Mikal Cronin (born December 26, 1985) is an American musician and songwrite… Read Full Bio ↴Mikal Cronin (born December 26, 1985) is an American musician and songwriter. He has released four solo albums and several singles. Cronin is also a member of the bands Okie Dokie, Epsilons, Party Fowl and Moonhearts, and occasionally plays bass guitar and adds backing vocals in Ty Segall's live band; he has also released an album and a single in collaboration with Segall.

Is It Alright
Mikal Cronin Lyrics

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Look up, head up in the sky where the birds
they fly high for you
Been waitin', been waitin' a long time
to find a way up there too

Is it alright?
Is it alright?
Is it alright?

Too late, you're making your way,
further everyday from her
I'm low down, my head on the ground where
it's sinking until it's sure

Is it alright?
Is it alright?
Is it alright?

That I'm down on my hands and knees my way back home

Overall Meaning

At first listen, Mikal Cronin's song "Is It Alright" seems to be about finding freedom, perhaps from something or someone that is holding you back. The lyrics suggest a longing to escape the confines of everyday life and to soar freely like the birds in the sky. The opening lines set the tone for the entire song: "Look up, head up in the sky where the birds / they fly high for you / Been waitin', been waitin' a long time / to find a way up there too." The singer is looking up at the birds, envious of their ability to fly high and free, and waiting for their chance to do the same.

However, as the song progresses, it becomes clear that there is something holding the singer back, something that they are perhaps running away from. The following lines suggest that they are leaving someone behind: "Too late, you're making your way, further everyday from her / I'm low down, my head on the ground where it's sinking until it's sure." The singer is leaving someone they care about behind, but they are unsure if it's the right choice. They question whether it's "alright" to leave and seek freedom and whether they will ever be able to make it back home.

The chorus repeats the question "Is it alright?" three times, emphasizing the singer's uncertainty and desire for reassurance. The song ends with the singer on their hands and knees, trying to make their way back home. The lyrics suggest that the singer is torn between the desire for freedom and the desire for stability and love, and is unsure if they can have both.

Overall, "Is It Alright" is a poignant and introspective song that explores the tension between freedom and love, and the difficulty of finding a balance between the two.

Line by Line Meaning

Look up, head up in the sky where the birds
Directs the listener to look up and observe the sky where the birds freely soar through the air

they fly high for you
The birds' flight is intended to provide a sense of wonder and inspiration for the listener

Been waitin', been waitin' a long time
The anticipation for a moment to experience the same kind of freedom as the birds has been building up for quite some time now

to find a way up there too
The artist yearns to also experience that same kind of freedom and feels limited by their current situation

Is it alright? Is it alright? Is it alright?
This repetitive question brings up the idea of questioning oneself or seeking some sort of validation for one's desires

Too late, you're making your way, further everyday from her
The singer's previous actions have led them to distance themselves from someone they care about, forcing them to continue moving forward alone

I'm low down, my head on the ground where it's sinking until it's sure
The singer feels defeated and down on the ground, feeling like they are sinking under the weight of their worries until they are sure of what they should do

Is it alright? Is it alright? Is it alright?
Repetition of the question just shows how the artist is still seeking validation for their feelings and anxieties instead of taking action

That I'm down on my hands and knees my way back home
The artist has finally accepted that they need to backtrack and search for a way back home, even if it means starting from scratch and getting down on their hands and knees

Contributed by Brayden V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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