Next Up Forever

**"Next Up Forever"** is the first track on AJR's third album, *Neotheater*. It acts as the overture of the album.

This song was also performed at the One Spectacular Night live show in 2020.

## Description

Ryan Met said this about the song:

*"That concept first came about while we were writing something on *The Click*. And I remember Jack saying like, it’s so much more fun the anticipation of a really good meal coming to the table, probably better than the eating. And then we just started extrapolating on that and thinking about our career and our life, and how much more fun it is to be second in line for the rollercoaster than actually doing the rollercoaster… It’s a very confused way to start the album."*

## Lyrics

[Intro]
Your eyes are open, so never close them
You’ll sail the ocean, finding where you should be
And if you’re broken, you’ll make your own thing
You’ll make it so big for all the world to see
You’ll make it so damn big for all the world to see

[Verse 1]
I’m kinda scared to drop this album
Let’s push it back another week
I wanna be next up forever
Find a way to never hit my peak
I kinda wish I was still a virgin
Trying to finally see what sex is like
I wanna be next up forever
Forever, I’ll be second in line

[Chorus]
Some day, they’ll be talking about me
Right now, they’re just walking around me
My god, are you growing without me?
Somebody help me (Somebody help me)
Some day, they’ll be talking about me
Right now, they’re just walking around me
My god, are you growing without me?
Somebody help me (Somebody help me)

[Verse 2]
This is my imagination
This is how it looks and sounds
But I gotta go so much bigger
So they can never shut me down
I’m kinda scared of graduation
'Cause who am I when this is done?
I wanna be next up forever
So the best is always yet to come

[Chorus]
Some day, they’ll be talking about me
Right now, they’re just walking around me
My god, are you growing without me?
Somebody help me (Somebody help me)
Some day, they’ll be talking about me
Right now, they’re just walking around me
My god, are you growing without me?
Somebody help me (Somebody help me)

[Bridge]
I gotta go so much bigger
So everybody’s proud of me
Welcome to the Neotheater
Won't everybody take their seats?
And I'll be next up forever
'Cause I don’t know what’s coming next
I know I gotta grow up sometime
But I don't think I'm ready yet

I know I gotta grow up sometime
But I’m not fucking ready yet

[Outro]
Your eyes are open, so never close them
You’ll sail the ocean, finding where you should be
And if you’re broken, you’ll make your own thing
You’ll make it so big for all the world to see
You’ll make it so damn big for all the world to see

## Audio

* Spotify
* YouTube

AJR - Next Up Forever (Official Audio)Next Up ForeverAJR - Next Up Forever (Official Instrumental)Next Up Forever (Instrumental)
## Videos

* Performances

Next Up Forever & Show Intro - AJR live - NYC 10-10-19Live at Radio CityAJR - Next Up Forever -Moscow. 13-07-19-Live in MoscowAJR - Next Up Forever live - Album Release Show NY - 4-29-19Live at Bowery BallroomAJR - Next Up Forever (Live at Illinois State University)Live at Illinois State UniversityAJR - NEXT UP FOREVER - ORLANDO, FL 11-8-2019Live in Orlando
## Trivia

* The bridge of "Beats" can be heard at certain points in the song, including 1:24.
* The lyric "Welcome to the Neotheater" is also used in "Finale".
* This is one of three songs that directly mention an album's name, the others being "Finale" and "Come Hang Out".