Christopher O'Riley is also the host of the NPR Radio show 'From the Top' which features young classical musicians from all over the country. The show is to soon make its television debut on WTTW.
LetDown
Christopher O'Riley Lyrics
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Starting and then stopping
Taking off and landing
The emptiest of feelings
Disappointed people clinging on to bottles
And when it comes it's so so disappointing
Let down and hanging around
Let down and hanging around
Shell smashed, juices flowing
Wings twitch, legs are going
Don't get sentimental
It always ends up drivel
One day I'm going to grow wings
A chemical reaction
Hysterical and useless
Hysterical and
Let down and hanging around
Crushed like a bug in the ground
Let down and hanging around
Let down again
Let down again
Let down again
You know, you know where you are with
You know where you are with
Floor collapsing
Floating, bouncing back
And one day
I am going to grow wings
A chemical reaction
Hysterical and useless
Hysterical and
Let down and hanging around
Crushed like a bug in the ground
Let down and hanging around
Christopher O'Riley's song, LetDown, is a powerful and thought-provoking piece that delves into the emptiest of feelings which people experience in life. The opening lines "Transport, motorways, and tramlines, starting, and then stopping, taking off and landing" are a metaphor for the journey of life where people are constantly in a state of flux with things moving quickly and then suddenly, coming to a standstill. The song's lyrics speak to the disappointment people feel when their expectations are not met, and they realize that something they may have been anticipating or hoping for is not what they thought it would be. The disappointment can be overwhelming, and they may find themselves "clinging on to bottles" as a way to numb the pain.
The chorus of the song "Let down and hanging around, crushed like a bug in the ground, let down and hanging around" emphasizes the feeling of being let down or disappointed. The use of repetition in the chorus adds to the intensity of the emotions being conveyed. The imagery of a "shell smashed, juices flowing, wings twitch, legs are going" is a metaphor for feeling completely vulnerable and exposed. The sentiments expressed in this song are timeless and relatable – everyone has experienced disappointment at some point in their lives.
Overall, Christopher O'Riley's LetDown is an introspective and evocative song that speaks to the emptiness and disappointment people can feel when their hopes and dreams are not fulfilled. The song's lyrics are poignant and emotionally charged, making it a truly powerful piece of music.
Line by Line Meaning
Transport, motorways and tramlines
The humdrum of everyday life and routine.
Starting and then stopping
All the effort put into something, only to be let down in the end.
Taking off and landing
The highs and lows of life and expectations.
The emptiest of feelings
The dejection that comes with disappointment.
Disappointed people clinging on to bottles
People seeking solace in substances to numb the pain of disappointment.
And when it comes it's so so disappointing
Despite the build-up, what was expected is never delivered.
Let down and hanging around
Feeling defeated and stuck in a situation.
Crushed like a bug in the ground
Feeling completely defeated and powerless in a situation.
Shell smashed, juices flowing
Feeling vulnerable and exposed.
Wings twitch, legs are going
Feeling restless and the urge to escape a situation.
Don't get sentimental
Don't get attached to anything, as it will ultimately disappoint.
It always ends up drivel
In the end, anything built up will be anticlimactic and disappointing.
One day I'm going to grow wings
Hoping for a chance to escape from disappointment and move on.
A chemical reaction
The feeling of something inside changing without conscious control.
Hysterical and useless
Feeling like emotions are out of control and serving no purpose.
Let down again
Feeling disappointed yet again.
You know, you know where you are with
Feeling trapped and stuck in a situation.
Floor collapsing
The feeling of life falling apart and things going wrong.
Floating, bouncing back
Feeling like things might get better, only to be let down again.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: COLIN CHARLES GREENWOOD, EDWARD JOHN O'BRIEN, JONATHAN RICHARD GUY GREENWOOD, PHILIP JAMES SELWAY, THOMAS EDWARD YORKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-wx4bd8ui2p
brilliant! 👏
@Vicentecarmonagonza
👏👏👏👏👏👏
@michaelfradley6950
Amazing, Chris, I have a singular memory of me as a teen just sitting and absorbing this in darkness and silence. Brings it back. Wonderful to see you play it. Thank you for these gifts
@vicious6838
I think of music as this when they say, that music connects and connects with the metaphysical reality of this world which is inside everyone of us. Music as this is what is understood as this one particular universal language which by its very own distinctness surpasses that of the world of perception itself..
Pieces like this is what touches and shakens natures inmost consciousness at a deep fundamental level. It is the universal language of our feelings and passions.
@johnnysails
Master piece! Best version ever… you are genius man, THANK YOU!!!!
@scottwillispiano2241
I love when it goes to the section at 2:06, simple beauty, then builds and builds, what curious joy in an often upside down world:)
@tjbruns5972
Beautiful, 🎹🎹🎹🎹
@marcushusbands7077
This is what genius looks like!
@johnyuse7253
GENIUS! My favorite song reinterpreted.
@chamakhmybitchup
Really beautiful version of this song.