What does Story of My Life mean?

One Direction: Story of My Life Meaning

Album cover for Story of My Life album cover

Song Released: 2013


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Story of My Life Lyrics

[Harry]
Written in these walls are the stories that I can't explain
I leave my heart open but it stays right here empty for days

[Liam]
She told me in the morning she don't feel the same about us in her bones
It seems to me that when I die...

  1. 1TOP RATED

    #1 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Oct 30th 2013 !⃝

    To me, this song is about someone who is afraid that he will never find a girl who will love him as much as he loves her.

    He says that the story of his life is that he feels he gives so much and loves so much in every relationship but that it always ends up the same way - the girl wakes up one morning and realizes that she doesn't feel the same way as him. It has happened so many times that he thinks that it's something about him and the way he loves too much that makes the person he's with feel like she can't reciprocate the same level of love. He's afraid that this pattern is inescapable, will continue for the rest of his life and define him to the extent that after he dies, this is what people will think of for the epitaph.

    He can't explain why this keeps happening, but these failed relationships are now a part of his history and who he is now
    (Written in these walls are the stories that I can't explain/Written in these walls are the colours I can't change).

    Despite of having almost resigned to his "fate" of never finding the one, he still believes in love at his core and keeps letting himself fall in love
    (I know that in the morning now, I'll see us in the light upon a hill, Although I am broken my heart is untamed still)

  2. 2TOP RATED

    #2 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Aug 22nd 2014 !⃝

    I think that the soml is not only about girls what I think that the "her" in the lyrics is not only talking about a girl it is also a way of telling their families that the memories they had will never fade even though they have grown up and become "famous" " I drive all night to keep her warm and time is frozen" . That the fame will never change them and that those memories will be the only thing they take with them when they die " it's seems that when I die these words will be written on my stone " . The soml also talks about in my opinion how the fame gets a little to much sometimes and that they feel as if the ground is swallowing them "the ground beneath my feet is open wide " . Also harry talks about wearing his heart on his sleeve and how the media makes stuff up about him that are not true " written in these walls are the stories that I can't explain leave my heart open but it lies here empty for days". Niall talks about never changing and that he can't seem to find love even though much like harry wears his heart on his sleeve " written on these walls are the colours I can't change leave my heart open but it stays right here in it's cage". Louis talks about leaving his family and girlfriend also about all the hate he gets " and I'll be gone gone tonight and the fire beneath my feet is biting bright ". Zayn talks about finally meeting his love and getting married soon and how hard it was to do so " and I've been waiting for this time to come around cause baby chasing after you is like chasing the clouds". Liam talks about his first girlfriend and how he thought she was the right one but wasn't and how badly it hurt him but also about the memories that will never fade " she told me in the morning she don't feel the same about us in her bones it seems that when I die these words will be written on my stone " the boys also talk about how much love they give and even though they have been hurt before and used they still continue to do so " although I am broken my heart is untamed still ".

  3. 3TOP RATED

    #3 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Oct 14th 2020 !⃝

    I think it's about when a person knew that his time has come and trying to remember his good memories and tries not get away from them.
    WRITTEN IN THESE WALLS ARE THE STORIES THAT I CAN'T EXPLAIN. It's about those memories throughout our life that are so close to us that we can't explain to anyone.
    I LEAVE MY HEART OPEN BUT IT STAYS RIGHT HERE EMPTY FOR DAYS No matter how much we try but we can forget them.
    SHE TOLD ME IN THE MORNING SHE DON'T FEEL THE SAME ABOUT US IN HER BONES
    And then one day we woke up knowing that now the time has come and sooner we'll be gone.
    IT SEEMS TO ME THE DAY I DIE THESE WORDS WILL BE WRITTEN ON MY STONE.
    The memories of our life, the respect we had gain will be written on our tombstone.
    AND I'LL BE GONE GONE TONIGHT THE GROUND BENEATH MY FEET IS OPEN WIDE, THE WAY THAT I'VE BEEN HOLDING ON TOO TIGHT WITH NOTHING IN BETWEEN.
    We know that now the time has come and anytime soon we'll die the way that we were holding to life has now come to an end.
    THE STORY OF MY LIFE I TAKE HER HOME. I DRIVE ALL NIGHT TO KEEP HER WARM AND TIME IS FROZEN.
    We know that we are gonna die but still we try to get out of it and relive those memories for the one last time but the time froze.

