In 2007, Fighting Gravity, along with Dave Matthews Band, Barenaked Ladies, Guster, and O.A.R., took part in the IZStyle Winter Tour, a series of concerts aimed at raising awareness of alternative and renewable energy sources.
Julula
Fighting Gravity Lyrics
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Laughter all around her bed
And as the sun was looking down
Into a hole beneath the sky
The song of angels filled her head
Spent her days making friends
With the butterflies
Asking questions of the night
Their pockets filled with promises
Of golden dreams and pearls so white
Julula, I'm sinking like a stone
What have you done to me
Senora, I'm shaking like a leaf
Atop the tallest tree
Warm Brazilian nights gave way to dreams of America
Rebel soldiers on the run
And as the great ship pulled away she cried a lonely tear
And then she turned her head toward the sun
Falling down, calling out I'm all around you
Some days I can see her face in the thunder clouds
Smiling at the simple life
And as the summer breeze calls out
Her name between the rubber trees
It cuts me open like a knife
The song Julula by the band Fighting Gravity is an emotionally charged and deeply introspective piece that takes the listener on a journey through the life of a woman named Julula. The opening lines of the song create vivid imagery of the circumstances of Julula's birth - she was born in the eye of a hurricane, surrounded by laughter. The reference to the hurricane suggests that Julula's birth was marked by tumultuous and unpredictable events. The next few lines of the song paint a picture of Julula's childhood, spent making friends with butterflies, asking questions of the night and dancing with gypsy boys. The gypsy boys are described as having pockets filled with promises of golden dreams and pearls, suggesting that they offered Julula a sense of excitement and adventure.
The chorus of the song, with its repetition of Julula's name, serves as an anchor for the narrative of the song. It is also where the singer reveals his own emotions - he is sinking like a stone and shaking like a leaf in Julula's presence. The second verse of the song takes us through Julula's dreams of America and her sadness at leaving Brazil. The reference to rebel soldiers on the run suggests that there may have been political instability or violence in Brazil, which motivated Julula to leave. The final lines of the song describe the singer's longing for Julula and his sense of loss, even though she is still alive.
The lyrics of Julula are deeply poetic and evocative, and leave a lot of room for interpretation. One possible reading of the song is that it explores the themes of love, loss and longing. The singer seems to be deeply in love with Julula, but is unable to be with her for some reason. It is unclear whether Julula reciprocates his feelings. Another possible interpretation is that the song is about the search for meaning and purpose in life. Julula's childhood, with its focus on questioning and dancing, suggests a desire to engage with the world on a spiritual or philosophical level. The gypsy boys' promises of golden dreams and pearls might represent the allure of material possessions, which can distract us from the deeper questions of life.
Line by Line Meaning
She was born in the eye of a hurricane
She was born in the midst of chaos and uncertainty
Laughter all around her bed
Despite the surrounding chaos, she was born into a loving family filled with happiness
And as the sun was looking down
During the day
Into a hole beneath the sky
Through a small opening above
The song of angels filled her head
She was blessed with a divine presence that filled her with peace, love, and grace
Spent her days making friends
She lived a social life, making friends with those around her and the natural world
With the butterflies
Particularly fond of fluttering creatures
Asking questions of the night
She was inquisitive and curious, pondering the mysteries of the world at night
And dancing with the gypsy boys
She loved to dance with the carefree and adventurous gypsy boys
Their pockets filled with promises
The promises of fleeting riches and grandiose dreams filled their pockets
Of golden dreams and pearls so white
Their ambitions and aspirations were golden and pristine
Julula, I'm sinking like a stone
The artist claims that he is sinking down into the depths of depression and despair because of Julula
What have you done to me
The singer is questioning what Julula has done that has caused him to feel this emotional pain
Senora, I'm shaking like a leaf
The singer thinks of Julula as a lady and is anxious about something outside of him or herself, to the point where they are physically shaking
Atop the tallest tree
The singer is experiencing this anxiety while on high, physically or otherwise
Warm Brazilian nights gave way to dreams of America
The artist recalls a time when warm Brazilian nights gave way to the dreams of living in America
Rebel soldiers on the run
This evokes images of political and social turmoil
And as the great ship pulled away she cried a lonely tear
Someone important to the singer (presumably Julula) watches from a distance as the great ship that the singer is travelling in retreats into the horizon, leaving her with sadness
And then she turned her head toward the sun
Despite the sadness, Julula turned her attention to the positive things in life and moved on.
Falling down, calling out I'm all around you
The artist is falling and calling out to Julula, asking to be helped and for her to be present despite not being physically present
Some days I can see her face in the thunder clouds
The artist idolizes Julula and tends to see her face even in random patterns and events, such as thunder clouds
Smiling at the simple life
In the memories of Julula that the artist has, they see her smiling and enjoying the simple life
And as the summer breeze calls out
The singer hears voices in the sound of the summer breeze
Her name between the rubber trees
The artist hears Julula's name in the rustling of the rubber trees
It cuts me open like a knife
Hearing Julula's name and remembering her so vividly is extremely painful and emotional for the singer
Contributed by Avery H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.