Fly Too High
Janis Ian Lyrics
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Will likely get the best of us yet
Before you disappear
If you can lend me half an ear I'll regret
If I treat you like a number
It's because I can't remember your name
So have another cigarette
You run too fast, fly too high
Run too fast and fly too high
On dark and lonely nights I'm only
Right when things are bright on the floor
Dancing and romancing
Gallivanting with a handsome I score
And if you don't believe me, you should
See me when I'm ready to roar
Cause I'll lose my concentration
With a new infatuation, I'm sure
You run too fast, fly too high
You run too fast, fly too high
We got no past, no goodbye
You run to fast and you fly too high
Would you believe
I was once gonna be somebody' Yeah
I packed up my bags and I
Took what I had to the city, yeah yeah
Man, I was rough
To find the best I could be
Waiting for the limit
On a color TV
Now I've made it this far
Got a room on the park and a view
And you
Fly too high
You run too fast, fly too high
Run too fast, fly too high
We got no past, no goodbye
Run to fast and you fly too
Hanging around on the infield, what do you steal
But another feel at the top'
Making believe in the long run, when a shotgun
Is the way to get out of the shop
Hang tail in a new jail, you can go bail
You can dance until you drop
Cause there's no fool like an old fool in a new school
You just can't stop
You run too fast, fly too high
Run too fast, fly too high
Got no past, no goodbye
Run to fast and you fly too
The song Fly Too High by Janis Ian intricately portrays the concept of struggle and the consequences of being over-ambitious. The opening lines suggest that being anonymous and autonomous can potentially be our downfall. The singer asks for half an ear, meaning that she wants to be heard and understood. But, if she treats us like a number, it is because she can’t recall our individuality, and it is also a reflection of how the society functions.
The lines “You run too fast, fly too high” are repeated throughout the song and carry an essential message that the singer wants to convey. She explains that being over-ambitious and running too fast will lead us to fly too high, resulting in us crashing down eventually. The singer describes losing concentration with a new infatuation, suggesting that the craving for excellence results in one-sided goals, and in pursuit of that, we tend to forget other important aspects of life.
The song also tells the singer’s story of being successful after working hard, but it also warns listeners that this is just one aspect of life, and overworking oneself can lead to dire consequences. The song's meaning is deep and asks us to think carefully about the choices we make and the lifestyle we lead.
Line by Line Meaning
Anonymous, autonomous
Will likely get the best of us yet
Individuals who live their lives anonymously and autonomously will probably be negatively affected in some way at some point.
Before you disappear
If you can lend me half an ear I'll regret
Before you leave or abandon me, if you could just listen to me for a moment, I would be grateful and remorseful if you don't.
If I treat you like a number
It's because I can't remember your name
So have another cigarette
And help me to forget what I came
If I treat you just like any other person, it's because I am unable to recall your name. So, to avoid remembering why I came here, have another cigarette with me and let's forget about it.
You run too fast, fly too high
Run too fast and fly too high
You are moving too quickly, pursuing everything at an extremely fast pace, which could lead to negative results.
On dark and lonely nights I'm only
Right when things are bright on the floor
Dancing and romancing
Gallivanting with a handsome I score
I am only happy on dark and lonely nights when I am dancing and having fun with an attractive partner.
And if you don't believe me, you should
See me when I'm ready to roar
Cause I'll lose my concentration
With a new infatuation, I'm sure
If you don't believe me, you should witness me when I am ready to make my move because a new infatuation will easily distract me and cause me to lose my focus.
We got no past, no goodbye
You run to fast and you fly too high
We did not have any meaningful time together and no formal parting, as you are always in a hurry and pursuing everything too fast.
Would you believe
I was once gonna be somebody' Yeah
I packed up my bags and I
Took what I had to the city, yeah yeah
Can you imagine that I too was once going to be someone? I left everything behind, packed my bags, and took a leap of faith to find my success in the city.
Man, I was rough
To find the best I could be
Waiting for the limit
On a color TV
I had to push myself hard to achieve the best version of myself, and I was always waiting and hoping for a breakthrough while watching events on a limited color television set.
Now I've made it this far
Got a room on the park and a view
And you
Fly too high
Now that I have reached this point, I have a pleasant room overlooking the park, and you are still in a hurry chasing after everything, moving too high and fast.
Hanging around on the infield, what do you steal
But another feel at the top'
Making believe in the long run, when a shotgun
Is the way to get out of the shop
You are loitering on the lower level and trying to lay hold of what is already within your reach. You are not considering a long-term perspective, when you may eventually require a shotgun to escape the store.
Hang tail in a new jail, you can go bail
You can dance until you drop
Cause there's no fool like an old fool in a new school
You just can't stop
It would be best if someone else bails you out of a new mess you got yourself into. You dance until you are extremely tired because an old fool will always find something to learn at a new school and will never give up.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JANIS IAN, GIORGIO MORODER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind