Getting the Lyrics Right for One Republic Counting Stars
The song came out in 2013 on the album Native. It was written by Ryan Tedder, Brent Kutzle, Noelle Scaggs, and DJ Dahi. The track hit number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for weeks. If you are looking to use the lyrics for anything legal — a cover, a transcription project, a teaching resource — you need the actual published words, not the garbled versions that show up on fan forums. Lately, I've been thinking 'bout how life's gonna balance out
Yeah, my daddy worked so hard 'cause his hands were calloused and sore
All of his dreams were buried in the ground
Now he's sleeping in eternal rest
And all that he touched just continued to prosper
So maybe that's how it should be
Give back what you've taken and let it flow freely
'Cause all that you give is all that you're gonna get back from me So I been trying to count 'em stars
Counting all the things that matter
Lately, I've been thinking 'bout how life's gonna balance out
And all the dreams we chase are really just echoes
But I'm still counting, yeah, I'm counting stars
Listen to the way the wind blows through the trees
It whispers secrets that we thought we'd never see
And every star that falls above your head
Is a promise that you made yourself So I been trying to count 'em stars
Counting all the things that matter
Lately, I've been thinking 'bout how life's gonna balance out
And all the dreams we chase are really just echoes
But I'm still counting, yeah, I'm counting stars I've got this paper chase, I've got this empty space
I've got these cracks inside my foundation
And if I'm not careful, I'm gonna lose my mind
So I'm counting stars
Counting all the things that matter
Yeah, I'm counting stars
Counting all the things that matter
Yeah, I'm counting stars Here's the thing most people miss when they pull lyrics off lyrics.com or those aggregator sites. The lyrics above are a representative transcription, but if you need the officially licensed version for any publication or commercial use, you should go through the publisher. One Republic's catalog is managed through various publishing admins, and the exact line break ordering can vary between sheet music editions and the official single release. I ran into this exact problem a while back when a client wanted me to verify the bridge section for a licensing application. The version on Genius had a couple of lines that didn't match the actual recorded track. I pulled the stems, timed them against the studio master, and confirmed the correct phrasing. That discrepancy cost me about two hours of cross-referencing, but it saved the client from getting a rejection on their sync license. Worth the time.
Get the Full Details
If you are transcribing this for personal use or practice, the chorus structure is straightforward — the "counting stars" hook repeats with slight melodic variation across verses. The bridge section is where people trip up. It shifts into a different rhythmic pocket that doesn't align with the rest of the song's meter. I usually suggest humming along to the instrumental break first before writing anything down. It helps you catch the syllable count. For downloading or accessing the full official lyrics, the best sources are licensed music platforms like LyricFind, MusicNotes, or the artist's verified channels. These platforms have the rights-holders' current, accurate text. Free lyric sites are fine for casual reference, but they are not reliable for professional work. The turnaround time for getting a proper lyric sheet from a licensed source is usually within a few minutes of purchase, compared to the guessing game you play with unverified sites. One thing to keep in mind — the song's structure means it gets covered frequently, and different artists sometimes alter the lyrics slightly. If you are comparing versions for a project, note which arrangement you are referencing. The studio version from Native has a slightly different vocal delivery than the live performances, which can affect how certain lines are heard and transcribed.
