The song forms the centrepiece of The Snowman, which has become a seasonal perennial on British television. The story relates the fleeting adventures of a young boy, and a snowman who has come to life. In the second part of the story, the boy and the snowman fly to the North Pole.
For more details, see Walking in the Air at the Wikipedia.
Walking in the Air
Nightwish Lyrics
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We're floating in the moonlit sky
The people far below are sleeping as we fly
I'm holding very tight
I'm riding in the midnight blue
I'm finding I can fly so high above with you
The villages go by like trees
The rivers and the hills
The forests and the streams
Children gaze, open-mouthed
Taken by surprise
Nobody down below believes their eyes
We're surfing in the air
We're swimming in the frozen sky
We're drifting over icy
Mountains floating by
Suddenly swooping low on an ocean deep
Arousing of a mighty monster from its sleep
We're walking in the air
We're floating in the midnight sky
And everyone who sees us greets us as we fly
I'm holding very tight
I'm riding in the midnight blue
I'm finding I can fly so high above with you
Nightwish’s "Walking in the Air" is based on the 1982 animated British television film "The Snowman". The song is a dreamy and enchanting melody, describing a journey where two people are walking in the air, floating through the moonlit sky. As the song progresses, the lyrics paint a picture of a world far below, where people are sleeping, and the magic of the journey deepens. The singer holds very tight, riding in the midnight blue and finding they can fly so high above, reaching new heights with their companion.
The song embodies a sense of wanderlust and adventure, with the two people crossing the world, the villages passing by like trees, and the rivers, hills, forests, and streams creating a breathtaking landscape below. The children gaze up in wonderment, taken by surprise and in disbelief at what they see.
As the two float higher and higher, they are suddenly propelled downwards, swooping low over a deep ocean, disturbing the slumber of a mighty monster. Nevertheless, they continue to fly, surfing and swimming through the frozen sky, drifting above the icy mountains that float by.
The song “Walking in the Air” is a piece about freedom, pushing boundaries and exploring what is possible, encouraging the listener to see beyond the limitations of everyday life.
Line by Line Meaning
We're walking in the air
We are soaring above the earth, weightless and free
We're floating in the moonlit sky
Drifting effortlessly through the night, illuminated by the moon's glow
The people far below are sleeping as we fly
The world below us is unaware of our flight, lost in peaceful slumber
I'm holding very tight
Clasping tightly to the dreamlike experience of flight
I'm riding in the midnight blue
Sailing through the sky, enveloped by the darkness of night
I'm finding I can fly so high above with you
With a companion by my side, I am discovering the wonders of flight
Far across the world
Traversing great distances with ease
The villages go by like trees
The world below us passes like scenery in a dream
The rivers and the hills
Undulating terrain seen from a bird's eye view
The forests and the streams
Nature's beauty laid bare before our eyes
Children gaze, open-mouthed
Those we pass by are spellbound by the enchanting vision of flying humans
Taken by surprise
Overwhelmed with wonder by the unexpected sight of our aerial journey
Nobody down below believes their eyes
The people on the ground are unable to comprehend what they are seeing
We're surfing in the air
Playing in the wind and waves of the sky, as if it were an ocean
We're swimming in the frozen sky
Moving through the winter air like swimmers, exploring its depths
We're drifting over icy
Floating leisurely amidst the frozen landscape
Mountains floating by
Massive peaks appear to shift and move as we pass by
Suddenly swooping low on an ocean deep
Plunging down towards a vast blue expanse of water far below us
Arousing of a mighty monster from its sleep
The commotion of our descent jolts a sea monster from its slumber
And everyone who sees us greets us as we fly
Those who witness our flight are filled with awe and admiration, calling out to us as we pass
Lyrics © PREMIERE MUSIC GROUP, MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Written by: Howard Blake, Flavien Cheminant
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind