Orion
Anaïs Mitchell Lyrics


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You were dead when they found you
On the floor of your apartment
You were dead, and your drum set stood there
Shining in the dark
Shining like stage lights
Shining like your eyes
Shining like Orion in the night
You were small time back in Austin
Where the drummers are all poor
You were rocking out this dive bar
There were bottles on the floor
And a couple lonely people
And the bartender and I
Remembered what it is to be alive

Hey Orion he's falling
Catch him if you can
Hey Orion he's calling
Amen, amen, amen

Were you dreaming of the big time
When you fell down all alone
Could you see the velvet curtain
And the silver microphone
Could you hear your own heart beating
Did you hear it getting slow
Could you hear your own heart playing rock and roll

Hey Orion he's falling
And you catch him if you can
Hey Orion he's calling
Amen, amen, amen

Gram Parsons in a hotel
Buddy Holly on a plane
And you in your apartment
With your drum set shining
Shining like stage lights
Shining like your eyes
Shining like Orion in the night

Hey Orion he's falling
And you catch him if you can
Hey Orion he's calling
Amen, amen
Hey Orion now he's falling
And you catch him if you can
Hey Orion he's calling




Amen, amen
Amen, amen, amen

Overall Meaning

The song tells a story about a drummer who is discovered dead in his apartment, with his drum set left shining in the dark. The lyrics of the song reflect on the life and dreams of the drummer, who seems to have been smalltime and played in dive bars. The comparisons to Gram Parsons and Buddy Holly suggest that the drummer had some artistic aspirations beyond his modest circumstances. The song raises questions about what might have become of the drummer if he had had more time and opportunities.


The repeated refrain of "Hey Orion he's falling, catch him if you can" adds to the poignancy of the song. Orion was a constellation in Greek mythology, representing a hunter. The reference to Orion falling could symbolize the drummer's aspirations and dreams falling away with his untimely death, and the plea to catch him if you can speaks to the idea of chasing unattainable goals or trying to hold onto lost potential. Ultimately, the song is a reflection on the fleeting nature of life and the importance of seizing every moment.


Line by Line Meaning

You were dead when they found you
The terrible news of your passing was revealed to everyone at the time of your discovery


On the floor of your apartment
You were found lifeless on your living room floor


You were dead, and your drum set stood there
When they discovered you, your precious drum set was still there next to you


Shining in the dark
Your drum set radiated a beautiful glow in the darkness of your apartment


Shining like stage lights
The beautiful radiance of your drum set was as bright as the stage lights at a concert


Shining like your eyes
The beautiful radiance of your drum set was as bright as the gleaming light of hope in your eyes


Shining like Orion in the night
Your beautiful drum set shone like the constellation of Orion in the night sky


You were small time back in Austin
You were not a major sensation in Austin's music scene


Where the drummers are all poor
The drummers in Austin's music scene have never been financially sound


You were rocking out this dive bar
You were energetically performing inside a low-end bar


There were bottles on the floor
Empty bottles were strewn around the floor


And a couple lonely people
A few people who seemed alone were present


And the bartender and I
Only the bartender and I attended the event


Remembered what it is to be alive
We were reminded of the vitality and beauty that come with being alive


Hey Orion he's falling
Orion, the constellation that represents you, is falling out of the sky


Catch him if you can
Try to save Orion from falling out of the sky


Hey Orion he's calling
Orion is summoning you


Amen, amen, amen
For this we pray


Were you dreaming of the big time
Did you ever imagine massive success for yourself?


When you fell down all alone
Did you expect to fall so low and die alone?


Could you see the velvet curtain
Could you see yourself on a grand stage?


And the silver microphone
Could you picture yourself singing into a shiny microphone?


Could you hear your own heart beating
Could you hear the rhythm of your heart and soul?


Did you hear it getting slow
Did your heartbeats slow down until they eventually stopped?


Could you hear your own heart playing rock and roll
Could you feel the passion in your heart to play rock and roll?


Gram Parsons in a hotel
Gram Parsons, another musician who passed away, was inside a hotel at the time


Buddy Holly on a plane
Buddy Holly, another legendary musician, was inside a plane at the time


And you in your apartment
You were alone in your apartment


Hey Orion he's falling (now he's falling)
Orion, the constellation that represents you, is falling out of the sky


And you catch him if you can
Try to save Orion from falling out of the sky


Hey Orion he's calling
Orion is summoning you


Amen, amen
For this we pray


Amen, amen, amen
For this we pray again and again and again




Writer(s): Anais Mitchell

Contributed by Aaliyah M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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