I've Been High

The speaker reflects on having felt elevated or intensely alive, while also struggling with emptiness and uncertainty. Earlier confidence seems to have faded: life can overwhelm them, and they are unsure whether they have missed something important or made a mistake. The mood shifts from questioning and vulnerability toward a wish to keep living with joy and possibility, though that hope remains fragile.

“Climbed so high” suggests reaching an intense emotional state, not necessarily a literal height. By contrast, life “washes over” the speaker, like a forceful wave that can leave them feeling powerless. The pool image combines risk and renewal: sinking could mean giving in to difficulty, while swimming becomes a way to feel free and rise again. “Live my life on high” likely means wanting to stay in a joyful, energized state.

The song does not settle whether this “high” is happiness, confidence, escape, or some mixture. The speaker wants to believe in something, but admits uncertainty and ends by asking to make make-believe feel real. That ending can sound hopeful—a deliberate effort to recover belief in oneself—or uneasy, since the comfort may depend on imagination. The lyrics leave both readings open.