Why walk when you could fly
Carpenter Mary Chapin Lyrics


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In this world there's a whole lot of trouble, baby
In this world there's a whole lot of pain
In this world there's a whole lot of trouble, but
A whole lot of ground to gain
Why take when you could be giving?
Why watch as the world goes by?
It's a hard enough life to be living
Why walk when you can fly?

In this world there's a whole lot of sorrow
In this world there's a whole lot of shame
In this world there's a whole lot of sorrow
And a whole lot of ground to gain
When you spend your whole life wishing
Wanting, and wondering why
It's a long enough life to be living
Why walk when you can fly?

And in this world there's a whole lot of golden
In this world there's a whole lot of pain
In this world you've a soul for a compass
And a heart for a pair of wings
There's a star on the far horizon
Rising bright in an azure sky




For the rest of the time that you're given
Why walk when you can fly?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Why Walk When You Could Fly" by Mary Chapin Carpenter have a clear message of hope and encouragement, urging people to strive for their dreams and not settle for the difficulties and limitations of daily life. The song speaks of the world's troubles and pains, yet emphasizes that there is a lot of ground to gain, and hopes to instill a sense of motivation and optimism.


The first verse stresses that life is difficult, and it can be hard enough just to survive. However, the lyrics then question why anyone would choose to simply take and watch life go by when they could be giving and making a difference. The singer implores listeners to not settle, but to reach for the sky and achieve their dreams, rather than just walking through life.


The second verse notes the sorrow and shame that is present in the world, but argues that there is still a lot of ground to gain, suggesting that people should continue to fight for something more. The lyrics acknowledge the struggle of wishing, wanting, and wondering, but encourage listeners to keep going, stating that life is long enough but still short enough that there is no reason to just walk through it.


Finally, the song speaks of the beauty in the world and gives hope that people can achieve their dreams. The lyrics emphasize the power of the human soul and heart, and suggest that people can navigate through life's trials while still rising like birds on wings. The song ends with a suggestion that although there may be only a limited time, there is always hope for the future, and people should not just walk through life but instead should fly.


Line by Line Meaning

In this world there's a whole lot of trouble, baby
This world is filled with a lot of difficulties and hardships, my dear


In this world there's a whole lot of pain
There is a lot of suffering and agony in this world


In this world there's a whole lot of trouble, but
Although the world is filled with many challenges,


A whole lot of ground to gain
There are many opportunities for growth and progress


Why take when you could be giving?
Instead of being selfish, why not be generous and giving?


Why watch as the world goes by?
Why be a passive observer when you can be an active participant in the world?


It's a hard enough life to be living
Life is already difficult enough as it is


Why walk when you can fly?
So why settle for mediocrity and limitations when you can aim higher and soar?


In this world there's a whole lot of sorrow
In addition to trouble and pain, there is also a lot of sadness and grief in this world


In this world there's a whole lot of shame
There is also a lot of humiliation and disgrace in this world


And a whole lot of ground to gain
But there are still many opportunities for self-improvement and growth


When you spend your whole life wishing
If you spend your entire life just hoping things will get better


Wanting, and wondering why
Longing for something more, and questioning why you haven't achieved it yet


It's a long enough life to be living
Life is already quite lengthy, with many ups and downs along the way


Why walk when you can fly?
So why settle for just getting by, when you can aim higher and soar above the limitations?


And in this world there's a whole lot of golden
Amidst all the difficulties, there are also many golden or beautiful things in this world


In this world there's a whole lot of pain
But pain and suffering still exist


In this world you've a soul for a compass
However, you have an inner compass, or a guide for your life, within yourself


And a heart for a pair of wings
With your heart as your motivation, you can soar and achieve great things


There's a star on the far horizon
In the distance, there is hope and opportunity for a better future


Rising bright in an azure sky
This hope is represented by a shining star in the bright blue sky


For the rest of the time that you're given
For the remainder of your life


Why walk when you can fly?
So why live a life limited by your fears and doubts, when you can achieve great things and soar above them?




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARY CARPENTER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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