How Far I'll Go
Chase Holfelder Lyrics


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I've been staring at the edge of the water
'Long as I can remember, never really knowing why
I wish I could be the perfect daughter
But I come back to the water, no matter how hard I try
Every turn I take, every trail I track
Every path I make, every road leads back
To the place I know, where I cannot go
Where I long to be
See the line where the sky meets the sea?
It calls me
And no one knows, how far it goes
If the wind in my sail on the sea stays behind me
One day I'll know, if I go there's just no telling how far I'll go
Oh oh oh, oh, oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh, oh oh
Oh oh oh, oh, oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh, oh oh
I know, everybody on this island seems so happy on this island
Everything is by design
I know, everybody on this island has a role on this island
So maybe I can roll with mine
I can lead with pride, I can make us strong
I'll be satisfied if I play along
But the voice inside sings a different song
What is wrong with me?
See the light as it shines on the sea? It's blinding
But no one knows, how deep it goes
And it seems like it's calling out to me, so come find me
And let me know, what's beyond that line, will I cross that line?
See the line where the sky meets the sea?
It calls me
And no one knows, how far it goes




If the wind in my sail on the sea stays behind me
One day I'll know, how far I'll go

Overall Meaning

Chase Holfelder's song How Far I'll Go is a song about a girl who wants to know how far she can go. She has been staring at the edge of the water for as long as she can remember, but she never really knew why. She wishes she could be the perfect daughter, but she finds herself coming back to the water no matter how hard she tries to resist. Every turn she takes, every trail she tracks, every path she makes, every road leads back to the place she knows, where she cannot go but longs to be. She can see the line where the sky meets the sea, and it calls her. She wants to know how far she can go.


The song is a representation of the human desire to explore beyond the boundaries that society has set for us. It's about wanting to be free from the constraints and limitations that we impose upon ourselves. The girl in the song is torn between the life that is expected of her and the life that she wants to live. She knows that there is so much more out there, beyond the line where the sky meets the sea. The song is a call to action for anyone who has ever felt trapped or limited by the expectations of others. It's a reminder that we all have the power to break free and explore the world around us.


Lyric interpretations can be subjective, but a major interpretation of the song is that it's about following your dreams and striving for personal growth. It's a reminder to always question and explore the path you're on and to challenge yourself to go further. The line where the sky meets the sea represents the edge of the unknown, and the wind in her sail represents the strength we need to keep moving forward, even when the future is uncertain.


Line by Line Meaning

I've been staring at the edge of the water
I have been gazing at the shore of the ocean


'Long as I can remember, never really knowing why
I have no idea why I do this, but I have been doing it since childhood


I wish I could be the perfect daughter
I desire to be an ideal child


But I come back to the water, no matter how hard I try
Despite my efforts, I keep returning to the ocean


Every turn I take, every trail I track
Every move I make and every step I make


Every path I make, every road leads back
Regardless of what path I choose, I always end up in the same place


To the place I know, where I cannot go
I know a location that seems out of reach


Where I long to be
I desire to be there


See the line where the sky meets the sea?
Do you see the horizon?


It calls me
It beckons or invites me


And no one knows, how far it goes
No one can predict the distance that it spans


If the wind in my sail on the sea stays behind me
If the wind pushes my ship from behind


One day I'll know, if I go there's just no telling how far I'll go
Someday I will discover just how far I can go if I decide to take the plunge


Oh oh oh, oh, oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh, oh oh
This is just an emotional vocalization


I know, everybody on this island seems so happy on this island
It appears everyone on this piece of land is content


Everything is by design
Men have planned everything


I know, everybody on this island has a role on this island
It seems that everyone on this island has a pre-determined duty


So maybe I can roll with mine
Perhaps I can accept my own


I can lead with pride, I can make us strong
I have the ability to lead with confidence and strengthen our group


I'll be satisfied if I play along
I will be pleased if I follow the established norms


But the voice inside sings a different song
However, my inner voice is calling me towards something else


What is wrong with me?
I am questioning myself


See the light as it shines on the sea? It's blinding
Observe the bright sunlight shining on the water


And it seems like it's calling out to me, so come find me
It appears like it is beckoning me to follow it


And let me know, what's beyond that line, will I cross that line?
Tell me what lies beyond that boundary, will I dare to cross it?


One day I'll know, how far I'll go
Someday, I will learn how much strength and courage lie within me




Writer(s): Lin-manuel Miranda

Contributed by Peyton G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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