Half As Tall
A Boy and His Kite Lyrics


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i met a man who was half as tall
in his mind then against the wall
he was standing on his knees
i met man who was half as wise
in his mind and in his eyes
they were bloodshot from all he'd seen
when the words that we hear
echo through the years
when the thoughts that we've wrought
take root in our hearts
when the echo's of doubt creep up and out of your mouth
won't you bury them six feet under
i met a man who was half as bold
in his heart than what his muscles could show
he was weak in the knees
i met a man who was half as rich
in his heart than what his income could fix
wash it out, this tide is cleansing
it's pouring in and the water's rising
flowing in, your voice changing
hear it out and the sound is deafening




you're twice as strong. you're twice as bold
no more believing what you've been told

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to A Boy and His Kite's song Half As Tall are a poignant reflection on the struggles of life and the inner turmoil that many people experience. The singer meets people who are only half of what they could be - half as tall, half as wise, half as bold, half as rich. While their physical and material selves are lacking, there is still hope for them to become full and whole in their minds and hearts.


The song encourages listeners to bury their doubts and negative thoughts deep underground, allowing them to grow into something more positive and productive. The repetition of "echo" throughout the song speaks to the idea that our words and thoughts have a ripple effect that can reverberate through time and space. The water metaphor in the latter half of the song represents a cleansing and transformative force, washing away the old and bringing in the new.


Overall, Half As Tall is a song about the power of the mind and the importance of pushing through one's limitations to become the best version of oneself. It encourages listeners to think critically, to question what they've been taught, and to believe that they are capable of achieving greatness.


Line by Line Meaning

i met a man who was half as tall
I encountered an individual who seems to have low self-esteem and confidence. He was not standing with his full posture and his self-belief was visibly low.


in his mind then against the wall
His psychological struggles had materialized into a visible physical limitation.


he was standing on his knees
The person had metaphorically given up his stance and was submitting to his fears and doubts.


i met man who was half as wise
I spoke to someone who was not as knowledgeable and perceptive as he looked. His lack of wisdom was affecting his judgment.


in his mind and in his eyes
His intellect and perception of the world around him were inadequate and lacked depth.


they were bloodshot from all he'd seen
His eyes had witnessed a lot of negative things, which had left him disturbed and distressed.


when the words that we hear
At times, we come across words that may hurt us or discourage us.


echo through the years
Such words tend to stay with us for a long time and continue to affect us even in the future.


when the thoughts that we've wrought
Our negative thoughts can shape our perceptions and actions in the world.


take root in our hearts
Negative thoughts can lead to negativity and pessimism in our personality, which can hinder our growth and development.


when the echo's of doubt creep up and out of your mouth
When we doubt ourselves, it becomes evident in the way we communicate and interact with others.


won't you bury them six feet under
It's essential to counteract these doubts and negative thoughts by burying them deep in our minds.


i met a man who was half as bold
I came across an individual who was not as daring and courageous as he thought he was.


in his heart than what his muscles could show
Though his physical strength was commendable, his inner strength and conviction were lacking.


he was weak in the knees
His physical stance did not match his internal fortitude, leading to a lack of confidence in his abilities.


i met a man who was half as rich
I spoke to someone who may have been financially stable, but their emotional and spiritual wealth was depleting.


in his heart than what his income could fix
No amount of money or materialistic possessions can fill the void that a lack of emotional and spiritual stability can create.


wash it out, this tide is cleansing
It's important to purge ourselves of negativity and toxic thoughts to create room for new ideas and beliefs to take root.


it's pouring in and the water's rising
A new dawn is approaching, which will wash away the remnants of the past and clear the path for new beginnings.


flowing in, your voice changing
As we learn and grow, our perspectives shift, and our communications with ourselves and others change.


hear it out and the sound is deafening
When we truly listen to ourselves and embrace change, it can be a profound and life-altering experience.


you're twice as strong. you're twice as bold
When we rid ourselves of negative thoughts and embrace positivity, we become stronger and more courageous than we ever thought we could be.


no more believing what you've been told
It's time to let go of old beliefs and embrace the new and positive changes taking place within and around us.




Contributed by Max R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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