Flying High
Leif Erikson Lyrics

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Thought I was alone
Didn't feel which way to go
Thought it wasn't mine
Didn't feel like I had much time
Yeah

I was flying high
But I flew too close to the sun

Now I'm coming down
And the ground's coming real fast
Yeah

I was not here before
I was falling before
I was not here before
I was falling before

I was not here before
I was falling before
But now I've got my feet
On the ground

And now the ground's coming really fast
And now the ground's coming really fast
And now the ground's coming really fast
And now the ground's coming really fast

I was not here before
I was falling before

But now I've got my feet
On the ground

Overall Meaning

At first glance, Leif Erikson's "Flying High" may seem like a straightforward story about a character who was once "flying high" and now they're back "on the ground." However, upon closer inspection, the song delves deeper into the struggles of being lost and the difficulties of finding your place in the world. The lyrics "Thought I was alone/Didn't feel which way to go/Thought it wasn't mine/Didn't feel like I had much time" offer a poignant insight into the feelings of isolation and confusion that one may experience while lost.

The second verse is where the song's central metaphor is introduced: "I was flying high/But I flew too close to the sun/Now I'm coming down/And the ground's coming real fast." Here, the character is compared to Icarus, from the Greek myth who famously flew too close to the sun and fell to his death. The singer of the song is similarly experiencing a downfall of sorts, with the ground rushing towards them quickly. However, the ending offers a sense of hope - "But now I've got my feet/On the ground" - indicating that the character has found their place again.

Line by Line Meaning

Thought I was alone
I felt lonely and lost.

Didn't feel which way to go
I was unsure of the direction I should take.

Thought it wasn't mine
I lacked confidence and felt like I didn't deserve success.

Didn't feel like I had much time
I felt pressure and urgency to make a decision.

I was flying high
I was experiencing success and happiness.

But I flew too close to the sun
I pushed myself too hard and went beyond my limits.

Now I'm coming down
I am experiencing a downfall after my success.

And the ground's coming real fast
I am quickly approaching failure or a challenge.

I was not here before
I'm experiencing something I had not previously encountered.

I was falling before
I was experiencing failure or defeat previously.

But now I've got my feet
I have regained my balance or stability.