl who committed suicide. Listen to the secret track.

  10. anonymous
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    Feb 5th 2017 !⃝

    This song isn't about heartbreak. It's about something my school more serious than that. This song is actually about committing suicide. As the song is titled 18th floor balcony he's talking about jumping off of the balcony saying his arms are open wide which many people do when they're about to jump. He also talks about "flying away" which is also a sign for jumping.

  11. anonymous
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    Dec 2nd 2016 !⃝

    I agree with the comment above with all but the ending because I truly feel this is a positive song. The end I feel he means until he can bring her home...like marry her and make it a forever thing.

  12. anonymous
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    Jan 24th 2016 !⃝

    I think it means that he is in love with a girl, and they are falling in a love that can't happen so they are trying 2 hold on to the memories they have , since there can't be more

  13. anonymous
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    Dec 6th 2015 !⃝

    They were both in love with one another, but the woman he loved has fallen out of love and all he has is the memories of them two being in love and them both going separate ways from being together.

  14. anonymous
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    Oct 9th 2014 !⃝

    It's about when you fall in love with someone and then they're taken away from you or they leave and you feel like you want to kill yourself. When he's talking about holding onto the railing while choking up he's contemplating suicide. He's remembering all of the memories him and the person he loved had together and since they aren't together anymore he wants to die.

  15. anonymous
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    Aug 24th 2013 !⃝

    I think the song 18th floor Baconly is about being in love with a girl.And he never felt that way before.


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