Gilmore is a native of the Texas Panhandle, having been born in Amarillo, T… Read Full Bio ↴Gilmore is a native of the Texas Panhandle, having been born in Amarillo, Texas and raised in Lubbock, Texas. His earliest musical influence was Hank Williams and the honky tonk brand of country music that his father played. In the 1950s, he was exposed to the emerging rock and roll of other Texans such as Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash and Lubbock native Buddy Holly. He was profoundly influenced in the 1960s by the likes of The Beatles and Bob Dylan and the folk music and blues revival in that decade.

Gilmore also played "Smokey" in The Big Lebowski

Come Fly Away
Jimmie Dale Gilmore Lyrics

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I saw you yonder
Where soon the snows will cover
There, where the columbine will grow
Then I saw something
Makes me know that I know nothing
While high upon a steady wing
The wild geese make their way

Amber, yellow fields
Topaz red and rust reveal
There's still something
You're yearning for
Seasons come, seasons go
Little one you know
Come here and take my hand
Help me understand

We're gonna fly away
We're gonna fly away
We'll fly and fly and fly and fly and fly
And maybe we'll find home.

Winter's coming, thought's abiding
Like a fox where some moon's hiding
In the dark you see a distant glow
So you go on in your dreams
Where what it is is what it seems
While all along the source of spring
Is living in a song

We're gonna fly away
We're gonna fly away
We'll fly and fly and fly and fly and fly
Until we find our home.

We're gonna fly away
We're gonna fly away
We'll fly and fly and fly and fly and fly
The earth is still our home

Overall Meaning

The song "Come Fly Away" by Jimmie Dale Gilmore is a poetically rich composition that conveys a sense of longing and belonging through its imaginative and spiritual lyrics. The song begins by describing a person standing somewhere in the distance, where the snow will soon cover the columbine and the wild geese are flying high in the sky. The singer then admits that he knows nothing in comparison to the vastness and mystery of nature. He observes the beauty of the landscape with colors like amber, topaz red, and rust, indicating the changing of seasons, giving the impression that there's something we all yearn for. Then, he offers his hand to a little one and asks for their help in understanding what that something is. They will fly away, and maybe that is where they'll find their home.

As the song progresses, the mood shifts to one of contemplation and introspection. The winter is coming, and the fox is hiding in the dark. In the dreams, however, everything is possible and realistic. The source of spring, the essence of life and renewal, is living in a song, giving the impression that the spirit of the song can lead a person to their spring. The singer, once again, affirms that they will fly away, but this time there's a sense of certainty in the assurance that the earth will always be their home.

In summary, "Come Fly Away" is a song about seeking, exploration, and acceptance of nature's vagaries. It creates a picture of a world that is both full of mystery and infinite possibilities, but also, there's a grounded reality of finding one's place in this compelling yet ever-changing sphere.

Line by Line Meaning

I saw you yonder
I noticed you over there

Where soon the snows will cover
Where it will soon snow and everything will be covered

There, where the columbine will grow
There, in a place where columbine flowers will grow

Then I saw something
Afterward, I noticed something

Makes me know that I know nothing
Which reminded me that I know nothing

While high upon a steady wing
Watching the wild geese flying by

The wild geese make their way
The birds are migrating

Amber, yellow fields
Fields with a mixture of amber and yellow colors

Topaz red and rust reveal
Topaz red and rust colors are showing

There's still something
There is still something there

You're yearning for
That you desire