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"Who Am I Living For?" is a song written by Katy Perry, Tricky Stewart, Monte Neuble, and Brian Thomas for Perry's sophomore mainstream album, Teenage Dream.
Background
The meaning behind the song is thought to be about spirituality and faith since Katy Perry cites the biblical character, Esther. Perry said in a interview with Q magazine that if the 15-year old version of her were to meet her now that her old self would be 'freaked'. She added that her old self might relate to this song the most from the record.
Perry later revealed in a Track-by-Track interview with TheDirt.com that the song is based on what does she want written down as her legacy:
| “ | 'Who Am I Living For?' is probably one of the most introspective songs on the record. You know a song that is about my own personal convictions and...the thoughts that race through my mind everyday concerning like my upbringing and my future and, you know, at the end of it all...what do I want written at the end of it all. 'Who am I?' or 'what do I want to achieve?' and hopefully it's more than just all of this and so I guess that's kind of me putting my heart on my sleeve and singing for the world. | ” |
—Katy Perry | ||
Lyrics
I can feel a phoenix inside of me
As I march alone to a different beat
Slowly swallowing down my fear, yeah yeah
I am ready for the road less travel
Suiting up for my crowning battle
This test is my own cross to bear
But I will get there
It’s never easy to be chosen, never easy to be called
Standing on the frontline when the bomb starts to fall
I can see the heavens but I still hear the flames
Calling out my name
I can see the writing on the wall
I can’t ignore this war
At the eh-end of it all
Who am I living for?
I can feel this lightness inside of me
Growing fast into a bolt of lightning
I know one spark will shock the world, yeah yeah
So I pray for a favour like Esther
I need your strength to handle the pressure
I know there will be sacrifice
But that’s the price
It’s never easy to be chosen, never easy to be called
Standing on the frontline when the bomb starts to fall
I can see the heavens but I still hear the flames
Calling out my name
I can see the writing on the wall
I can’t ignore this war
At the eh-end of it all
Who am I living for?
I can see the writing on the wall
I can’t ignore this war
At the eh-end of it all
Who am I living for?
At the end, at the end
Who am I living for?
At the end, at the end
Who am I living for?
Heavy is the head that wears the crown
Don’t let the greatness get you down
Heavy is the head that wears the crown
Don’t let the greatness get you down, oh, oh yeah
I can see the writing on the wall
I can’t ignore this war
At the eh-end of it all
Who am I living for?
I can see the writing on the wall
I can’t ignore this war
At the eh-end of it all
Who am I living for?
At the end, at the end
Who am I living for?
At the end, at the end
Who am I living for?
References
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