Fallen
Costello (Elvis) Lyrics


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All the leaves are turning yellow, red and brown
Soon they'll be scattered as they tumble down
Although they may be swept up so invitingly

I never did what I was told
I trampled through the amber and the burnished gold
But now I clearly see how cruel the young can be
You can convince yourself of anything
If you wish both hard and long
And I believed that life was wonderful
Right up to the moment when love went wrong
I gaze up at the tree-tops and laugh
I need somebody to shake me loose
I want to know what happens next
'Til I don't care at all




There I go
Beginning to fall

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Elvis Costello's song "Fallen" deal with the loss of innocence and the pain of heartbreak. The opening lines describe the changing of the seasons as a metaphor for the impermanence of life. The falling leaves represent the passing of time and the inevitability of change. The singer reflects that when he was young, he ignored the warnings of those around him and lived recklessly in the moment. But now that he's older and wiser, he understands the consequences of his actions and the cruelty of youth.


The chorus of the song speaks to the power of perspective and the ability to convince oneself of anything. The singer believed that life was wonderful until love went wrong, and now he's struggling to make sense of it all. He laughs at the tree-tops, perhaps sensing the futility of his attempts to make sense of his pain. He needs someone to jolt him out of his mental spiral and help him move on.


The final line of the song, "there I go beginning to fall," is a poignant reflection on the inevitability of life's ups and downs. Just as the leaves fall from the trees, so too do we fall in and out of love and into and out of difficult periods in our lives.


Line by Line Meaning

All the leaves are turning yellow, red and brown
The seasons are changing, and nature is transforming


Soon they'll be scattered as they tumble down
The changes in nature are inevitable and unstoppable


Although they may be swept up so invitingly
The changes in nature may seem pleasant, but they hide the harsh reality of life


I never did what I was told
I refused to conform to societal expectations


I trampled through the amber and the burnished gold
I followed my own path which led me through golden opportunities and mistakes


But now I clearly see how cruel the young can be
I understand how the young can be ruthless and unforgiving


You can convince yourself of anything
The human mind can shape reality through belief


If you wish both hard and long
Belief requires persistence and effort


And I believed that life was wonderful
I held onto the positive and optimistic view of life


Right up to the moment when love went wrong
My positive outlook was shattered by the disappointment of failed love


I gaze up at the tree-tops and laugh
I find amusement in the irony of how little control we have over our lives, despite our beliefs and efforts


I need somebody to shake me loose
I am lost and disillusioned, seeking a way out of my doubts and anxieties


I want to know what happens next
I crave certainty and predictability in a chaotic world


'Til I don't care at all
I am willing to let go of my desires and expectations to find peace


There I go
I am starting to accept my fate


Beginning to fall
I am losing my grip on life and descending into darkness




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ELVIS COSTELLO

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Stuart Gardner

If there’s a wiser, more insightful song about the inevitability of watching ourselves age while the longings of youth continue to burn inside us I would love to know what it is.
Thank you so much for sharing this.

Adolph Sanchez

North is great album, but I have always been upset that the best song from the album (the song "North") is only available as a CD Rom extra (I guess he thought it would offend most Americans since it's highly critical of the U.S.).

Jack Shelley

I wish he would do south east and west !

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