Brady began performing as a hotel piano player in Donegal at the age of sixteen and graduated to being guitarist, during the 1960s, in two rhythm and blues bands: Rockhouse and the Cult. There followed a stint with the Johnstons as a guitarist and singer that ended in 1974, and a shorter one with Planxty that saw Brady touring extensively but recording no albums. In 1976, Brady recorded an album with Andy Irvine that he now regards as his best. Welcome Here Kind Stranger, released in 1978 was the summation of his interest in Irish music and was followed in 1981 by the appropriately named Hard Station, Brady's engagement with commercial rock.
Brady went on to record several other albums and collaborated with Bonnie Raitt and Richard Thompson. In 2006 he collaborated with Cara Dillon on the track "The Streets of Derry" from her album "After the Morning". He has also worked with Fiachra Trench.
Take Me Away
Paul Brady Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But does it reach you when there's darkness all around
How many days will this go on
How many thoughts can I obsess
Why do we come apart
And watch it all go down
Take me away I can't deny it
Show me the way a simple mind
And no one can say it can't be done
I see it shining on the sun
A road that leads beyond this place
A way to push aside the walls that block our path
If time can truly be a lie
There's nothing left but you and I
Denying everything and shattering the glass
Take me away I can't deny it
And all that I want is to touch the sky
Show me the way a simple mind
And no one can say it can't be done
Out of mind out of time
All alone stuck at home
Can't decide Full of pride
I want it all
Left to be only me
Far away everyday
Sanity Vanity
I want it all
Symbolize separation
Let me be set me free
Take me away I can't deny it
And all that I want is to touch the sky
Show me the way a simple mind
And no one can say it can't be done
Take me away [Repeat: x4]
The lyrics of Paul Brady's song "Take Me Away" depict a yearning to escape from the suffocating darkness of a painful reality. The opening line "Inside a second you can hear a flower growing in the wind" paints a picture of the poet's heightened sensitivity to the beauty of the world, even in the midst of pain. However, despite this beauty, the somber tone of the following line, "But does it reach you when there's darkness all around," conveys the sense that, no matter how beautiful life can be, it can be overshadowed by the lingering darkness of difficult circumstances. The repeated questions of "How many days will this go on? How many thoughts can I obsess?" indicate the poet's frustration and exhaustion with the relentlessness of their situation.
The chorus offers a moment of relief as the poet pleads to be taken away and to touch the sky. The yearning for escape is a powerful driving force throughout the song. The line "A way to push aside the walls that block our path" suggests that the poet is not alone in their desire to break free of their current situation. The final verse seems to express the longing to be recognized as an individual, to be free from the constraints of conformity and expectation. In the end, the repetition of the simple demand to "take me away" conveys urgency and desperation, while also suggesting the faith that a better future is possible.
Line by Line Meaning
Inside a second you can hear a flower growing in the wind
In the midst of the chaos of our lives, we have the ability to recognize the beauty in small things.
But does it reach you when there's darkness all around
It's difficult to appreciate the small things when we're facing hardship or negativity.
How many days will this go on
It's hard to predict the duration of our struggles, which only adds to our frustration.
How many thoughts can I obsess
When we're feeling overwhelmed, it's easy to get caught up in negative thoughts and become consumed by them.
Why do we come apart
Life can be unpredictable, and sometimes things that were once strong and beautiful can fall apart without explanation.
And watch it all go down
It can be disheartening to see everything we worked for slip away, without any control over the outcome.
Take me away I can't deny it
Sometimes we just need a break from the struggles of our lives, and want to escape for a while.
And all that I want is to touch the sky
We want to be free, to reach for the impossible, and to achieve things that others say are unattainable.
Show me the way a simple mind
We want guidance and help, but we don't need anything complicated or convoluted.
And no one can say it can't be done
We believe that anything is possible, and refuse to be discouraged by the doubts of others.
I see it shining on the sun
There is a glimmer of hope, even on the darkest days.
A road that leads beyond this place
Beyond our current struggles, there is a brighter, more hopeful future waiting for us.
A way to push aside the walls that block our path
We need to overcome obstacles and limitations if we want to move forward and achieve our goals.
If time can truly be a lie
Time can be deceptive, and sometimes it feels like our struggles will never end, but we need to remember that things can change at any moment.
There's nothing left but you and I
In the end, we need to rely on ourselves and our own strength to overcome obstacles.
Denying everything and shattering the glass
We need to disregard those who doubt us, and break free from our limitations.
Out of mind out of time
Sometimes we just need to disconnect from our problems for a while to clear our minds.
All alone stuck at home
We can feel trapped and isolated when we're dealing with struggles that keep us at home.
Can't decide Full of pride
Our pride can prevent us from reaching out for help, even when we really need it.
I want it all
We have big dreams and aspirations, and we're not willing to settle for less.
Left to be only me
Sometimes we feel like we're the only ones dealing with our struggles, and that nobody truly understands us.
Far away everyday
We want to escape our struggles and find peace, even if it's just for a short time each day.
Sanity Vanity
We need to maintain our sanity and mental health, even if it means giving up some of our superficial desires.
Symbolize separation
Our struggles can create distance between ourselves and others, even if we don't mean for it to happen.
Let me be set me free
We need to be free to pursue our goals and dreams, even if it means breaking away from the expectations of others.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: PAUL BRADY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind