In March 2004 Gary Girouard turned his passion for the piano into a music C… Read Full Bio ↴In March 2004 Gary Girouard turned his passion for the piano into a music CD. Girouard released his debut album “The Naked Piano”. The album is a tribute to the timeless nature of the piano and features a collection of compositions that blends classical, new age and pop influences into what the editor of Boston Live hails as "a masterpiece...a testament to the gracious sounds of a fluid live recording".

Gabriel
Gary Girouard Lyrics

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Gabriel, wherever you roam,
You know the longest way round is the shortest way home.
Gabriel, wherever you go,
You know the longest way round is the shortest way home.

When you were here there was a beating of wings
In your heart doing senseless things.
When you were here there was a forest fire

Raging in you like a wild desire.

Gabriel, wherever you roam,
You know the longest way round is the shortest way home.

And everything you did only skimmed the surface of the day.
And deep inside there was an emptiness that would not go away.

Gabriel, Gabriel.

Overall Meaning

In this beautiful and poignant song, Gary Girouard addresses a character named Gabriel, who seems to be wandering aimlessly, searching for something elusive. The first two lines of the chorus, "Gabriel, wherever you roam, you know the longest way round is the shortest way home" suggest that Gabriel is aware of his true destination, but perhaps he is taking a meandering path to get there. The repetition of these lines reinforces the idea that Gabriel knows where he belongs, but is struggling to find a direct route.

The first verse paints a vivid picture of Gabriel's inner turmoil, using the metaphor of a beating of wings in his heart that is doing senseless things. This could be interpreted as a feeling of restlessness or anxiety, as though Gabriel is desperately trying to escape from something. The second half of the verse continues with the metaphor of a forest fire raging within Gabriel, representing a wild desire that is consuming him. The repetition of the chorus at the end of the first verse underscores the idea that Gabriel is lost and searching for his way home.

The second verse describes how Gabriel has been living on the surface of things, only scratching the surface of the day, and how he feels an emptiness inside that won't go away. The repetition of his name, "Gabriel, Gabriel" at the end of the song, feels like an invocation, as though the singer is calling out to him, trying to guide him towards his true path. Overall, the song explores themes of restlessness, longing, and the search for meaning and purpose in life.

Line by Line Meaning

Gabriel, wherever you roam,
No matter where you wander, Gabriel, you wisely understand that taking the longer route will lead you to the quickest path back home.

You know the longest way round is the shortest way home.
You're mindful that sometimes taking a detour and challenging yourself on a longer, more arduous path can unlock unknown solutions that bring you back home in a surer, faster way.

Gabriel, wherever you go,
Wherever life takes you, Gabriel, you trust that taking less-traveled paths will allow you to realize yourself and return home better than ever.

When you were here there was a beating of wings
When you were present, your heart was filled with a relentless fervor to pursue life’s possibilities and explore what it had to offer.

In your heart doing senseless things.
Although some of the actions you took may have seemed foolish, it was because you were discarding convention and chasing a higher purpose that you felt was right.

When you were here there was a forest fire
While you were around, your spirit was untamed and blazed with the passion of a wild fire burning everything in its path.

Raging in you like a wild desire.
You had a yearning inside that drove you forward and gave birth to the intensity you showed in life.

And everything you did only skimmed the surface of the day.
The things you accomplished were often brief and touched on only the periphery of what could be done in a day, due to your desire to probe to the heart of matters.

And deep inside there was an emptiness that would not go away.
For all your accomplishments, you felt an unshakable void deep within that could not be filled.

Gabriel, Gabriel.
This last line restates your first name for emphasis, evoking feelings of wonder and awe at the person you truly are, with all your intensity and drive to seek a higher goal.

Lyrics © WARP MUSIC LIMITED, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Louise Ann Rhodes, Andrew John Barlow, Guy Sigsworth

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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