The end of 2008 saw Grieves enlisting the help of friend and collaborator Budo to co-produce Together/Apart bringing his signature swiss-army knife, multi-instrumental backdrop to Grieves' hauntingly poignant narrative. The album began taking shape in New York as the two built off the success 88 Keys and Counting had generated and paired it with the intensity they developed from their live performances. The recording process began to shadow the theme of the album as it saw tracks recorded in Colorado and Washington in addition to New York, infusing it with a mixture of regional influences while still maintaining a cohesive sound. As the album neared completion the title took on a double meaning for Grieves as he explored new subject matter in the absence of trust, refuge in addiction, acceptance and honesty in self-reflection, and trying to find his place in the world without forgetting his roots.
Fly Away
Grieves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nowadays I'm all ears
Screaming out over the speakers, breaking eggs with no fear
Made a name as a stranger that painted his paint on a mirror
Stared straight into the eyes of it and faced it for years
Like EEHHHHHH, I feel I've gained a lot of principles
A little drinking problem and melted pile of little girls
Like, huh, least I’m honest in my music
But break it-
Down how I know it and never let it control me
Exploded emotions out of my broken soul is important so-
Move with it
I got a lotta time to brew in it
22 stitches don't buck pay your dues, listen-
I got a itch in my system that's fixin' to stick to the rhythm
Explicit in what I’m livin in
With words-
I can touch the sky and its face
Open up wide let go with the power to fly away
Go
I refuse to stand in the middle, while I sacrifice my faith
Baby I'm gon' fly
I'm gonna fly away x2
I hold my cards for the table to see,
In hope that the truth will set you free-
Yea, c'mon,
I broke-
Loose of the chains just to put a solid fist up
To drift through the distance to wither the prison within us
I’m alive-
And that surprised a couple of people
Been stuck in the slums of the past without a vision to reach you
And thank god for the music
-Getting addicted to it
For kin and it's shit constricting me to grip to its uses
I’ve been down-
And that's the single reason that I get up
It’s the-
Love of my life the motivation when I get stuck
STOP-
And open up your eyes for a second
You wanna see life's limits you should try and dissect it
Never knew about the power that could line a sentence
Till I implied it inside of the part of the mind let it venture
Like-
{{{{feedback ringing}}}}
And I don't need to try to be different
I’m fine with the life that resides inside the bars of the written
because with words-
I can touch the sky and its face
Open up wide let go with the power to fly away
Go
I refuse to stand in the middle, while I sacrifice my faith
Baby I'm gon' fly
I'm gonna fly away x2
The lyrics of Grieves's Fly Away are all about perseverance, growth, and healing. In the beginning, he states that he is all ears, indicating that he is ready to listen and learn from his mistakes. He also acknowledges his drinking problem, and while it's difficult to talk about, he's honest about it in his music. He talks about how he exploded emotions from his broken soul, suggesting that he's been through a lot of pain and struggle, but he's not letting it control him anymore. He's using his words to touch the sky and fly away from his past.
Grieves then goes on to talk about breaking free from the chains and drifting through the distance to wither the prison within us. He's alive, and that has surprised a few people because he's been stuck in the slums of the past without a vision to reach them. Music is his salvation, and he's addicted to it because it's the love of his life and the motivation to get up when he's down. He concludes by saying that with words, he can touch the sky and its face, and fly away with the power of his words.
Overall, Fly Away is a powerful song that tells the story of personal growth and healing. It's about breaking free from the past and being able to fly away by using the power of words.
Line by Line Meaning
Say something-
I am willing to listen and engage in conversation.
Nowadays I'm all ears
I am currently attentive and focused.
Screaming out over the speakers, breaking eggs with no fear
Expressing myself through music, taking risks with reckless abandon.
Made a name as a stranger that painted his paint on a mirror
I have established myself as an outsider, leaving my mark on the world.
Stared straight into the eyes of it and faced it for years
Confronted my fears and obstacles head-on for an extended period of time.
Like EEHHHHHH, I feel I've gained a lot of principles
I have developed a strong sense of ethics and morals.
A little drinking problem and melted pile of little girls
Acknowledging personal demons and past mistakes.
Like, huh, least I’m honest in my music
Being truthful and transparent in my creative expression.
Hard to be confident talking 'bout my losses and bruises
Vulnerable and uncomfortable discussing my failures and struggles.
But break it-
However, let me explain it further.
Down how I know it and never let it control me
Sharing my experiences and insights while refusing to let them define me.
Exploded emotions out of my broken soul is important so-
Expressing intense emotions from a place of pain and hurt is crucial for healing.
Move with it
Continuing to push forward despite challenges and hardships.
I got a lotta time to brew in it
Taking my time to process and reflect on my journey and experiences.
22 stitches don't buck pay your dues, listen-
Having learned from past mistakes, I advise others to persevere through difficulties.
I got a itch in my system that's fixin' to stick to the rhythm
Feeling compelled to pursue my passion for music and staying true to my art.
Explicit in what I’m livin in
Being open about my lifestyle and experiences, even when it is uncomfortable.
With words-
Through the power of language.
I can touch the sky and its face
I can achieve greatness and reach new heights.
Open up wide let go with the power to fly away
Empowering myself to break free from limitations and soar to success.
Go
Encouragement to take action and pursue my dreams.
I refuse to stand in the middle, while I sacrifice my faith
I am unwilling to compromise my beliefs for the sake of mediocrity or popularity.
Baby I'm gon' fly
I am confident in my ability to succeed and flourish.
I'm gonna fly away x2
I will transcend boundaries and limitations as I pursue my goals.
I hold my cards for the table to see,
I am transparent and authentic in my dealings with others.
In hope that the truth will set you free-
Hoping that my openness and honesty will inspire others to live freely and authentically.
Yea, c'mon,
Encouraging others to join me on this journey.
I broke-
I freed myself from constraints and limitations.
Loose of the chains just to put a solid fist up
Breaking free from oppression and standing my ground firmly.
To drift through the distance to wither the prison within us
Going on a journey of self-discovery to escape internal confinement.
I’m alive-
Celebrating my existence and vitality.
And that surprised a couple of people
Overcoming stereotypes and underestimation.
Been stuck in the slums of the past without a vision to reach you
Having experienced difficult times in the past without a clear direction forward.
And thank god for the music
Recognizing the power of art and creativity in my life.
-Getting addicted to it
Becoming fully immersed in and passionate about music.
For kin and it's shit constricting me to grip to its uses
Feeling a sense of familial and social pressure to pursue music, and being unable to resist that calling.
I’ve been down-
Having experienced hardship and adversity.
And that's the single reason that I get up
Using challenges and difficulties as motivation for growth and success.
It’s the-
The key to my motivation and drive is.
Love of my life the motivation when I get stuck
The passion and love for my craft serves as motivation when I encounter creative obstacles.
STOP-
A directive to pause and reflect before continuing.
And open up your eyes for a second
Encouraging others to take a moment and gain new perspective.
You wanna see life's limits you should try and dissect it
To truly understand the limitations of life, one must examine it closely and critically.
Never knew about the power that could line a sentence
Discovering the transformative power of language and expression.
Till I implied it inside of the part of the mind let it venture
Realizing the incredible potential of the human mind, and harnessing it for creativity and growth.
Like-
Similar to the following sentiment.
{{{{feedback ringing}}}}
Receiving feedback and criticism is a healthy and necessary part of the creative process.
And I don't need to try to be different
Being authentically myself is enough, and I do not need to force uniqueness.
I’m fine with the life that resides inside the bars of the written
Finding fulfillment and meaning within my creative work and expression.
Contributed by David S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.