Goapele attended the Berkeley Arts Magnet School in Berkeley, California. During these years, she joined several groups that fought racism and sexism. She also sang in the Oakland Youth Choir and joined a group called Vocal Motion. After graduating from high school, Goapele attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, where she studied music theory.
In 2001, she signed with Skyblaze Recordings/Columbia Records, and in 2002, she released her first album Even Closer, featuring the single "Closer". She co-wrote and co-produced the entire album, which is a mixture of neo soul and jazz. She also toured North America with band Spearhead.
Apart from her solo work, she has collaborated with rappers Aceyalone, E-40, Hieroglyphics, and Triple Threat, and written for jazz trio Soulive.
Her second album Change It All, featuring the single "First Love", was released in December 2005.
Fly Away
Goapele Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For you I'd leave, I'd fly away
For you I'd leave, I'd fly away
Every night before I sleep, I try to find you in my window
But you're so very far away and though everyone can see you
But I look at you different sometimes, I wish, you'd shine for me
My world won't spin without you, when I see you you know what I'll do
Just that I'd like to have you, I'd always have to share you
[Chorus]
Sun won't set until you come, I wish, I could be the one
You pull in like a tide for the sea, you disappear I wonder, why?
And I can't wait till goes to night, it's not the same when you're not here
Oh I, I can feel you, I can't touch you, it's not the same without you
My world won't spin without you when I see you, you know what I'll do
Just that I'd like to have you, I'd always have to share you
[Chorus]
For you I'd leave, I'd fly away
Baby, just fly away
For you I'd leave, I'd fly away
[Chorus]
And now the sun is setting
The stars are almost shining
All day I sit and wait for the moon
The song Fly Away by Goapele appears to be about a deep longing for someone who is physically out of reach but is always present in the singer's thoughts. She talks about how she tries to find this person in her window every night before she goes to sleep, but they always remain distant. This person seems to be a source of light and inspiration for many others since the lyrics mention how everyone can see them, but the singer wishes they would shine for her too. She confesses how she can feel but not touch this person and emphasizes how her world won't spin without them.
Using metaphors to reveal her emotions for this individual, the singer says that the sun won't set until this person comes and that when they leave, she wonders why. Throughout the song, she expresses her desire to have this person all to herself, but it seems like that won't be possible. The chorus, however, is the most potent part of the song where the singer confides that if this person ever asked her to leave with them, she would fly away without hesitation. It's a poignant expression of how people hold onto hope that things will somehow work out with their unrequited love.
The song has many interpretations as it can also stand for things people may passionately love that are beyond their reach. It could stand for a job, a dream, or a personal goal. Nonetheless, the song's central theme is about the pain and the uncertainty of unrequited love, holding onto hope, and being ready to make sacrifices for love.
Line by Line Meaning
For you I'd leave, I'd fly away
I am willing to leave everything behind and go to great lengths to be with you
For you I'd leave, I'd fly away
I am willing to leave everything behind and go to great lengths to be with you
Every night before I sleep, I try to find you in my window
Before I sleep, I search for you in my thoughts and dreams because I miss you so much
But you're so very far away and though everyone can see you
Although you are visible to everyone, you seem distant and unreachable to me
But I look at you different sometimes, I wish, you'd shine for me
Sometimes I feel like you don't notice me, and I wish you would pay attention to me and acknowledge my love for you
Oh I, I can feel you, I can't touch you, it's not the same without you
I can sense your presence but I can't physically be with you and it's not the same without you
My world won't spin without you, when I see you you know what I'll do
My life feels incomplete without you and when I see you, I will do anything to be close to you
Just that I'd like to have you, I'd always have to share you
Although I want to be with you, I know that you are not mine to keep and I will have to share you with the world
Sun won't set until you come, I wish, I could be the one
My day feels incomplete until I see you and I wish I could be the one to make you happy
You pull in like a tide for the sea, you disappear I wonder, why?
You have a powerful effect on me and when you're gone, I wonder why you are so elusive
And I can't wait till goes to night, it's not the same when you're not here
I can't wait for nightfall because I know I'll see you again and my life feels empty without you
Baby, just fly away
A plea to the one she loves to join her and fly away together
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: SHAFIQ A. HUSAYN, TAZ ARNOLD, GOAPELE K. MOHLABANE, OMMAS KEITH-GRAHAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind