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Given To Fly - lyrics/song discussion
Thoughts_Arrive
Melbourne, Australia Posts: 15,165
This has to be one of the most uplifting liberating songs in Pearl Jam's catalogue.
I just want to know what do you all think it is that has liberated this person who the song is focused on? I am not to sure, but he has achieved happiness somehow to rid him of personal demons holding him down.
LYRICS:
He could have tuned in, tuned in, but he tuned out.
A bad time nothing could save him.
Alone in a corridor, waiting, locked out.
He got up outta there ran for hundreds of miles.
He made it to the ocean, had a smoke in a tree.
The wind rose up set him down on his knee.
A wave came crashing like a fist to the jaw.
Deliver him wings, "Hey look at me now!"
Arms wide open with the sea as his floor.
Oh, power, oh. He's flying whole. High, wide, oh.
He floated back down cause he wanted to share.
This key to the locks, on the chains, he saw everywhere.
But first he was stripped, and then he was stabbed by faceless men.
Well fuckers, he still stands.
And he still gets his love he just gives it away.
The love he receives is the love that is saved.
And sometimes is seen a strange spot in the sky.
A human being that was given to fly.
I'm flying, oh. High flying, oh.
He's flying, oh. High, oh, oh.
I just want to know what do you all think it is that has liberated this person who the song is focused on? I am not to sure, but he has achieved happiness somehow to rid him of personal demons holding him down.
LYRICS:
He could have tuned in, tuned in, but he tuned out.
A bad time nothing could save him.
Alone in a corridor, waiting, locked out.
He got up outta there ran for hundreds of miles.
He made it to the ocean, had a smoke in a tree.
The wind rose up set him down on his knee.
A wave came crashing like a fist to the jaw.
Deliver him wings, "Hey look at me now!"
Arms wide open with the sea as his floor.
Oh, power, oh. He's flying whole. High, wide, oh.
He floated back down cause he wanted to share.
This key to the locks, on the chains, he saw everywhere.
But first he was stripped, and then he was stabbed by faceless men.
Well fuckers, he still stands.
And he still gets his love he just gives it away.
The love he receives is the love that is saved.
And sometimes is seen a strange spot in the sky.
A human being that was given to fly.
I'm flying, oh. High flying, oh.
He's flying, oh. High, oh, oh.
Adelaide 17/11/2009, Melbourne 20/11/2009, Sydney 22/11/2009, Melbourne (Big Day Out Festival) 24/01/2014
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Like my user name from the song In Hiding. Once you realize that you own your mind, no one can take that from you, you can give love all the time and never lose it, and it doesn't matter what anyone else says or does.
Yeah, this is a great song and how the music builds gives me goosebumps everytime!!
What makes you say state of mind?
One thing I love about Pearl Jam songs is that they are like great paintings or sculptures, many people can listen and have different feelings and interpretations!
Do you have any ideas about this song? I'd like to know what you think.
I think it's a song about someone who is being held down or repressed and one day they just say "fuck it" and they are able to find some kind of freedom.......
He feels freedom and inspiration as he "flies" across the waves, and then he becomes famous (gets love gives away love) and as a musician he has to fly to either surf greater spots and/or as part of his job (strange spot in the sky = airplane)...
But yeah! Quite a liberating song! My fave....
(and ed "surfed" on the roof of the sound booth at the Gorge when they did this song)
Isn't this a Mike song??
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Mike wrote the music for it. Ed wrote the lyrics.
If you hate something, don't you do it too
"arms wide open with the sea as his floor"
could be arms out to keep balance when you are on a surfboard.
or it could be "arms wide open" preaching, on the cross,
and "sea as his floor" could be jesus walking on water
"wanted to share his key to the lock on the chains he saw everywhere"
preach the gospel
"stripped and stabbed" cruisified
"we still stands" reserection
"gives it away... the love that is saved" spreads love
"strange spot in the sky.. given to fly" the assention
what do you say?
Peace love and good vibes seems to be what Ed's about (somewhat)....
Strange spot in the sky - a human being who was given to fly...Ed's in an airplane travelling to another gig to give away the love that is saved....
He could’ve tuned in to mega-fame, but he didn’t
Bad time/alone/running is him making his choice; could literally be the Rome overdose events
Made it to the ocean/smoke in a tree, is the detox in L.A. and the cigarette-break escape
The wind rose up/set him down, is him hearing the final voices and acceding
A wave came crashing is the actual blow
Arms wide open could be the way they found him, or the reported wounds on his arms ("Hey look at me now"?)
The sea as his floor is the view from ascent
He's flying whole = in spirit, free of disfigured body
He floated back down, to continue the spirit of musical communication he found ~ the key
First he was stripped, is the intial villification of his fame/deed
But he still stands, is the integrity recognized today
The love he receives and gives away, is the nobility of pure music passing between us wherever it is found
The strange spot in the sky is our occasional rememberance of him
I’m flying/he’s flying, is Ed continuing that nobility ... which allows the triumphant verve that he and the band bring to the performances.
I also always thought the song was about Jesus, and I find it really uplifting. I think about a few friends who have passed away, and the song reminds me that the soul/spirit continues to have a presence after death:
"And he still gets his love he just gives it away.
The love he receives is the love that is saved.
And sometimes is seen a strange spot in the sky.
A human being that was given to fly."
Waves, sea as his floor.....
I have a hard time seeing the 'Jesus' connection in any of the first stanza, or a 'surfer' connection in any of second part ... I know the song's not literal in any sense, but these just don't click for me. I just don't think they're where he's coming from.
With Kurt, there's a continuity between the two parts and a powerful message underneath it all. The unspoken 'message' of Kurt's passion "still standing" is what gives the song its joyously uplifting energy, at least to me :rolleyes:
That is exactly what I thought.
Made it to the ocean
Smoked a joint in a tree
Wind rose up
Set him down on his knees
The whole world will be different soon the whole world will be RELIEVED
#resistgezi #resistturkey #resisttaksim #direnturkiye #direngezi
#standingman #duranadam
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Interesting enough, pain and struggle actually can be the thing that gives people lift-off in their lives -- persevering through struggles gives the incredible gifts of hope, wisdom and patience on the other side. Have you ever noticed how people who overcome significant struggle seem have the most to offer? In my experience, they are happier, more adjusted, more balanced and wiser than people who have been insulated from pain their whole lives. In a sense, people who have struggled significantly have 'a key to the locks on the chains (which) are everywhere'. I think that key is that they come to a place where they feel worthy of being loved, and so they are able to give love away without expecting anything in return.
"The love he received is the love that is saved'
I get it that a lot of people think this song is about Jesus. I think in a sense it is; because its a song about people who overcome and about people who selflessly love others.