The Story Behind “Waking Up in the Morning Thinking About So Many Things” Lyrics (2024 Update)

If you’ve spent any time on TikTok or Instagram, you’ve undoubtedly heard the haunting, childlike voice singing, “Waking up in the morning, thinking about so many things.” This viral audio snippet is everywhere, soundtracking everything from cringey childhood memories to celebrity skits. But where did this song come from?

The “Waking Up in The Morning” song, often called “Gia’s Sad Song,” is an original ballad performed by Gia Giudice, the daughter of The Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice. She first sang it on a 2011 episode of the reality show, and it unexpectedly exploded into a viral internet trend a decade later. This is the full story behind the lyrics, the origin, and the song’s incredible journey from a reality TV moment to a digital sensation.

The Original Moment: A Real Housewives Tearful Performance

The viral audio originates from a specific, emotionally charged moment on television. In the sixteenth episode of The Real Housewives of New Jersey‘s third season, which aired in 2011, a then-10-year-old Gia Giudice attended her sister Milania’s birthday party. Amidst the celebrations, she bravely stood up to perform a song she had written herself.

Fighting back tears, she introduced the piece as “especially for my mom and Zio [Uncle] Joe”. The “mom and Zio Joe” in question were her mother, Teresa Giudice, and her uncle, Joe Gorga, who were embroiled in a very public and painful family feud that was a central storyline of the season. The raw emotion of a child expressing her anxiety about adult conflicts made the moment both heartbreaking and unforgettable. Her uncle Joe, visibly moved, stated in a confessional, “Gia’s hurting. She knows what’s going on. She’s hurting the way I’m hurting”.

Complete “Gia’s Sad Song” Lyrics

While the viral trend typically uses only the first few lines, Gia’s original song was much longer and more detailed, painting a vivid picture of her daily anxiety. The full lyrics, as heard in the episode, are:

• Waking up in the morning
• Thinking about so many things
• I just wish things would get better
• And tryna get rid of them
• But nothing seems to stay the same
• Woke up in the morning
• Doin’ my hair ‘n’ make u’ get’in my clothes on
• Walking into school
• Thinking of what is go’in’ happen next
• Oh-Oo-Oh
• Things were just caught up in my mind
• Just can not get rid of them
• I am worrying and worrying
• I just can not…get rid of this
• I can not take chances
• It is just too much
• Waking up in the morning
• Going into school
• Worrying and worrying
• It is just too much
• Ya-ee-ya-…ya

The Heartbreaking Meaning and Context Behind the Lyrics

On the surface, the lyrics describe a child’s generic worry. However, in the context of the show, they were a direct reflection of the turmoil in Gia’s family life.

• The Family Feud: The “so many things” she was thinking about were the relentless arguments and tension between her parents, Teresa and Joe Giudice, and her uncle, Joe Gorga, and his wife, Melissa. This drama was playing out on national television, adding an immense layer of pressure.
• A Child’s Perspective: The lyrics “I just wish things would get better” and “nothing seems to stay the same” perfectly capture the feeling of instability a child feels when their family unit is in conflict. It’s a plea for normalcy and peace.
• Daily Anxiety: The second verse, which details her morning routine of “doin’ my hair ‘n’ makeup” and “walking into school,” shows how these family worries infiltrated every aspect of her life, even activities that should have been simple or carefree. The repetition of “worrying and worrying” emphasizes the relentless nature of her anxiety.

The Viral TikTok Resurgence: How a Decade-Old Song Took Over the Internet

A full decade after the original episode aired, Gia’s sad song found a new, massive audience on TikTok. The resurgence began in January 2021 when a TikTok user named @amiryassofficial used the clip in a video captioned, “Trump on Jan 20th,” humorously implying the former president would be singing the song on his last day in office.

However, the sound truly went viral in March 2021 when users began repurposing it for a new trend. The trend format typically involves:

• The Setup: A user passionately lip-syncs to the first few lines of the song, setting a dramatic, emotional tone.
• The Reveal: The video then cuts to a picture or video showcasing an incredibly awkward, embarrassing, or “cringey” past moment from their life.

The poignant contrast between the sad music and the humorous, embarrassing story created a perfect meme formula. The hashtag #WakingUpInTheMorning quickly amassed over 270 million views on TikTok as countless users shared their own awkward tales.

Celebrities and Gia Giudice Join the Trend

The trend’s popularity skyrocketed even further when A-list celebrities began participating.

