If We’re Following The Light Lyrics & Meaning: Poppy’s Emotional Rock Ballad About Love, Risk, and Following Hope

If We’re Following The Light Lyrics


[Verse 1]
The haze, the waves
Seen it all through watering eyes
I'm holding on a warm gun
I can't cope with needing you so bad
The words all taste so wrong

[Pre-Chorus]
My hands are shaking cold
I can't be held to comment
Watch the self righteous fold
Before they ever started
If we get it right
Follow the light
In spite of everything that we could lose

[Chorus]
I'll cross the world to get to you
I'll hold the waves back from the pressure, yeah, yeah
The proof I need is only you
Against the odds I couldn't mеasure, yeah, yeah

[Verse 2]
I wanna slip into you
Drip all your tеars on me
Hear the sirens call
I can feel the knife inside my lungs

[Breakdown]
And I don't know how long it's been
I don't endlessly suffer
Know I favor you

[Pre-Chorus]
If we get it right
Follow the light
In spite of everything that we could lose

[Chorus]
I'll cross the world to get to you
I'll hold the waves back from the pressure, yeah, yeah
The proof I need is only you
Against the odds I couldn't measure, yeah, yeah
________________ End ________________

If We’re Following The Light Song Meaning [Poppy]

"If We’re Following The Light" appears on "Empty Hands", the seventh studio album by American artist Poppy, released on January 23, 2026 via Sumerian Records. Produced by Jordan Fish, this album continues Poppy’s evolution within rock and metalcore-inflected sounds after years of genre experimentation, blending aggressive energy with emotional vulnerability. "Empty Hands" was preceded by multiple singles that depicted personal and creative transformations, and If We’re Following The Light sits near the center of the record’s emotional arc.

Song Meaning:

From the outset, the song places listeners amid emotional turbulence and duality. The setting suggested by its opening imagery evokes confusion and heightening desire, a moment where clarity is clouded by intense longing. The musical atmosphere here mirrors that tension — chords and vocals that feel simultaneously anchoring and unsteady reflect an inner conflict between hope and fear.

As it unfolds, the lyrics shift into a space of decision-making and resolve. There’s a palpable shake in conviction, but also a clear insistence on pursuing something brighter. The repeated idea of following the light acts as a metaphor for choosing a path forward despite uncertainty or risk — an urging toward connection and understanding when every choice could exact a cost.

In the song’s central hook, the emotional stakes are raised. The narrator expresses a willingness to traverse immense distances or barriers — metaphorical and literal — to reach a desired connection. This section plays with contrast: strength and vulnerability sit side by side, crafting a portrait of someone who both fears loss and embraces commitment.

The second major section complicates the emotional terrain by introducing imagery of closeness and danger intertwined. Rather than retreating from vulnerability, the narrator dives deeper, suggesting a passionate immersion into another’s emotional world. The presence of conflicting sensations — comfort, pain, devotion — illustrates the messiness of human attachment.

Midway through, a quieter moment signals reflection and weariness. Time feels unmeasured here, suggesting that the emotional journey isn’t linear but cyclical. The tension between suffering and endurance gives way to a frank admission: attachment persists not because it cures pain, but because it’s chosen repeatedly despite it.

Returning to the chorus brings the thematic core into relief. The resolve to pursue what feels true — the light — is reaffirmed, even in the face of potential loss, confusion, or challenge. This circular structure — tension, resolve, introspection, and renewed resolve — threads the emotional fabric of the track, emphasizing that personal growth often involves confronting uncertainty head-on.

Emotional Core and Themes:

At its heart, "If We’re Following The Light" is about the paradox of human connection: how the things that make us feel alive can also expose us to risk, vulnerability, and self-doubt. The light functions as both a beacon and a test — a concept representing hope, truth, and clarity, but one that demands courage and willingness to navigate discomfort. The song balances emotional earnestness with atmospheric weight, using the juxtaposition of longing and commitment to evoke real emotional weight.

Connection With Listeners:

Listeners attuned to the emotional nuances — the push and pull between desire and fear — will find this song resonant because it articulates something universal: the struggle to hold onto someone or something meaningful even when the path forward is blurry. The lyrical tension between clinging and surrender mirrors real-world experiences of love, connection, and the courage it takes to pursue either in uncertain terrain.

Conclusion:

"If We’re Following The Light" stands as one of Empty Hands’ most introspective moments. It doesn’t merely dramatize emotional intensity; it dissects it. Through its layered emotional landscape and symbolic imagery, Poppy crafts a track that is as much about the ache of yearning as it is about the bravery inherent in following what feels true. For fans and new listeners alike, this song offers an invitation: to peer into the emotional light, face the shadows that surround it, and find meaning in the journey itself.
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Music Video


Song Details

Song Name: If We’re Following The Light
Artist: Poppy
Album: Empty Hands (2026)
Lyricist: Poppy, Jordan Fish, Julian Gargiulo & Stephen Harrison
Producers: Jordan Fish
Genre: Rock
Language: English
Label: Sumerian Records
Released: January 23, 2026

[Disclaimer: Lyrics are for educational and entertainment purposes only. All rights belong to the original owners.]