Switchfoot: Twenty-Four/ 24 Meaning

Twenty-Four/ 24 Lyrics

Twenty four oceans
Twenty four skies
Twenty four failures
Twenty four tries
Twenty four finds me
In twenty-fourth place
Twenty four drop outs
At the end of the day
Life is not what I thought it was
Twenty four hours ago

Still I'm...

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   #1 top rated interpretation:
   TheBurnoutKid

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   May 2nd 2006 !⃝

   This song is about how much can change in life and in a person in such little time, and how a single event or day can change your outlook on life and yourself.
   
   Jon Foreman is also speaking to God when he says:
   "I'm not copping out when you're raising the dead in me" as if to say, I'm not denying that I've made mistakes even though You, God, have forgiven me for them.
   
   By saying "I am the second man now", Foreman is talking about his renewal as a person, it's like saying "I'm a new man".
   
   Near the end of the song when Foreman begins to talk about wanting "to see miracles", he's telling God that he wants to see other big events happen within 24 hours, he wants to see other people or things change in the way that he has.
   
   Jon himself has explained that the song is the realization of the voices that live inside his head (in a metaphorical, not skitzo way). He says that sometimes his brain is like the senate, with different senators yelling at each other over different issues.
   
   
   I hope that all makes sense.
2. anonymous

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   Nov 21st 2019 !⃝

   The words "I am the second man now" appear to be a direct reference to 1 Corinthians 15:47. It would make sense for multiple reasons.
   1. The Lord from heaven is speaking of God.
   2. Numerous scriptures from both Paul and Jesus state that God/Christ is within us.
   3. The "raising the dead" line is symbolic for Christ within us, arising.
   4. Switchfoot is much more into the mystical understanding of the Bible than most people realize
   5. The words I AM are a proclamation of creative power.
   6. The sentence, "I am the second man now", when understood through the lens of the parabolic teachings of Jesus is a proclamation that God has arisen within. I and the father are one.
3. c.mclaughlin92

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   Jan 9th 2010 !⃝

   Switchfoot is one of those popular bands who people do not realize they are born- again Christians. Other bands like that include U2 & The Fray to name a few.
   
   The song 24 is about the relationship frontman Jon Foreman has with his savior Jesus Christ. 24 obviously represents the number of hours in a day and how so many things can change in one day.
   
   The line "you're raising the dead in me" is a reference to Jesus Christ dying for our sins and making us a new person. Hence the second man! The Second man is taken of a Bible verse in Corinthians, I think, i can't remember. It can also be a play on words off of "Born- Again Christian"
4. anonymous

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   Sep 8th 2007 !⃝

   I saw him in concert and before they played the song he said he wrote the song on his 24th birthday and that each individual person has 24 people in them and it's about trying to be consistent about only being one person and not acting like someone you aren't.
5. anonymous

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   Jan 16th 2007 !⃝

   i heard that he wrote this song before he turned 24...and he wanted god to forgive him 4 all d sins he committed within the 24 yrs...

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway

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