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Birds Flying Away
Streetlight Manifesto Lyrics
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1925
And drifted to a town on the Cuban coast
Met a woman who became my life
And oh when I saw her
The darkness fled from me
And flew like a blackbird into the sun
On the day she married me
Dear God...
But now the drumbirds come for me
Oh now the drumbirds come for me
Lord give me forgiveness
For all that I have done
Forgive me now of the weight I bear
Don't keep me on the run
Dear God
Dear God
I remember climbing up those shoulders
And coming up under you like a lion
And coming down like we were dying
Dear God
I left my country when I was nineteen
1925
And drifted to a town on the Cuban coast
Met a woman who became my life
And oh when I saw her
The darkness fled from me
And flew like a blackbird into the sun
On the day she married me
Dear God
Dear God
I remember climbing up those shoulders...
The lyrics of “Birds Flying Away” by Streetlight Manifesto paint a vivid picture of an immigrant in the early 20th century who left his home country at the age of 19 and ended up moving to a town on the Cuban coast where he meets the love of his life. The singer of the song reminisces about the day he met her and how seeing her made all of the darkness in his life flee away like a blackbird into the sun. The lyrics then take a more somber turn as the singer begs for forgiveness for everything he has done and the weight he is carrying in his life. The chorus repeats the line “now the drumbirds come for me” which is a likely reference to the phrase “the drums of war” and implies that the singer is facing consequences for his past actions.
The line “Dear God” serves as a refrain throughout the song and adds to the pensive and introspective tone of the lyrics. The second half of the song repeats the lyrics from the beginning which serves the purpose of framing the central narrative of the song and creating a sense of cyclical closure.
The song seems to be about the complex nature of love, regret, and forgiveness. The singer describes how their love for their partner allowed them to escape from the darkness in their life but also acknowledges that they have made mistakes and are deserving of forgiveness. Additionally, the lyrics describe how a person’s sense of guilt and the weight of their own actions can make them feel like they are always on the run.
Line by Line Meaning
I left my country when I was nineteen
When I was nineteen, I fled from my country.
And drifted to a town on the Cuban coast
After leaving my country, I aimlessly traveled to a town on the Cuban coast.
Met a woman who became my life
There, I met a woman who would become the most important part of my life.
And oh when I saw her
When I first saw her, I was overwhelmed with emotion.
The darkness fled from me
Her presence chased away all the negativity I carried within me.
And flew like a blackbird into the sun
All those dark emotions soared off into the distance.
On the day she married me
The day we got married was the happiest day of my life.
Dear God...
I am addressing God now, seeking his mercy.
But now the drumbirds come for me
I am being called upon by the drums of war.
Oh now the drumbirds come for me
The drums of war are getting louder and closer.
Lord give me forgiveness
I am looking to God for forgiveness.
For all that I have done
I am admitting to my sins and asking for divine mercy.
Forgive me now of the weight I bear
I am asking God to drive away the heavy burden that I carry.
Don't keep me on the run
I plead with God to not let me become a wanderer again.
Dear God
I am calling out to God again.
I remember climbing up those shoulders
I cherish the memories of being supported by someone.
And coming up under you like a lion
I was fierce and daring while being lifted up by that someone.
And coming down like we were dying
We stumbled down in fear and desperation.
Dear God
I conclude my plea to God.
Contributed by Elizabeth L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.