    That is the meaning of this song according to me

  4. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Oct 7th 2022 !⃝

    I think it about a guy showing a girl how much he love her but no matter what he does, the girl won't just love him the way he did and this could lead to his death because he is already addicted to her

  5. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Oct 7th 2022 !⃝

    I think it about a guy doing everything to make a girl love him but no matter what he does, the girl won't just love him the way he did and this could lead to his death

  6. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Jun 13th 2021 !⃝

    I have children who watch this group and love their music. As a mom I know tired ( exhausted? ) boys when I see them.
    The story of my life is theirs along with the growing pains and changes.
    New love, past love, and loss of family that have passed .

  7. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Apr 7th 2021 !⃝

    There is a very different way to interpret this than how most people have, which is about being in love. I thought about the song the same way until I started actually thinking about what the lyrics said to me, not just the love song it seems to be. To me, the song sounds to be about a person, most likely an older teenager, who is struggling with an alcoholic mother. If you look at it this way, the narrator is singing about their struggles in their home environment and their relationship with their mother. Their whole life seems to be a repeated story. They have to drive their mother home, look after her, and repeat. This mentally and emotionally breaks them, but they still persist.
    — C

  8. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Mar 30th 2020 !⃝

    actually I personally think this is about us directioners. if you take a look.
    WRITTEN ON THESE WALLS ARE THE STORIES THAT I CAN'T EXPLAIN-I think they are talking about all the posters,articles on our walls.
    I LEAVE MY HEART OPEN BUT IT STAYS RIGHT HERE EMPTY FOR DAYS- sorry don't get it:(
    SHE TELLS ME IN THE MORNING SHE DON'T FEEL THE SAME ABOUT US IN HER BONES-you know when things started to change between the boys(if you get what I mean) we may haven't felt the same about in our bones.
    IT SEEMS TO ME WHEN I DIE THOSE WORDS WILL BE WRITTEN ON MY STONE- every word they speak' every lyric they sang will be written on our stone when we die because we love them so much.
    AND I'LL BE GONE GONE TONIGHT. THE GROUND BENEATH MY FEET IS OPEN WIDE. THE WAR THAT I,VE BEING HOLDING ON TOO TIGHT. WITH NOTHING IN BETWEEN- I think this part is about fans who had go through very difficult times and insults just because she is a directioner, she tries to get away from all these things so she can still love the boys.
    THE STORY OF MY LIFE,I TAKE HER HOME I DRIVE ALL NIGHT TO KEEP HER WARM AND TIME IS FROZEN- it's about the boys trying to keep us happy and warm and she wishes that time would be frozen now so she can enjoy the time with them.
    THE STORY OF MY LIFE, I GIVE HER HOPE, I SPEND HER LOVE, UNTIL SHE'S BROKEN INSIDE-so it's about the boys, they gave us hope. for people like me they are the only reason i smile. we give them all our love until we haven't any love left to give to our other loved ones, so we could be broken by inside.:)
    SO THIS IS ONLY MY OPINION. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S RIGHT OR NOT.I HAD FUN WRITING MY OPINION. AND PLEASE IGNORE IF THERE'S ANY GRAMMAR MISTAKES. I'M NOT A BRITISH OR AN ENGLISH PERSON;)

    Spread love & stay safe.
    xxxx

  9. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Jun 14th 2019 !⃝

    When I start with writing the songs to my friend I’ve been into my studio and I wrote about eighteen songs but it’s enough space for more music, but Patrick is helping me with the track.

