Phoenix
Dan Fogelberg Lyrics
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I have cried too long
I have cried too
I have cried too long
No more sorrow,
Got to carry on
Found deep water
Found deep water
Before I've even learned to swim
Never thought I'd
See the sun again
Once I was a
Once I was a man alone
Once I was a
Once I was a man alone
Now I've found a
Heart to call my home
Like a Phoenix,
I have risen from the flames
Like a Phoenix,
I have risen from the flames
No more living
Someone else's dreams
I have cried too
I have cried too long
I have cried too
I have cried too long
No more sorrow
Got to carry on
You almost had me, old lady
You almost tied me down good
You played the lady in waiting
And I waited as long as I could
Too long the songs have been silent
Too long the strings have been still
I never knew what you wanted
An I guess that I Never Will
Like a phoenix,
I have risen from the flames
Like a phoenix,
I have risen from the flames
No more living
Someone else's dreams
I have cried too
I have cried too long
I have cried too
I have cried too long
No more sorrow
Got to carry on
The lyrics to Dan Fogelberg's song Phoenix tell the story of someone who has faced great challenges, but ultimately triumphs over them. The repetitions of "I have cried too long" and "No more sorrow, got to carry on" create an emotional intensity that builds throughout the song, underscoring the sense of struggle and determination. The singer has found himself in "deep water" before he even knows how to swim, suggesting that he has faced a difficult situation for which he was not prepared. However, despite this initial setback, he finds a "heart to call [his] home," symbolizing a newfound sense of belonging and purpose.
The refrain "like a Phoenix, I have risen from the flames" emphasizes the singer's resilience and ability to overcome adversity. The imagery of rising from the ashes of one's own destruction is a potent metaphor for rebirth and transformation. The final verse, in which the singer recounts being almost "tied down" by an "old lady" who played the "lady in waiting," suggests that he has faced both external and internal obstacles in his quest for self-discovery. However, he ultimately asserts his independence and the importance of living his own dreams.
Overall, the lyrics to Phoenix are a testament to the human spirit's capacity for strength, perseverance, and reinvention in the face of hardship.
Line by Line Meaning
I have cried too
Expressing the singer's emotional exhaustion
I have cried too long
Acknowledging the length of the emotional distress
No more sorrow,
The singer is done with dwelling on their pain
Got to carry on
The artist's resolve to move forward
Found deep water
The artist feels overwhelmed by their situation
Before I've even learned to swim
The singer is inexperienced and unprepared for the challenges they face
Never thought I'd
The singer is surprised at the positive outcome
See the sun again
The positive outcome brings hope to the artist
Once I was a
The artist is reflecting on a past state of being
Man alone
The artist felt emotionally isolated
Now I've found a
The singer's situation has improved
Heart to call my home
The artist has found a sense of belonging
Like a Phoenix,
The singer is comparing themselves to the mythical bird, symbolizing rebirth and transformation
I have risen from the flames
The singer has overcome adversity and has been reborn
No more living
The singer is breaking free from past constraints
Someone else's dreams
The artist is no longer living for others, but for themselves
You almost had me, old lady
The artist is addressing an adversary
You almost tied me down good
The adversary almost successfully kept the singer in a negative situation
You played the lady in waiting
The adversary used manipulation and waiting tactics
And I waited as long as I could
The artist gave the adversary the benefit of the doubt for an extended period of time
Too long the songs have been silent
The artist is unhappy with the lack of positive expression in their life
Too long the strings have been still
The artist's creativity has been stifled for too long
I never knew what you wanted
The singer is uncertain of the adversary's motives
An I guess that I Never Will
The artist has given up on trying to understand the adversary
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAN FOGELBERG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind