As a way to get each contestant to perform twice during the Top 4 week of A… Read Full Bio ↴As a way to get each contestant to perform twice during the Top 4 week of American Idol, the contestants are to do a solo performance and a duet with another contestant of their choosing. Lee DeWyze and Crystal Bowersox teamed together to do a performance of Falling Slowly, from the movie Once. The performance earned unanimous praise from all the judges, and many reviewers called it the best performance of the season.

Falling Slowly
Lee DeWyze & Crystal Bowersox Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I don't know you
But I want you
All the more for that
Words fall through me
And always fool me
And I can't react
And games that never amount
To more than they're meant

Will play themselves out
Whoa, whoa, whoa

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice
You've made it now

Falling slowly, eyes that know me
And I can't go back
Moods that take me and erase me
And I'm painted black
But you have suffered enough
And warred with yourself
It's time that you won
Mmm, whoa

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice, you had a choice
You've made it now
Falling slowly, sing your melody
I'll sing along
Oh, I'll sing along (along)

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Falling Slowly" are about two people who are falling in love, one of whom is hesitant because they don't know each other very well. The first verse "I don't know you, but I want you" expresses this feeling. The lyrics, "Words fall through me and always fool me" suggest that the person has trouble expressing their feelings and often feels inadequate when it comes to matters of the heart. They feel played by games that never amount to anything.

The chorus "Take this sinking boat and point it home, we've still got time" suggests that even though they are unsure of the future, they are willing to take a chance on this relationship. "Raise your hopeful voice, you have a choice, you've made it now" is an encouragement to be optimistic and believe in the power of their choices. The phrase "eyes that know me" suggests that they have a deeper connection and that even though they may not know each other well, they share a connection that goes beyond words. The last verse, "But you have suffered enough, and warred with yourself, it's time that you won" suggests that one of them has been through difficult times, and now it's time to break free from the past and embrace new possibilities. The song ends on a hopeful note, with the chorus repeated one last time of, "Take this sinking boat and point it home, we've still got time."

Line by Line Meaning

I don't know you
Although we just met, I have no idea who you are.

But I want you
Despite not knowing you, I already have a strong desire to be with you.

All the more for that
My desire for you grows stronger due to my lack of familiarity with you.

Words fall through me
I am unable to articulate my feelings properly through words.

And always fool me
Words often deceive me and lead me astray from what I truly want.

And I can't react
I am paralyzed by indecision and unable to act on my emotions.

And games that never amount
Futile games that lead to nothing more than temporary satisfaction.

To more than they're meant
Such games serve no purpose other than momentary distraction.

Will play themselves out
These meaningless games will soon reach their inevitable conclusion.

Whoa, whoa, whoa
Expressing a momentary feeling of excitement or trepidation.

Take this sinking boat and point it home
Let's work together to find a way out of this difficult situation and lead ourselves to safety.

We've still got time
Despite the difficulties we face, there is still a chance for us to find a way out.

Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice
Believe in yourself and the power of your own choices to overcome obstacles.

You've made it now
Having overcome previous challenges, you are now empowered to face new ones.

Falling slowly, eyes that know me
Slowly but surely, I am falling for you and your eyes reveal an unspoken connection between us.

And I can't go back
There is no turning back now that I have revealed my feelings.

Moods that take me and erase me
Emotions have a powerful impact on me and can easily override my better judgment.

And I'm painted black
In the face of overwhelming emotions, everything else fades away and I feel lost and alone.

But you have suffered enough
I recognize your past struggles and pains and want nothing more than to support and comfort you.

And warred with yourself
You have fought your own internal battles and are now ready to move forward.

It's time that you won
It's time for you to experience victories and positive moments after enduring so much hardship.

Mmm, whoa
Expressing a momentary feeling of surprise or amazement.

Sing your melody
Express yourself and your emotions through your music.

I'll sing along
I will be there for you, supporting you and your art in any way I can.

Take this sinking boat and point it home
Let our shared passion for music guide us home, towards a brighter future together.

We've still got time
Although our journey may be difficult, we still have time to find our way and live our lives to the fullest.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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