I. Flight of the Navigator
Childish Gambino feat. Jhené Aiko Lyrics
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I had a dream I was flying over all of us
There were so many pretty people
So many pretty faces
I talked to some birds
I fell in love again
And none of this ever ended
Everything just kept going, and going and going
And even when you were sad you were really happy
Because you were here
And I got to meet every star, every planet
Everything that made me
And we all kissed
And became the same
We became the same
We became the same
Who would have thought this
We almost lost it
When you lie inside darkness it's hard to see
And we sleep in tradition
Keep them off in the distance
To tell you that I haven't been
We are all
Cold water
Why try at all?
Why bother?
Just hold me close my darling
Just hold me close my darling
Just hold me close my darling
Just hold me close my darling
Who would have dreamed this?
You couldn't mean this
It would be some type of meanness to where you are
'Cause I don't know where to go
And no one else seems to know
We are all
Night's fallen
Why try at all?
Dark callin'
So we're left alone
No one left to call upon
Be still now, broken bones
As I travel on just hold me close my darling
Just hold me close my darling
Hold me close my darling
Just hold me close my darling
So we're left alone
No one left to call upon
Be still now, broken bones
As I travel on just hold me close my darling
Just hold me close my darling
Just hold me close my darling
Just hold me close my darling
The opening stanza of Childish Gambino's I. Flight of the Navigator describes a idyllic dream in which the singer is flying above all humankind and communing with the natural world. He speaks to birds and falls in love, and everything in this blissful state continues on indefinitely. He meets stars and planets and everything that has made him who he is. He kisses all of them, and they become the same, suggesting both unity and also the dissolution of individual identity.
The second verse begins in a more resigned tone. The singer describes a time when they were close to losing something or someone but were able to hold on. They talk about how in times of darkness, it's hard to perceive things clearly. But they are determined not to lose their connection with this unnamed thing or person. They describe the sense of being alone and vulnerable, with no one to turn to, but nevertheless, the plea to hold me close my darling repeats throughout the verse. By the end, the singer appears to be at the end of their journey, and they urge their companion to hold them one more time.
Overall, the track seems to be about the struggle to maintain connections with what is important, even when it feels that everything is falling apart. Despite the darkness and the struggles they face, the singer has hope and is cheered by the memory of their blissful dream they experienced.
Line by Line Meaning
I had a dream
The artist is recalling a dream he once had.
I had a dream I was flying over all of us
The artist dreamt that he was flying above a large group of people.
There were so many pretty people
The people below him were beautiful to look at.
So many pretty faces
The artist was struck by the beauty of the people he saw while flying.
I talked to some birds
The artist had a conversation with some birds during his dream.
I fell in love again
The artist experienced falling in love during the dream.
And none of this ever ended
The dream went on indefinitely without stopping.
Everything just kept going, and going and going
The dream felt like it was never going to end.
And even when you laughed, you cried
The emotions felt during the dream were complex and intertwined.
And even when you were sad you were really happy
The emotions the artist felt were not always straightforward.
Because you were here
Being present in the moment was what made the emotions felt in the dream possible.
And I got to meet every star, every planet
The artist felt like he traveled and saw everything the universe had to offer during the dream.
Everything that made me
During the dream, the artist felt he came into contact with the forces that made him who he is.
And we all kissed
The artist experienced a sense of unity through physical touch with everything he encountered in the dream.
And became the same
During the dream, the artist felt a sense of oneness with everything and everyone he interacted with.
We became the same
This sense of unity continued throughout the dream, with everyone and everything becoming indistinguishable from each other.
Who would have thought this
The artist is amazed by the events that took place in his dream.
We almost lost it
The dream nearly ended before the artist could fully experience it.
When you lie inside darkness it's hard to see
Going through tough times can obscure one's ability to see things clearly.
And we sleep in tradition
The artist is commenting on the societal norms that we follow.
Keep them off in the distance
He wants to maintain a certain distance from these traditions, not wanting to be beholden to them.
To tell you that I haven't been
The artist wants to clarify that he has not been following societal traditions closely.
We are all
The artist is commenting on how everyone is similar in some way.
Cold water
The previously mentioned unity or sameness may refer to how everyone is, at a fundamental level, made of the same basic elements.
Why try at all?
The artist is questioning the point of trying to stand out or differentiate oneself from others when we are all, in essence, the same.
Why bother?
Related to the previous line, he is suggesting that there may not be much point in trying to be different when it makes more sense to focus on our shared aspects.
Just hold me close my darling
In the midst of this existential questioning, the artist desires intimacy and closeness with someone.
Who would have dreamed this?
The artist is amazed again by everything that has happened.
You couldn't mean this
The artist expresses skepticism that certain events or emotions could be genuine.
It would be some type of meanness to where you are
He suggests that people might be cruel or deceitful in situations like this.
'Cause I don't know where to go
The artist is lost and uncertain about what direction to take in life.
And no one else seems to know
To complicate things further, no one else seems to have an answer or direction to offer either.
Night's fallen
The artist is commenting on the darkness and uncertainty that surrounds him.
Dark callin'
A continuation of the somber tone of the previous line.
So we're left alone
The artist feels isolated and alone in his struggles.
No one left to call upon
There is no one he can turn to for help.
Be still now, broken bones
The artist encourages himself to take a breath, to calm down and rest, to heal from emotional pain.
As I travel on just hold me close my darling
As he goes on his way, the artist craves the comfort of someone by his side.
Just hold me close my darling
He repeats his desire for closeness and intimacy.
Just hold me close my darling
He finds comfort in this repetition, as if repeating it will make it come true.
Just hold me close my darling
He says it one more time to end the song, to emphasize his longing for connection and companionship.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LUDWIG EMIL TOMAS GORANSSON, DONALD MCKINLEY GLOVER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind