Freelon had a part in the Mel Gibson movie What Women Want.
Out of This World
Nnenna Freelon Lyrics
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In your purpose-built machine
No one dared to call a boat
Screaming blue
Out of this world
Make history
This is your day
Blue... bird
Things fly...
What did she say?
I know the pain of too much tenderness
Wondering when or if you'll come back again
Wanting to live for you
And being banned from giving
But only love will turn you round
Only love will turn you round
Only love
Only love will turn you round
So we live, you and I
Either side of the edge
And we run and we scream
With the dilated stare of obsession and dreaming
What the hell do we want
Is it only to go
Where nobody has gone
A better way than the herd
Sing a different song
Till you're running the ledge
To the gasp from the crowd
Spinning round in your head
Everything that she said
The lyrics to Nnenna Freelon's song "Out of This World" are rich in imagery and emotion, with themes of speed, power, longing, and love interwoven throughout. The song opens with a vivid description of someone traveling at three hundred miles an hour on water in a specially designed vessel that defies traditional definition as a "boat." The speed and intensity of this experience are evoked by the phrase "screaming blue," which suggests both the color of the water rushing past and the sound of the wind in the person's ears. This high-speed adventure is framed as an opportunity to "make history" and seize the day.
The song then shifts to a more introspective focus, with the singer expressing their own personal experience of "the pain of too much tenderness" and the uncertainty of waiting for someone they love who may or may not come back. The tension between wanting to give everything for love, and feeling "banned" or prevented from doing so, is palpable in these lines. However, the song ultimately affirms that "only love will turn you round" and that the singer's love for this person is strong enough to endure any hardship.
The final verse of the song broadens the scope again, as the singer reflects on the larger human desire to seek out new frontiers and push beyond what is known. The phrase "either side of the edge" suggests a precarious balance between safety and risk-taking, while the idea of "running the ledge" and "spinning round in your head" capture the dizzying thrill of pursuing something unconventional. The reference to "everything that she said" implies that the song's message is directed towards someone in particular, but the overall sentiment feels universal.
Line by Line Meaning
Three hundred miles an hour on water
Traveling at an incredibly fast pace on water, possibly using a specialized vehicle
In your purpose-built machine
In a vehicle that was designed and built specifically for this high-speed purpose
No one dared to call a boat
The nature of the vehicle being used is not something that can simply be called a 'boat'
Screaming blue
The speed and intensity of the experience is like a blue-colored scream
Out of this world
This experience is something that is beyond what is normally experienced in everyday life
Make history
By achieving this feat, you are doing something that will be remembered as a momentous event for years to come
This is your day
This is your moment to shine and show the world what you are capable of accomplishing
Blue... bird
Possibly a reference to the phrase 'bluebird of happiness'; this moment is like a rare and precious opportunity
At such speeds...
At these incredible speeds, the laws of physics and normal human experience are being pushed to the limit
Things fly...
At these high speeds, objects and surroundings may appear to be flying past at an astonishing rate
What did she say?
A moment of confusion or disorientation caused by the overwhelming experience
I know the pain of too much tenderness
The artist understands the difficulties of having intense feelings of love and caring, to the point of it causing pain or distress
Wondering when or if you'll come back again
Feeling uncertain or anxious about whether or not the object of one's affections will return or reciprocate those feelings
Wanting to live for you
Having a strong desire to devote one's life to the person they love
And being banned from giving
Feeling restricted or unable to express that love and give oneself fully to the other person
But only love will turn you round
Despite the difficulties and challenges of loving deeply, it is ultimately what will bring one back to a positive and fulfilling place
So we live, you and I
The artist and someone else are living in a certain way
Either side of the edge
The two individuals are situated near or on the edge of something, either literally or metaphorically
And we run and we scream
The two individuals are actively and energetically engaging with the situation they find themselves in
With the dilated stare of obsession and dreaming
Their intense focus and energy is accentuated by the way their eyes appear: wide open and focused on their goal or dream
What the hell do we want
A moment of questioning and reflection, wondering what their ultimate goal or motivation is in this situation
Is it only to go
Asking whether their goal is simply to go somewhere or achieve something that no one else has
Where nobody has gone
Their desire is to explore and achieve something that has never been done before
A better way than the herd
They are seeking a different and better way of doing things than the common or accepted way
Sing a different song
Their approach is unique and unconventional, and they are determined to forge their own path
Till you're running the ledge
Continuing to push themselves and take risks until they are literally running on the edge of a physical boundary
To the gasp from the crowd
Their daring feats and unique approach garners the attention and admiration of onlookers
Spinning round in your head
The intense experience is disorienting and overwhelming, causing a spinning sensation in the mind
Everything that she said
Wrapping up the song and referring back to the previous lines and themes
Writer(s): Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen
Contributed by Max R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.