Currently, the group comprises singer and harmonica player John Popper, guitarist Chan Kinchla, drummer Brendan Hill, bassist Tad Kinchla and keyboardist Ben Wilson. Tad Kinchla and Ben Wilson joined the band following the death of original bassist Bobby Sheehan in 1999.
While Blues Traveler is best known among fans for their improvisational live shows, the general public is most familiar with the group from their Top 40 singles "Run-Around" and "Hook". They gained mainstream popularity after their fourth studio album four, released in 1994. Sheehan's death and Popper's struggle with obesity put a damper on the group's success, and A&M dropped the band in 2002.
Fledgling
Blues Traveler Lyrics
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Meagerest of fledglings
And breathe in deep
And cease to cry
For life it beats within you
To fix upon the sky
And fix upon=
Is beckoning your coming
Your feathered nest
Has grown too small
The wind
Is here to greet you
Spread your wings and simply fall
Spread your wings and simply fall
Spread your wings
Spread your wings and simply
Fall
Into the rushing air
And struggle
And fight to rise above
And then surrender
To your freedoms
For these are the pains of love
And these are the many pains of love
And many, many are the pains of, love
That frightening fall has become a friend
With gravity now do you play
Inches from death and the frozen ground
And then away
The clouds separate to reveal the warmth
Of the goldenest bright shining sea
Night falls and it's gone again
But now you're free
To give it chase
And to
Soar through heaven
Mightiest of eagles
And rule your minions
Of the sky
The earth
Is far below you
Once its prisoner now do you fly
Once just a fledgling now
Do you fly
Now my fledgling now my fledgling do you
Fly, free
The song "Fledgling" by Blues Traveler is about taking risks and embracing change in life. The lyrics encourage listeners to raise their heads and cease to cry, as life beats within them. The song speaks about the transition from the comfort zone of a feathered nest, which has grown too small, to a world with endless possibilities. The sky is beckoning and calling the listener to spread their wings and fall into the rushing air. The song talks about the struggle and fight to rise above, but ultimately surrendering to freedom, which is the pain of love.
The lyrics suggest that the frightening fall has become a friend, and the gravity is now a plaything. The image of inches from death and the frozen ground is used to show the exhilarating feeling of being so close to danger but not succumbing to it. The song then moves to reveal the warmth and goldenest bright shining sea found when the clouds separate. It suggests that night falls and the golden sea is gone, but now the listener is free to give it a chase and soar through heaven.
So, the song is about embracing change and taking risks, leaving the comfort zone to experience the beauty and possibilities of the world. While the journey might be terrifying, it can be exciting and ultimately rewarding.
Line by Line Meaning
Raise your head
Look up with hope and confidence
Meagerest of fledglings
Even if you feel small or weak
And breathe in deep
Take a deep breath and relax
And cease to cry
Stop crying and be brave
For life it beats within you
You have life and strength within you
To fix upon the sky
Look up and focus on your dreams
The sky
Your future and potential
Is beckoning your coming
It is calling you to come and achieve your goals
Your feathered nest
Your comfort zone or current situation
Has grown too small
You have outgrown your current situation
The wind
Challenges and opportunities
Is here to greet you
You have the strength and capability to overcome them
Spread your wings and simply fall
Take a risk and trust yourself to succeed
Into the rushing air
You will face challenges and obstacles
And struggle
It won't be easy
And fight to rise above
But you can overcome them
And then surrender
Accept your newfound freedom and potential
To your freedoms
The opportunities and possibilities that await you
For these are the pains of love
It may be difficult, but it's worth it
That frightening fall has become a friend
You have learned to embrace risk and change
With gravity now do you play
You can handle the challenges and obstacles
Inches from death and the frozen ground
You face risk, but it's worth it
And then away
You can overcome them and move on
The clouds separate to reveal the warmth
You will see the rewards of your efforts
Of the goldenest bright shining sea
The beauty and clarity of your potential
Night falls and it's gone again
Success is not guaranteed and requires continued effort
But now you're free
You have greater potential and opportunity
To give it chase
You can pursue your goals with greater confidence
And to soar through heaven
You can achieve great things and reach new heights
Mightiest of eagles
You are capable and powerful
And rule your minions
You can take control of your destiny
Of the sky
Your potential and opportunity
The earth
Your past and limitations
Is far below you
You have surpassed it
Once its prisoner now do you fly
You have broken free from your limitations
Now just a fledgling, now do you fly
From a beginner to a person with great potential and ability
Now my fledgling, now my fledgling do you fly
You have become someone with great potential and ability
Fly, free
Go forth with confidence, freedom, and opportunity
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: JOHN C. POPPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind