Kelley Stoltz (born 1971) is an American singer, songwriter and musician. Read Full Bio ↴Kelley Stoltz (born 1971) is an American singer, songwriter and musician.

Stoltz grew up in the Detroit area, but eventually found his way to San Francisco after taking a detour to New York City, where he worked in the mailroom at Jeff Buckley's management company. Armed with a four-track recorder and tons of great ideas, Stoltz began recording his own songs, performing all the parts himself. These songs caught the ear of Monte Vallier, who helped Stoltz clean up and sweeten the recordings for release as The Past Was Faster on The Telegraph Company. After that, Stoltz upgraded to an eight-track and self-released Antique Glow in a limited quantity of 200 vinyl copies, each one housed in a different, originally designed sleeve by Stoltz. Antique Glow was then picked up by Jackpine Social Club for wider release in 2003, which both raised his profile and allowed him to quit his teaching job. He then moved to Sub Pop, releasing the Sun Comes Through EP in late 2005 and the full-length Below the Branches in March of 2006. Stolz's band toured that summer as the opening act for the Raconteurs, and the musician returned in 2008 with his lushest production yet, Circular Sounds. 2010 To Dreamers on Sub Pop. 2013 Double Exposure on Third Man Records.

Fire Escape
Kelley Stoltz Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Sit on your fire escape
Sitting on your fire escape
Sitting on your fire escape
We're plotting our escape
Wet streets of the city below
Wet streets of the city you know
Sitting on your fire escape
Getting ready to make a leap

Sit on your fire escape
Sitting on your fire escape
Have a smoke on the fire escape
Counting birds on the fire escape
Looking down at the city streets
So wet, such a beat
Sitting on your fire escape
Getting ready to make a leap

Are you ready, I'm ready, let's go
Are you ready, I'm ready, let's go

Overall Meaning

The song "Fire Escape" by Kelley Stoltz is an ode to escaping from the chaos of urban life. The repetition of the phrase "Sitting on your fire escape" creates a sense of stillness and contemplation, suggesting that the singer is taking a moment to pause and reflect on their surroundings. The image of wet streets below also adds to the atmosphere of the song, contributing to a sense of dreariness and monotony in city life.

However, the repeated phrase "Getting ready to make a leap" suggests that there is a sense of urgency to this contemplation. The singer is not simply sitting idly, but rather actively planning their escape from the city. The line "Counting birds on the fire escape" adds to this sense of anticipation, as if the singer is waiting for the right moment to take flight.

Line by Line Meaning

Sit on your fire escape
Take a moment to relax on your fire escape

Sitting on your fire escape
Enjoying the view from your fire escape

Sitting on your fire escape
Contemplating life while lounging on your fire escape

We're plotting our escape
Planning to leave our current situation

Wet streets of the city below
Observing the streets of the city, which are wet from rain

Wet streets of the city you know
Pointing out that the wet streets are typical of this particular city

Sitting on your fire escape
Taking another moment to relax on the fire escape

Getting ready to make a leap
Preparing to take a big step forward in life

Sit on your fire escape
Once again, taking a moment to relax on the fire escape

Sitting on your fire escape
Continuing to enjoy the view from the fire escape

Have a smoke on the fire escape
Smoking a cigarette while sitting on the fire escape