Both songs were produced by Polachek herself and Danny L Harle. In a press release posted with both tracks, Polachek revealed that she and Harle executive-produced the album as well, and that it would be released in fall 2019.
Parachute
Caroline Polachek Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One that started as a nightmare
Like a war so extreme
It erased itself from memory
Here's where I jumped
From the airplane without questioning it
The curve of the coast of Los Angeles
And blooming overhead
The parachute
I've got to trust it now, ohh-oh
Change in the wind
And I'm drifting from the crescent
Pulled farther out
From the shore than where I can swim to it
And blooming overhead
The parachute
I've got to trust it now, ohh-oh
Closing in on the sparkle of the waves
Go on, take me
It will feel like going home
Go one, take me
I'm not afraid to drown
What is this?
Pulling me back the other way
To strip malls, highways, and treetops
Landing on the soft ground
Caroline Polachek's song "Parachute" is an introspective exploration of change, a journey that begins with the end of a nightmare. The main character of the song has the sensation of jumping off an airplane without questioning it, a metaphor that represents a sudden and unexplained departure from one's comfort zone. The landscape unfolding before the jumper's eyes is the idyllic coast of Los Angeles, which represents the perfect embodiment of the American Dream. The parachute represents trust, the belief that there is a safety net that will protect the main character from harm in times of change.
However, as the song progresses, the parachute becomes a double-edged sword. Its gradual descent pulls the main character further away from the shore than they can swim back to, a metaphor for the fact that change can be so drastic that life will never be the same again. The sparkling waves in the horizon represent a new beginning, a fresh start. But as the singer approaches the shore, they begin to feel apprehensive. The contrast between the soft, secure ground and the harsh, neon glow of the strip mall represents the tension between one's natural instincts and societal expectations. Ultimately, the lyrics of "Parachute" suggest that change is a necessary part of life, as uncomfortable as it may be.
Line by Line Meaning
Awake from a dream
She woke up from a dream
One that started as a nightmare
The dream initially began as a bad dream
Like a war so extreme
The dream felt like an intense war
It erased itself from memory
She forgot most of the dream upon waking up
Here's where I jumped
This is where she began to take a risky action
From the airplane without questioning it
She took the risk without thinking through the potential consequences
The curve of the coast of Los Angeles
She is skydiving over the coast of Los Angeles
Spreading itself below
Los Angeles spreads under her
And blooming overhead
The parachute is opening up above her
The parachute
A metaphorical safety net that depends on her trust
I've got to trust it now, ohh-oh
She has reached the point of complete dependence on the parachute and knows she must trust it
Change in the wind
The wind has suddenly changed direction
And I'm drifting from the crescent
She is moving away from the coast
Pulled farther out
She is being forcibly taken further away
From the shore than where I can swim to it
She is moving away from the safe point of swimming distance from the shore
Closing in on the sparkle of the waves
She is getting closer to the beautiful shimmer of the sea waves
Go on, take me
She is surrendering herself to the unknown and unpredictable elements of life
It will feel like going home
The sensation of being free and adventurous without any restrictions will feel like home to her
I'm not afraid to drown
She is not intimidated by the possibility of facing difficulties in life
What is this?
She is confused about something
Pulling me back the other way
She is being pulled back in the opposite direction
To strip malls, highways, and treetops
She is being pulled back to the reality of ordinary life
Landing on the soft ground
She safely reaches the ground
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Caroline Polachek, Danny Harle
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nathan725
This is the greatest ending to an album EVER. Nobody could ever surpass this, not even Caroline herself, I'm sure. This is a one in a lifetime song.
Gau Ehehe
billions say hi
whizzard blizzard
@Gau Ehehe this is tricky but imo Billions could also be an opener if WTMI didn’t exist. I feel stongly that Smoke is a better closer for Desire
dadi
this song is genius. It tells a complete story including the change of the main character's emotion. It's almost like a movie, so graphic.
Brian BigBoss
Listen to Half Life by Imogen Heap if you like this.
Kensuke I.
Very much like Kate Bush
Juan Sayago Cheein
Months have passed and I'm still trying to assimilate the power this song has: from the minimal yet engrossing instrumentation, the fantastic and cinematic lyricism to Caroline's acrobatic and alluringly emotional vocals, this might be one of the best album closers I've heard in a long, long time. It encapsulates the story so cohesively and leaves you floating up on the clouds with an arresting yet fulfilling mood. This track, all in all, is gorgeously produced.
Ivan Fernandes
all of this
shinsui x sadness
She's definitely my number one for her sharp control and nutty upper range. definitely hard to manage a head voice.
Akim Young
What’s the story that it encapsulates?