Foreign Fields, formerly "Flights," is an electronic folk duo that hails fr… Read Full Bio ↴Foreign Fields, formerly "Flights," is an electronic folk duo that hails from the wintry plains of Wisconsin. New Years day of last year they met in their hometown, in an abandoned office building, to begin work on their first full length LP "Anywhere But Where I Am". Having no set plan or guide, the album grew naturally as they left their lives in Chicago for hot summer days, skipping stones in the rivers of Tennessee.

They self-released their album January first of this year and it has since gone on to receive considerable attention and praise without any outside help. In the upcoming months, Foreign Fields will be releasing a short film for each of the 13 tracks on their album as well as releasing a supplemental instrumental EP.

For more:
http://foreignfields.bandcamp.com/

Taller
Flights Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I've been here before
Gratefully
I can see it all
But I can't feel at all
Who's the man putting his heart to my ear
Who is eight feet tall
Before they feel this small

Can I break in, in, in
Can I break in, in, in

How am I
How am I
How am I taller
How am I
How am I
How am I taller

What's the shame behind these tranquil rays
It's not pain I passed
From the house I left
I've been here before
Gratefully
I can see it all
But I can't feel at all
No I can't feel at all
Can I break in, in, in

How am I
How am I
How am I taller
Fear in life
Out of spite
How am I
Taller...

I was born with this old mind
And I told you to keep, keep my life

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Taller" by Flights seem to be about a feeling of disconnection from oneself and the world around. The opening line "I've been here before, gratefully" may suggest that the singer is in a familiar place or situation, but the word "gratefully" could imply that they are not entirely comfortable with it. They can see everything around them, but are unable to feel anything. The line "Who's the man putting his heart to my ear, who is eight feet tall?" could represent an external force trying to connect with the singer, but they feel small in comparison and unable to reciprocate. The repeated line "Can I break in, in, in" could be a plea to be allowed back into their own self, to feel again.

The chorus "How am I taller" is an interesting contrast to the previous verses. It's unclear whether the singer is actually physically growing taller or if it's a metaphorical way of saying they feel stronger or more empowered. They ask themselves "How am I taller" as though it's a surprise or a sudden development, and it's possible that the disconnection they feel in the verses is what's preventing them from feeling that sense of strength.

The second verse talks about "tranquil rays" and suggests that there's some sort of underlying sadness or shame that's causing the disconnection. The singer insists that it's not something they've brought with them from their past, and that they've been in this situation before. They can see everything around them, but still can't feel. The final line of the song "I was born with this old mind and I told you to keep, keep my life" could suggest that this is a long-standing issue that the singer has tried to keep hidden, or that they need somebody else to take the lead in order to break free from it.

Overall, "Taller" seems to be a song about feeling disconnected, either from oneself or from the world around. The repeated plea of "Can I break in, in, in" and the surprise of "How am I taller" suggest that the singer is struggling to find a way back to themselves, but might be making progress.

Line by Line Meaning

I've been here before
I have experienced this situation earlier

Gratefully
Expressing gratitude for something

I can see it all
I understand everything that is happening

But I can't feel at all
I am emotionally numb

Who's the man putting his heart to my ear
Who is trying to open up their heart to me

Who is eight feet tall
Who seems larger than life

Before they feel this small
Before they become vulnerable

Can I break in, in, in
Can I enter into the emotional space

How am I
In what state am I in

How am I taller
How can I be stronger in this situation

What's the shame behind these tranquil rays
What is the hidden guilt in these peaceful surroundings