• Will Smith: The Fresh Prince himself posted a TikTok using the audio, captioning it, “Remembering the time I thought it would be a good idea to make a St. Patrick’s Day video alone in a hotel room.” The video showed him dancing on a bed in a full St. Patrick’s Day outfit, complete with a plaid skirt. Gia told E! News, “I had a bunch of friends sending me text messages saying Will Smith was singing your song on Instagram and when I saw it, I couldn’t believe it… I love Will Smith and I thought it was really cool that he did that”.
• Cardi B: The “WAP” rapper became obsessed with the clip, tweeting that it was one of the only reasons she was staying on Twitter. She wrote, “Thinking about deleting this app until I drop my next little project…but then again where I’m going to hear ‘wakin up in the morning thinkin about so many things I just wish things will get better’?”. An amazed Gia responded, “this is unreal!! CARDI I’m in Bahamas let’s meet up”.
• Gia’s Response: Embracing her unexpected internet fame, the now-adult Gia Giudice posted her own TikTok, lip-syncing to the viral audio of her younger self, effectively closing a unique and heartwarming loop on the internet phenomenon.

The Cultural Impact: Why This Song Resonates

The unexpected second life of “Gia’s Sad Song” highlights several key aspects of internet culture.

• The Power of Nostalgia and Cringe: The trend allows people to laugh at their past selves, using the song’s genuine emotion to ironically highlight their own minor past traumas and embarrassments.
• From Sad to Sweet: What started as a clip representing a child’s genuine sadness has been transformed into a unifying, often humorous, shared experience. As E! News noted, “the trending song has since helped bring people together in a brand new way”.
• The Evergreen Nature of Feeling Anxious: The core sentiment of the lyrics—waking up with anxiety—is universally relatable. This evergreen theme is what makes the sound so adaptable and enduring, far beyond its original context.

Where is Gia Giudice Now?

Gia Giudice is all grown up! Born in 2001, she is now in her early twenties and has largely stayed in the public eye. She has embraced her platform and continues to make her family proud. Some key updates on her life include:

• 🎓 Education: She is a university graduate, having attended Rutgers University.
• 💝 Family Support: She has been a steadfast source of support for her mother, Teresa Giudice, through various family challenges.
• 📱 Public Persona: She maintains an active and positive presence on social media, where she shares glimpses of her life, fashion, and time with friends and family.

The Psychology of Viral Sounds: What Makes Audio Catch On

Why do some sounds, like Gia’s song, capture the collective imagination while others fade into obscurity? The psychology behind viral audio is fascinating and follows some predictable patterns.

• Emotional Resonance: Sounds that evoke strong, immediate emotions—whether joy, sadness, or humor—are more likely to be shared. Gia’s raw, vulnerable performance taps directly into universal feelings of anxiety.
• Simplicity and Repetition: The melodic and lyrical simplicity of “waking up in the morning” makes it incredibly easy to remember and replicate. The repetitive structure acts as an earworm.
• Versatility for Memes: The best viral sounds are adaptable. They can be used in countless contexts without losing their core appeal. The “waking up” lyrics are vague enough to apply to nearly any situation involving reflection or mild regret.
• Nostalgia Factor: Content that triggers nostalgia has a powerful sharing potential. For many, the sound harks back to the early 2010s reality TV era, adding an extra layer of appeal.

How to Use the Sound in Your Own TikTok Videos

Want to jump on the trend? Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to creating your own “Waking Up in the Morning” TikTok:

• 📱 Step 1: Open TikTok and tap the “+” button to create a new video.
• 🎵 Step 2: Tap “Sounds” at the top of the screen and search for “waking up in the morning thinking about so many things”.
• ⏺️ Step 3: Select the sound from the results. The most popular version is usually the one with millions of creates.
• 🎬 Step 4: Film your video! The classic formula is:
  • Film yourself lip-syncing the first line with a sad, contemplative expression
  • Use the “cut” transition to switch to a photo or video of your embarrassing/cringey memory
  • Let the rest of the audio play over the reveal
• ✍️ Step 5: Write a engaging caption and use relevant hashtags like #WakingUpInTheMorning, #GiasSadSong, and #RHONJ.

The Legal and Ethical Questions Around the Viral Clip

When a personal moment from a child’s life becomes internet currency, it raises important questions. The use of Gia’s vulnerable performance has sparked discussions about:

• Consent and Exploitation: A minor’s emotional moment was broadcast on reality TV and later repurposed without her initial, explicit consent for the viral trend. However, Gia’s positive engagement with the trend as an adult has somewhat mitigated these concerns.
• Fair Use and Copyright: While Bravo owns the copyright to the original footage, short clips used for transformative, creative purposes on social media often fall under fair use doctrines.
• Mental Health Considerations: Using a clip about childhood anxiety for humor walks a fine line. The trend has largely been respectful and self-deprecating rather than mocking Gia’s original pain.

Other Reality TV Moments That Went Viral

Gia’s song isn’t the only reality TV clip to find new life online. The internet has a particular fondness for repurposing dramatic or emotional unscripted moments.

