Fear Of Falling
Badlees Lyrics


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Last night I dreamt of flying
Over hillsides in the snow
And I dove down through the clouds
Into the valley there below
When the fields turned into parking lots
My freedom turned to dread
The ground rose up to greet me
And I jumped up out of bed
You can fly, fly, fly
Off to anywhere you choose
You can try, try, try
But eventually you'll lose
It seems there's always something
Tryin' to bring a good man down
I have no fear of falling
But I hate hitting the ground
Searchin' through my sofa
Tryin' to find some extra change
I thought that I knew everything
'Til everything changed
Now I'm standing on an island
That is sinking into the sea
And all that I can do
Is just enjoy the scenery
Well you can fly, fly, fly
Off to anywhere you choose
You can try, try, try
But eventually you'll lose
They say a man hears sweet, soft music
Just before he drowns
I have no fear of falling
But I hate hitting the ground
You and I have politics
There's lines that we don't cross
And we live happily ever after
Inside this little box
But you just can't take a lion
And throw him into a cage
And expect him to be thankful
For the shelter that you gave
Well you can fly, fly, fly
Off to anywhere you choose
You can try, try, try
But eventually you'll lose
The more you try to cling to me
The less I'll stick around




I have no fear of falling
But I hate hitting the ground

Overall Meaning

The Badlees lyrics in "Fear of Falling" describe a dream where the singer flies over hills and fields covered with snow. The dream turns into a nightmare when the fields below turn into parking lots, and the singer loses his feeling of freedom. This moment serves as a metaphor for life's challenges and how even when we feel like we are in control and free, circumstances can shift quickly. The lyrics suggest that while we can try our best and take risks, there is always the possibility of failure and disappointment in the end. The final verse speaks to the importance of personal freedom and not being constrained by society's rules or expectations. The singer refuses to be contained in a box and acknowledges that the more others try to control him, the less he will stick around.


Overall, the message in the song seems to be one of living life to the fullest, pushing past our fears, and embracing new experiences, but also understanding that these choices come with risks and that eventually, we will all "lose" in some way. At the same time, the lyrics encourage listeners to hold onto their independence, resist societal expectations, and remain true to themselves.


Line by Line Meaning

Last night I dreamt of flying
The singer had a dream about flying, which may represent a desire for freedom and escape from the constraints of reality.


Over hillsides in the snow
The flying took place over a winter landscape, which may symbolize the cold, harsh realities of life.


And I dove down through the clouds
The singer's flight took a downward trajectory, suggesting a loss of control and descent into danger.


Into the valley there below
The flight ended in a valley, potentially representing a state of limbo or being trapped in a low point in life.


When the fields turned into parking lots
The scenery changed from natural beauty to man-made structures, which could symbolize a loss of innocence or purity.


My freedom turned to dread
The singer's sense of freedom was replaced with fear and apprehension, possibly due to the realization of the limitations and dangers of the real world.


The ground rose up to greet me
The singer was forced back down to reality, representing a harsh awakening or return to the real world.


And I jumped up out of bed
The artist woke up from the dream, potentially feeling relieved to escape from the dangers and anxieties of the dream world.


You can fly, fly, fly Off to anywhere you choose
This refrain suggests that freedom is possible and desirable, and that one can pursue their dreams and aspirations with abandon.


You can try, try, try But eventually you'll lose
However, this line suggests that there are inherent risks to pursuing one's dreams, and that failure, disappointment, or setbacks are likely.


It seems there's always something Tryin' to bring a good man down
Life is full of obstacles and challenges that can prevent people from achieving their goals or reaching their full potential.


I have no fear of falling But I hate hitting the ground
The artist is not afraid of taking risks or failing, but is afraid of the pain and consequences that come with failure.


Searchin' through my sofa Tryin' to find some extra change
The singer is struggling financially and trying to scrape by with what little he has.


I thought that I knew everything 'Til everything changed
The singer thought he had life figured out, but something unexpected happened to shake up his understanding and worldview.


Now I'm standing on an island That is sinking into the sea
The singer is in a desperate situation, isolated and helpless, with no clear way out.


And all that I can do Is just enjoy the scenery
The artist is resigned to his fate and can only wait for the inevitable, finding solace in the beauty around him.


They say a man hears sweet, soft music Just before he drowns
This line is a proverbial warning that danger can be deceptive and calming before it strikes.


I have no fear of falling But I hate hitting the ground
This line is repeated as a refrain, emphasizing the singer's willingness to take risks but also his aversion to failure or defeat.


You and I have politics There's lines that we don't cross
The singer and someone else have differences in opinion or values, leading to a sense of division or tension.


And we live happily ever after Inside this little box
Despite the conflict, the two parties are able to coexist and find contentment within the norms and limitations of their situation.


But you just can't take a lion And throw him into a cage
This line suggests that people cannot be forced into situations or conform to expectations without experiencing resistance or negative consequences.


And expect him to be thankful For the shelter that you gave
People will not necessarily be grateful for help or assistance if it comes at the cost of their own freedom or identity.


The more you try to cling to me The less I'll stick around
This line suggests that too much pressure or control can drive people away, further emphasizing the importance of individual liberty and autonomy.


I have no fear of falling But I hate hitting the ground
The song ends with this same refrain, emphasizing its central message about the risks and rewards of pursuing one's dreams.




Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Royalty Network, Spirit Music Group
Written by: GARY LOURIS, GARY MICHAEL LOURIS, JEFF TWEEDY, JEFFREY SCOTT TWEEDY, JODY STEPHENS, Jeffrey Tweedy

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

FireCracker3240

Such a shame that the Badlees never made it bigger. Pete Palladino's voice is so mesmerizing and unique. These guys were so great.

Edinboro Karate

I agree. Great band

keefos66

It is surprising. They were much better than many bands of this genre and seemed like they’d go all the way. I was in a cover band with Bret in college and really had no idea how good or serious he was.

Robert Atwood

Use to love seeing them around Central Pennsylvania in the 90's.

Cass and The Bailout Crew

they have a new album coming out late December! I've heard a sneak peak. It is KILLER and I think you'll see The Badlees enjoy a resurgence in 2023!

Jennie Hogan

Amen!

asc1979

One of the greatest songs of the ‘90s. Damn, I wish our kids could listen to the same stuff.

Dawn Mondschein Cline

Why can't they? My kids do. :)

Jimmy Kpat

I adopted this song as my life's theme song in the 90's. Now in '22 it means more to me than ever!!
A true underrated classic!!

malcorub

My local radio station in Texas gave this song heavy rotation in 96 and 97. They even played one of the station's festivals too.

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