Article Lead Image

Screengrab via VEVO

Owl City finally explains how you get a thousand hugs from 10,000 lightning bugs

The strangest line from 2009's 'Fireflies' has finally been explained.

Photo of Audra Schroeder 

Audra Schroeder

Internet Culture

Posted on Jun 21, 2017   Updated on May 23, 2021, 2:21 am CDT

In Owl City’s 2009 hit “Fireflies,” a fantastical scenario is proposed: “I’d get a thousand hugs from 10,000 lightning bugs, as they tried to teach me how to dance.”

It’s a ridiculous lyric. However, on May 31, a curious fan tweeted a technical question at Owl City (aka musician Adam Young) and eventually got an amazing answer.

Here’s a closer look at Young’s response:

Owl City fireflies
Screengrab via OwlCity/Twitter

The fan was later reached for comment.

In Body Image
Screengrab via OwlCity/Twitter

 

As it should be.

Share this article
*First Published: Jun 21, 2017, 10:53 am CDT

Audra Schroeder

Audra Schroeder is the Daily Dot’s senior entertainment writer, and she focuses on streaming, comedy, and music. Her work has previously appeared in the Austin Chronicle, the Dallas Observer, NPR, ESPN, Bitch, and the Village Voice. She is based in Austin, Texas.

Audra Schroeder