Performing Songwriter calls Hutchinson, "...A master of introspective ballads filled with understated yearning and an exquisite sense of metaphor." The twenty-six year old describes her style as "lyric-based, folk-pop, with a whole lot of small town idealism and one devastating break up thrown in for good measure." Among her influences she is quick to include poet Mary Oliver along with the likes of David Grey, Patty Griffin, Greg Brown and Shawn Colvin. Her songs are characterized by a weathered but unselfconscious optimism, a love of language and of the natural world. Having grown up in a town of 5,000 people, "just outside the National Historic District," her songs possess all the charm of Lake Wobegon, tempered by a sweet and timeless voice.
Travel in
Meg Hutchinson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A flock of white birds tossed into the sky
I live in corners of the night
Checking in and checking out and then I fly
Days stacked up on days, thunder in the winter
Lightning flashing through the falling snow
I sleep a shallow sleep and in the dream a little boy
Runs toward the checkpoint, a white flag in his hand
Can I stitch your sadness to the wind and let it go
Will you build a little cabin on your little piece of land
Will you curve your body against mine and let it rest?
I learn the oneness of alone
I learn to call this motion home
Travel in, travel deep, travel in, travel deep
States stacked up on states, all pressed against the highway
Whole country working hard to look the same
They call it an illness, that miracle spring
When I leapt out of my flesh and became one with everything
Can I thread my coat to yours...
Meg Hutchinson's song "Travel In" is a richly metaphorical exploration of the singer's search for belonging and connection amidst a life of constant motion. The opening lines describe the patchwork of landscapes she traverses - from the Great Lakes to the fields that surround her - before evoking the image of a flock of birds caught in midflight. This symbolizes the singer's own sense of being tossed around and yearning to find her place in the world.
The theme of transience is further amplified in the next lines, where the singer reflects on her habit of moving from place to place, never quite settling down. She describes herself as a creature of the night, always checking in and out of places before taking flight once again. This sense of restlessness is also echoed in the vivid descriptions of winter storms, with thunder and lightning adding to the sense of dislocation and unease.
It is in the third verse that Hutchinson offers a glimmer of hope for the singer's yearning for connection. She introduces the image of a little boy running towards a checkpoint with a white flag in his hand, which can be seen as a symbol of surrender and a willingness to come together. The singer asks if she can "thread her coat" to that of the person she is addressing, to "stitch their sadness to the wind" and create a connection that is both emotional and physical. She craves the kind of intimacy and comfort that comes from being physically close to someone and escaping the experience of always being alone on her travels.
Overall, "Travel In" suggests that while the search for belonging may be elusive, it is still worth pursuing. The singer's journey is one that is fraught with uncertainty and loneliness, but there are moments of hope and connection that keep her going. Through Hutchinson's evocative use of language and imagery, we are invited to join the singer on her travels and experience her story alongside her.
Line by Line Meaning
Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, a thatch work of fields
The beauty of the scenic landscape featuring two lakes and a mosaic of cultivated lands
A flock of white birds tossed into the sky
The stunning view of a group of white birds being released from the ground and flying into the sky
I live in corners of the night
The singer spends most of her time in the night, perhaps feeling alone or lost
Checking in and checking out and then I fly
The artist's transient existence, constantly moving from one place to another
Days stacked up on days, thunder in the winter
The passage of time and the cold, harsh weather conditions of winter
Lightning flashing through the falling snow
The breathtaking and somewhat rare moment when a bolt of lightning illuminates the falling snow while it's still in the air
I sleep a shallow sleep and in the dream a little boy
The singer does not sleep soundly and perhaps experiences vivid dreams involving a small child
Runs toward the checkpoint, a white flag in his hand
The image of a young child holding a white flag and running towards a checkpoint, perhaps symbolizing hope or a plea for help
Can I thread my coat to yours and can we turn and turn and turn
The artist seeks a close and enduring relationship with another person
Can I stitch your sadness to the wind and let it go
The artist offers to help erase the sadness of the person she cares for by releasing it into the wind
Will you build a little cabin on your little piece of land
The possibility of creating a cozy and comfortable home on one's own plot of land
Will you curve your body against mine and let it rest?
The desire for physical closeness and intimacy with another person
I learn the oneness of alone
The singer discovers that being alone can also mean feeling connected to the world and others around us
I learn to call this motion home
The transient life becomes a way of life for the singer, and she is able to find a sense of home in her travels
Travel in, travel deep, travel in, travel deep
A reminder to the listener to embrace a curious and adventurous spirit, and to seek meaningful experiences in life
States stacked up on states, all pressed against the highway
The artist observes how the different states in America can blend together while traveling on the highway
Whole country working hard to look the same
The realization that many parts of America strive to maintain a uniform appearance and culture
They call it an illness, that miracle spring
The notion that some people view the singer's desire to travel and explore as a mental health problem
When I leapt out of my flesh and became one with everything
The intense and transcendent experience of feeling connected to the world and all its inhabitants
Contributed by Alyssa L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.