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
  10. anonymous
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    May 29th 2019 !⃝

    Reminiscing about the past. How childhood was innocent and so easy. Reflecting it all as an adult

  11. anonymous
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    May 20th 2019 !⃝

    Telling a story about the singers childhood . Now theyre all grown up and looking back.

  12. anonymous
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    Apr 8th 2019 !⃝

    Overall, I think this song is about the fame of One Direction. The struggles and joys of it. Here is the line by line meaning. (Sorry if it is a bit long)

    Written in these walls are the stories that I can't explain - I think this means that for One Direction themselves, because they are celebrities, everything embarrassing they have ever done can't be explained, because it would be all over the internet/social media.
    I leave my heart open but it stays right here empty for days - I think this is saying that they are pouring their hearts making their songs, yet none of their fans actually love them for who they are, they love him for their voices and fame.
    She told me in the morning she don't feel the same about us in her bones - I think this is saying that everyone thinks they are going to become something big as a band.
    It seems to me that when I die these words will be written on my stone - I think this means that they are going to be so widely known for their singing.
    And I'll be gone, gone tonight - I think this means that in their imaginations, they try thinking of themselves as people without all the fame, everything gone.
    The ground beneath my feet is open wide - I think this means that they keep trying to make better and better content for their fans, their expectations keep getting higher and higher, making it harder for them to provide.
    The way that I been holding on too tight with nothing in between - I think this is saying that they are holding on to their fame too tight, fearing one misstep will make people hate them.
    The story of my life, I take her home - I think this is saying the fame and fans follow them wherever they go, including home.
    I drive all night, to keep her warm - I think this means that they work really hard to keep their reputation intact, it must be at least twice as hard for celebrities to do that.
    And time is frozen - I think this means that tim is moving so slow it feels like it's not moving at all, indicating that they are bored and tired of the celebrity life.
    Written on these walls are the colors that I can't change - I think this means that all the past experiences, everything that they have ever done or said, is there, they can't change it once it is done.
    Leave my heart open but it stays right here in it's cage - I think this part is about them being scared to find a true lover because of all the times people have used them for fame and popularity.
    I know that in the morning now I see us in the light upon a hill - I think this means that they are eventually going to be really famous, in the spotlight.
    Although I am broken my heart is untamed still - I think this is saying that even though they has so many burdens because of their fame, they have not given up, and they have continued their passions.
    The fire beneath my feet is burning bright - This is just a version of their earlier lyric, meaning the same thing, just emphasizing it
    And I've been waiting for this time to come around - I think this means that they are waiting for a big moment in their fame, like performing at a really good arena, or it could mean that they are waiting for the fame to go away, for them to lead normal lives.
    But baby, running after you is like chasing the clouds - I think this is saying that whatever their goal is, or whatever they're waiting for (see last line) is so hard to get, is almost impossible to achieve.

    Thank you for reading this, yes I know it was really long, but mention one thing about Why Don't We and I will write a 5 page essay within 10 minutes, if you are seeing this check them out they are awesome. - Rithika

  13. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Aug 21st 2018 !⃝

    My Life nothing betterment of the day and final settlement and final payment for

  14. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Nov 5th 2016 !⃝

    For me I think the guys are talking about their past life on how they came to meet and make that cute band and on how they will take their stories to their parents and thank their parents for the support for holding them in times of tears and happens in they lives .I jast wish and hope that the boys will never be apart like ever.coz I jast love the directions e.g zayn.but I'm a fun of all the directions.Eliena zayla from kenya

  15. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Jun 17th 2016 !⃝

    To be honest I believe this song is about the boys all part of a script "written on these walls are the story's that I can't change" it sounds crazy but what if they boys have been written a script and the whole band have been a "story" or script and this song is about how they can't change how they living in the band a crazy interpretation but makes sense to me

