Looking back reading his emails he alluded to a "cloud of darkness" in his writings. At the time, I read right past it and didn't even notice those words. You always feel guilty like you should have tried something when something like this happens. Depression is a confused and hopeless state that drives people to desperate lengths. All I can say is don't be afraid to talk about it and try to be open if others are trying to reach out. Musically, this song started as instrumental demo that Tim made called "Jerrybird."
Beyond the Gray Sky
311 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A moment of bliss that we hold
A firecracker flash of light then on
To the next plane soul remain
Come along if you dare
It's gonna be that you're scared
Lovely life I thank you
For the reason to see the pain through
Light a candle for the dead
The wick is burning returning what we have
It's who we are
We'll reach you if you're beyond the furthest star
Don't give up the fight to stay alive and even if
you have to
Find the reason of another's pain if they lose you
If not for your self then those around who care
like I do
One day you'll see the clear blue
Beyond the Gray Sky
Light a candle
The wick
It's who we are
One day you'll see the clear blue
Beyond the Gray Sky
I can't believe you didn't call
What made you want to end it all
Wasn't there something I should have tried
To help you see beyond the gray sky
The song "Beyond the Gray Sky" by 311 was released in 2003 and is a tribute to a friend of the band who passed away. The song begins by acknowledging the fleeting nature of life and the importance of cherishing the moments of happiness and joy that we experience. The allusion to a firecracker flash of light signifies how quickly life can change and how we must embrace it while we have it. The singer then invites the listener to come along on this journey, even if it is fearful, because life is beautiful and worthwhile.
The second verse speaks to the importance of remembering those who have passed on by lighting a candle for them. The flame represents the hope that their memory will not be forgotten and will continue to live on. The lyrics "It's who we are, we'll reach you if you're beyond the furthest star" emphasize the idea that our loved ones are still with us, even if they are no longer physically present. In the chorus, the singer urges the listener to never give up on life and to find meaning in helping others who may be struggling. The final line "one day you'll see the clear blue, beyond the gray sky" suggests that even in the darkest moments, there is always hope and that we will be reunited with our loved ones someday.
Line by Line Meaning
It is a gift I know
Life is a precious gift that one should cherish and be grateful for.
A moment of bliss that we hold
We should appreciate the little moments of happiness and joy we experience.
A firecracker flash of light then on
Life is fleeting and unpredictable, so we should live in the present moment and make the most of it.
To the next plane soul remain
After we die, our souls move on to another realm beyond our physical world.
Come along if you dare
Life can be scary, but we should still take risks and embrace new experiences.
It's gonna be that you're scared
Fear is a natural part of life, and we should acknowledge it without letting it control us.
Lovely life I thank you
Life is beautiful and worth being thankful for, despite its struggles and hardships.
For the reason to see the pain through
We should strive to find a purpose or meaning that motivates us to endure the difficult times in life.
Light a candle for the dead
We should take the time to remember those who have passed away and honor their memory.
The wick is burning returning what we have
Life is short and we should make the most of it, as we never know when it will end.
It's who we are
Our experiences and struggles shape who we are as individuals and influence our perspective on life.
We'll reach you if you're beyond the furthest star
Even after death, our love and memories of those we have lost can continue to connect us.
Don't give up the fight to stay alive and even if you have to
We should never give up on life, even when faced with challenges and difficulties.
Find the reason of another's pain if they lose you
We should strive to bring comfort to others and find meaning in helping those who may be struggling.
If not for your self then those around who care like I do
Even if we struggle to find a reason to keep going for ourselves, we should remember that there are people who care about us and want us to keep fighting.
One day you'll see the clear blue
One day, we may find clarity and understanding in our struggles and hardships, allowing us to move beyond the pain.
Beyond the Gray Sky
There is more to life than what we can see or perceive, and we should strive to explore and embrace the unknown.
I can't believe you didn't call
The singer is expressing shock and sadness at the loss of someone they cared about.
What made you want to end it all
The singer is grappling with the reasons behind their loved one's suicide and feels a sense of confusion and helplessness.
Wasn't there something I should have tried
The artist is questioning whether they could have done more to help their loved one and is feeling guilty about their perceived failure.
To help you see beyond the gray sky
The artist wishes they could have helped their loved one see beyond the pain and difficulties of life, towards a brighter future.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: NICHOLAS HEXUM, DOUGLAS MARTINEZ, TIM MAHONEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind