Since her graduation from Boston’s renowned Berklee College of Music, Longley has assembled quite an impressive resume. While best known for her stop-you-in-your-tracks voice, Longley has quickly built a reputation as an accomplished songwriter, crafting intimately personal portraits through her music. Longley's ever-expanding fan base is not the only group to acknowledge her talent. In 2010 alone, Longley took home top prizes at some of the most prestigious songwriting competitions in the country; the BMI John Lennon Songwriting Scholarship Competition, the International Acoustic Music Awards and the Chris Austn Songwriting Contest.
While she has previously opened shows for established artists such as Mindy Smith, Nanci Griffith, Paula Cole, Livingston Taylor, Amos Lee, Shawn Colvin, Colin Hay and America, it is becoming clear that Longley has come into her own as a performer. The Washington Post declared that she is “destined to a bigger audience,” Dig Boston called her “a rising acoustic sensation” and even John Mayer is a fan, calling her music “gorgeous, just gorgeous.” Executives at Sirius XM caught wind of her cover of Van Morrison’s hit “Moondance” and added it into regular rotation, along with her award-winning original song, “When You’ve Got Trouble.”
Weightless
Liz Longley Lyrics
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the books on the shelf, the dishes in the sink
take take take take take take everything
take take take take take take take
when you cleared the walls, and emptied out the drawers
when you filled your pockets with all you claim is yours
take take take it with you right out the front door
I wanna be weightless on top of the world
I wanna be weightless, don't want to be anybody's lover girl
I'm gonna be weightless, I'm cutting the strings
I'm gonna be weightless
you can have the memories they only bring me down
you can have the words that should've never left your mouth
take take take take that dark, heavy cloud
take take take take take take take
I wanna be weightless on top of the world
I wanna be weightless, don't want to be anybody's lover girl
I'm gonna be weightless, I'm cutting the strings
I'm gonna be weightless
I'm gonna be way up high, beyond your gravity
way up high where you can't get to me
way up high, beyond your gravity
way, way up
way, way up
way, way up
I'm gonna be weightless on top of the world
I'm gonna be weightless, don't want to be anybody's lover girl
I'm gonna be weightless, I'm cutting the strings
Ohh I'm gonna be weightless on top of the world
I'm gonna be weightless, don't want to be anybody's lover girl
I'm gonna be weightless, I'm cutting the strings
I'm gonna be weightless
I'm gonna be weightless
Way up high, beyond your gravity
In "Weightless," Liz Longley describes the process of letting go of someone who has hurt her. The lyrics suggest that the person who hurt her can take everything she wants, as well as the memories and words that hold her down. Longley sings that she wants to be weightless, free from the person's gravity and expectations. She longs to be on top of the world, beyond the reach of the person who has hurt her. She is cutting the strings, letting go of the ties that bind her to this person, and finding a new sense of freedom and independence.
The lyrics are powerful and emotional, expressing the pain of being hurt by someone she cared about, but also the sense of strength and resilience that comes with letting go. The song's melody is haunting and beautiful, adding to the emotional impact of the lyrics. Longley's vocal delivery is raw and heartfelt, bringing the lyrics to life in a way that makes them feel intensely personal.
Line by Line Meaning
you can have the couch, the lamp, the diamond ring
You are free to take all the material possessions because they hold no value in my life.
the books on the shelf, the dishes in the sink
Even the things I use in my everyday routine can be taken because they inflict no emotional attachment.
take take take take take take everything
You can take as much as you want from me because it cannot weigh down my spirit.
when you cleared the walls, and emptied out the drawers
You have stripped the house, and disassembled everything that I once thought had a purpose.
when you filled your pockets with all you claim is yours
You have taken my things, which hold no importance, and claimed them as your own.
take take take it with you right out the front door
You have the authority to carry it all through the front door and leave me with nothing but freedom.
I wanna be weightless on top of the world
I want to be free and unattached to anything that holds me down.
I wanna be weightless, don't want to be anybody's lover girl
I want to be weightless and disconnected from any emotional relationship status.
I'm gonna be weightless, I'm cutting the strings
I am going to detach myself from everything- people and things- that hinder my freedom.
you can have the memories they only bring me down
Those memories bring me down, but you are welcome to them, as they only impede my healing process.
you can have the words that should've never left your mouth
I don't want to carry the burden of your hurtful words anymore. You can have that power over me.
take take take take that dark, heavy cloud
I am willing to give you my pain and sorrows so that I can soar freely again.
I'm gonna be weightless on top of the world
I want to be completely free and unattached so I can look down from the top of the world.
I'm gonna be weightless, I'm cutting the strings
I am letting go of all ties and connections to the past to be completely free.
I'm gonna be way up high, beyond your gravity
I am going up so high that you can no longer control my life or bring me down.
way up high where you can't get to me
I am beyond your reach, and even your efforts to bring me down can no longer affect me.
Ohh I'm gonna be weightless on top of the world
I will be liberated and free up high in the sky above it all.
Contributed by Leah N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.