  16. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    May 31st 2016 !⃝

    “Written in these walls are the stories that I can’t explain / I leave my heart open / But it stays right here / Empty for days / She told me in the morning / She don’t feel the same about us in her bones / Seems to me that when I die / These words will be written on my stone.”
    Ouch with a side of ouch. The song opens with the narrator (in Harry Styles’ voice) revealing the situation. His heart is there, waiting for her to occupy it, but she doesn’t. She instead reveals that she’s checked out of the relationship, emotionally speaking. When someone says they can feel something in their bones, that’s pretty, well concrete and as deep as marrow. His response is that her reveal has socked him. In the gut. We know it’s hard to suspend disbelief and think anyone could turn their back on Hazza or any member of 1D, but it happens.
    “And I’ll be gone, gone tonight / The ground beneath my feet is open wide / The way that I’ve been holding on too tight / With nothing in between.”
    That’s a huge acknowledgement, as well. There’s no net and no limit once he leaps away from this relationship, even though it’s not by choice. He also recognizes it’s his fault, since he was clinging, leaving little room for anything else. That’s never a good thing.
    “Written on these walls are the colors that I can’t change / Leave my heart open / But it stays right here in its cage / I know that in the morning now I see us in the light upon a hill / Although I am broken, my heart is untamed, still.”
    Despite the agony, there’s still hope. The heart may remain in its cage, for now, but like a bird in a cage, it will sing again and allow itself to roam and find love. As for being broken but untamed, that’s a major step forward. The heart may ache and be broke, but it is not beyond repair. It (and he) will love again. Whew!
    “The story of my life / I take her home / I drive all night to keep her warm / And time is frozen / The story of my life / I give her hope (give her hope) / I spend her love / Until she’s broke (Until she’s broke inside) / Inside / The story of my life.”
    Love is the biggest of sacrifices, and the narrator sacrifices himself for her. He’ll drive all night and catch a chill as long as she is safe and warm. It’s as though he is resigned to the destiny of love — it’s the story of his life that he’ll be doing this for anyone that he loves, be it past, present or future. But in this moment, time…stops.


    Read More: One Direction, 'Story of My Life' - Song Meaning | http://popcrush.com/one-direction-story-of-my-life-song-meaning/?trackback=tsmclip

  17. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Aug 17th 2015 !⃝

    To me, this song is about how a guy and a girl broke up, however the guy still wants to get back with the girl.

    "I leave my heart open but it stays right here in its cage/empty for days" this shows how the guy wants to find a new love, but he can't bring himself to do it.

    The chorus is mainly about the guy reminiscing how he would do anything to keep the girl safe and loved, and loving the girl was the story of his life.

    For the bridge, "but baby running after you is like chasing the clouds." This shows that the guy badly wants to get back with the girl, however he knows that it's impossible since they had already broken up and their relationship can't be mended.

    To sum it all up, this song is basically a sad love story about not being able to let go of the person who once loved you, the person you will always love.

  18. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Jun 27th 2015 !⃝

    The song is really about their relationships
    Harry's is about all the rumors and the media ("written on these walls are the stories I can't explain")

    Liam's is about this breakup with Danielle ("She told me in the morning she don't feel the same about us in her bones")

    Niall's is about how he has not found the one for him ("Leave my heart open but it stays right here in its cage")

    Louis' is about him having to leave Eleanor all the time and how he doesn't want to give up on their relationship ("And I'll gone gone tonight...The way I been holding on so tight...")

    And finally, Zayn's is about finally finding the girl (Perrie) to spend the rest of his life with/his engagement (" I've been waiting for this time to come around")

    The video was simply just about no matter how their relationships go (girls being brought and taken out of their life), their memories with their families will stay with them forever

    It is truly a very heartwarming song that brings us more into their personal life, I have really come to love the video because it is just one of those videos that can't help but make you smile (I mean, did you see the way Zayn looked at his sister and how Louis part was a big tear jerker, and OMG, HARRY AS A BABY, I just need a moment to scream and cry at the cuteness (not that all the other boys were no cute, I just really can't stop thinking about his baby face!!!!!))

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