Ingrid Michaelson (born 8th December 1979) is a U.S. singer-songwriter whos… Read Full Bio ↴Ingrid Michaelson (born 8th December 1979) is a U.S. singer-songwriter whose single "The Way I Am" reached number thirty-seven on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

She took up piano at the age of five, attending Manhattan's Third Street Music School for two years, going on to the Jewish Community Center of Staten Island's Dorothy Delson Kuhn Music Institute. There she met vocal coach Elizabeth McCullough, who worked with her through high school. She is a graduate of Staten Island Technical High School and Binghamton University, where she received a degree in theatre.

Her influences range from Fiona Apple to Coldplay. She regularly appears at Manhattan venues such as The Knitting Factory, CBGB's Gallery, Bar 169, The Sidewalk Cafe, Kenny's Castaways, and Pianos.

She began recording music in 2002, releasing Slow the Rain independently in January of 2005. In 2006, Ingrid released her second album Girls and Boys. Her music has recently enjoyed a bit more commercial success with songs like "Breakable" and "Keep Breathing" being featured on ABC show Grey's Anatomy, as well as a 2007 Old Navy commercial being set to her song "The Way I Am".

http://www.ingridmichaelson.com/

Highway
Ingrid Michaelson Lyrics

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On a highway along the Atlantic I'm rifling through these last seventeen years
The radio waxes romantic, its lullabies fill our eyes with tears

We don't say a word
There's nothing to say that hasn't been heard
And how you've grown my little bird
I'm regretting letting you fly

Six pounds and seven ounces, a ball of bones and flesh and tears were you
Now your hands, your tiny pink hands, grew larger than my hands ever grew

We don't say a word
There's nothing to say that hasn't been heard
And how you've grown my little bird
I'm regretting letting you fly
I'm regretting letting you fly
I'm regretting letting you fly

On a highway, on a highway

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Highway" by Ingrid Michaelson are a poignant reflection on the experience of parenting and the bittersweet moment of watching one's child grow up and leave the nest. The song opens with the artist driving down a highway along the Atlantic, lost in thought as she contemplates the past seventeen years of her life. The radio plays sentimental songs that stir up emotions, and Michaelson finds herself holding back tears as she thinks about the passage of time.

The second verse of the song focuses on Michaelson's relationship with her child, whom she refers to as "my little bird." She remembers the day her child was born, recalling the weight of the baby and the tears of joy that flowed at the beginning of their journey. However, as the child has grown, Michaelson has realized that her little bird has become independent and is ready to fly on their own. She laments that she may have made a mistake in letting them go, wishing that she had more time to savor their precious moments together before it was too late.

In summary, "Highway" is a poignant reflection on the complex emotions that come with parenting, from the joy of watching a child grow to the pain of letting them go. Michaelson's lyrics capture the bittersweet nature of this experience, and her use of imagery and sensory language helps to bring the emotion of the song to life.

Line by Line Meaning

On a highway along the Atlantic I'm rifling through these last seventeen years
As I drive on the Atlantic highway, I'm thinking about the last 17 years of my life.

The radio waxes romantic, its lullabies fill our eyes with tears
The radio plays emotional songs that make us want to cry.

We don't say a word
Neither of us speaks.

There's nothing to say that hasn't been heard
There's nothing new to talk about.

And how you've grown my little bird
I'm amazed at how much you've grown, my child.

I'm regretting letting you fly
I'm sorry for allowing you to grow up and leave.

Six pounds and seven ounces, a ball of bones and flesh and tears were you
When you were born, you weighed only 6 pounds and 7 ounces, and you were so small and fragile.

Now your hands, your tiny pink hands, grew larger than my hands ever grew
Now your hands have grown so big that they're even larger than mine ever were.

I'm regretting letting you fly
I'm sorry for allowing you to grow up and leave.

On a highway, on a highway
I'm still driving on this highway.

Lyrics © Spirit Music Group
Written by: INGRID MICHAELSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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