“Unwritten” is a song by the English singer Natasha Bedingfield from her first album with the same name. It came out on November 29, 2004, as the third single from the album. Natasha Bedingfield, Danielle Brisebois, and Wayne Rodrigues wrote the song, and it was produced by Wayne Rodrigues and Danielle Brisebois.
The song is about embracing life with an open heart, breaking free from expectations, and living authentically as you write your own story.
In this article, we’ll analyze the meaning behind the lyrics.
Table of Contents
“Unwritten” Lyrics Meaning
[Verse 1]
I am unwritten, can’t read my mind
I’m undefined
I’m just beginning, the pen’s in my hand
Ending unplanned
In Verse 1, Natasha uses the metaphor of a blank page and holding a pen to convey the idea that her future is uncertain and yet to be written, suggesting a feeling of anticipation and potential.
[Pre-Chorus]
Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you cannot find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
In the Pre-Chorus, Natasha Bedingfield is encouraging the listeners to face life with openness and courage. She talks about looking at a blank page, urging you to open a metaphorical “dirty window” to let in the light.
In the lines “Reaching for something in the distance, So close you can almost taste it,” she stresses how important it is to overcome your fears and reach for things slightly out of your comfort zone.
She believes that in life, there are opportunities waiting for you if you can let go of your inhibitions and reservations.
[Chorus]
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten, yeah
Oh, oh
In the Chorus, Natasha Bedingfield is expressing the idea that people have the power to shape their own lives. She encourages taking control of your destiny by feeling the rain on your skin, symbolizing experiencing life’s ups and downs.
Bedingfield emphasizes that no one else can feel or live your life for you, underlining personal responsibility. The lines “Can speak the words on your lips,” signify the importance of expressing oneself honestly, while “Drench yourself in words unspoken” suggests the value of embracing unexplored possibilities.
Bedingfield ultimately inspires living life openly and starting a new chapter every day while acknowledging that the future remains unwritten and full of potential.
[Verse 2]
I break tradition
Sometimes my tries, are outside the lines, yeah
We’ve been conditioned to not make mistakes
But I can’t live that way, no, oh
In Verse 2, Natasha Bedingfield expresses a willingness to break away from conventional expectations and the fear of making mistakes.
She mentions sometimes not conforming to tradition and stepping outside the boundaries or rules that society may impose.
By saying, “We’ve been conditioned to not make mistakes, but I can’t live that way,” she emphasizes her desire for a more authentic and unrestricted way of living.
[Outro]
The rest is still unwritten
The rest is still unwritten
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
In the Outro, Natasha Bedingfield is reiterating the idea that the future remains uncertain and unwritten.
She emphasizes that there’s still a vast amount of potential and opportunities ahead, symbolized by the unwritten pages of one’s life.
Deeper Meaning Behind “Unwritten”
“Unwritten” is a song that encourages people to live authentically, make their own choices, and embrace life’s uncertainties with open arms. It reinforces the idea that the future is unwritten, with Bedingfield repeating, “The rest is still unwritten.”
The word “unwritten” symbolizes the blank pages of one’s life story, representing the idea that each person’s life is a story waiting to be written, with opportunities and adventures yet to be explored.
In the lines, “Reaching for something in the distance, So close you can almost taste it, Release your inhibitions, ” the singer is stressing the importance of breaking free from inhibitions and fear.
She urges us to open up to the world’s possibilities, seizing one’s unique experiences, emotions, and dreams, as expressed in the lines “Feel the rain on your skin, No one else can feel it for you.”
In the lines “I break tradition, Sometimes my tries, are outside the lines, yeah, We’ve been conditioned to not make mistakes, But I can’t live that way, no, oh” Natasha Bedingfield rejects the idea that we shouldn’t make mistakes. She expresses her willingness to go against established norms and traditions and find her own way.
In the end, the song’s message is simple: every day is like a blank page, waiting for you to fill it with your adventures. It encourages you to seize the day and be open to all the exciting possibilities life has to offer.
Jacob Carter is a lyricist. He created the lyrics writing course to teach people how to analyze and write lyrics. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in English Literature, so he’s skilled at playing with words.
He’s also an amateur guitarist, which means he knows music and melody very well. With this background, he’s a great lyricist you can rely on to learn writing lyrics.