• 🎤 “It’s Not About the Pasta!”: From Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, this clip of Kim Richards yelling about pasta being thrown at her has become a meme for misplaced anger.
• 👑 “You’re a Mean Girl, You’re a Bully!”: A dramatic confrontation from Real Housewives of Salt Lake City that became a popular sound for calling out problematic behavior.
• 🚪 “I Wrote a Letter to the Doctors”: A heartfelt moment from Real Housewives of Atlanta about Kandi Burruss’s fertility journey that resonated with many.
• 🥗 “Beast! How Dare You!”: The iconic table-flip moment from Real Housewives of New Jersey that started countless memes about over-the-top reactions.

The Business of Viral Sounds: How Trends Create Value

What happens when a sound goes viral? Beyond fleeting fame, there’s real economic and cultural value created.

• Platform Growth: Viral trends drive engagement, keeping users on platforms like TikTok for longer periods. This increased activity benefits the platform’s advertising revenue and user growth metrics.
• Brand Opportunities: Savvy brands often jump on trends to appear relevant. We saw companies using Gia’s sound to market products from anxiety journals to morning coffee.
• Career Boost: For the individuals involved, virality can lead to new opportunities. Gia’s increased visibility has bolstered her personal brand and opened doors in entertainment and influencing.
• Music Industry Impact: While not a traditional release, the viral moment has introduced Gia’s “song” to millions, demonstrating the power of social media in music discovery.

The Evolution of Meme Culture: From Simple Images to Complex Audio

The “Waking Up in the Morning” trend represents a maturation of internet meme culture. Let’s trace how we got here:

• Early 2000s: Image macros with Impact font text (LOLcats, Advice Animals)
• 2010-2015: Reaction GIFs and short video clips (David After Dentist, Charlie Bit My Finger)
• 2016-2019: Platform-specific formats (Vine loops, YouTube compilations)
• 2020-Present: Complex audio-visual trends (Gia’s song, sea shanties, “Oh No” audio)

Today’s memes often require understanding layered context, cultural references, and specific platform conventions—a far cry from the simple image-and-text combos of the early internet.

Mental Health Perspectives: Anxiety in the Digital Age

Gia’s lyrics about waking up anxious have struck a particular chord in our current moment. Mental health professionals note:

• Universal Experience: The feeling of being overwhelmed by thoughts upon waking is extremely common, especially in our fast-paced, always-connected world.
• Validation Through Humor: Using the sound to laugh at our own anxieties can be a healthy coping mechanism, helping to reduce the stigma around mental health struggles.
• The Importance of Context: While the trend is lighthearted, it’s crucial to remember that for Gia, the anxiety was very real and connected to family trauma. This reminds us to take serious mental health concerns seriously, even as we find humor in everyday worries.

The Future of the “Waking Up” Trend

Where does a viral sound go once it’s peaked? While the trend has slowed from its initial explosion, it continues to have life:

• Niche Communities: The sound has been adopted by specific subcultures on TikTok, from book lovers describing stressful plot twists to gamers recounting embarrassing in-game moments.
• Seasonal Resurgences: Like many viral sounds, it experiences small resurgences during back-to-school season or around New Year’s, when people are naturally reflective.
• Cultural Artifact: The sound has cemented its place as a cultural artifact representing early 2020s internet culture, likely to be featured in future “remember this trend?” compilations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the name of the “Waking up in the morning” song?

The song is commonly known as “Gia’s Sad Song.” It is an original, improvised ballad by Gia Giudice from The Real Housewives of New Jersey and does not have an official title.

Where can I find the original video of Gia singing the song?

The original video is from Season 3, Episode 16 of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, which aired in 2011. Clips from the episode are widely available on YouTube and were the source of the audio used for the TikTok trend.

Why was Gia Giudice crying when she sang the song?

Gia was crying because the song expressed her feelings of sadness and anxiety about the intense public feud between her mother, Teresa Giudice, and her uncle, Joe Gorga. The family conflict was causing her significant distress.

How did Gia react to the song going viral?

Gia was surprised and delighted by the viral trend. She was particularly excited when celebrities like Will Smith and Cardi B used the sound, calling it “unreal.” She even participated in the trend by posting her own TikTok video lip-syncing to the song.

What are the full lyrics to “Gia’s Sad Song”?

The full lyrics include verses about waking up, going to school, and being unable to stop worrying. The complete, broken-down lyrics are available in the “Complete ‘Gia’s Sad Song’ Lyrics” section of this article.

Is there an official released version of the song?

No, there is no official studio release of “Gia’s Sad Song.” The only existing versions are the original clip from Real Housewives of New Jersey and the various user-created edits and remixes on social media platforms.