Skyline Piggeon
Pholhas Lyrics


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Turn me loose from your hands
Let me fly to distant lands
Over green fields

Trees and mountains
Flowers and forest fountains
Home along the lanes of the skyway
For this dark
And lonely room
Projects a shadow cast in gloom
And my eyes are mirrors
Of the world outside
Thinking of the way
That the wind can turn the tide
And these shadows turn
From purple into grey

For just a skyline pigeon
Dreaming of the open
Waiting for the day
He can spread his wings
And fly away again

Fly away skyline pigeon fly
Towards the dreams
You've left so very far behind

Fly away skyline pigeon fly
Towards the dreams
You've left so very far behind

Just let me wake up in the morning
To the smell of new mown hay
To laugh and cry
To live and die
In the brightness of my day

I want to hear the pealing bells
Of distant churches sing
But most of all please free me
From this aching metal ring
And open out this cage towards the sun

For just a skyline pigeon
Dreaming of the open
Waiting for the day
He can spread his wings
And fly away again

Fly away skyline pigeon fly
Towards the dreams
You've left so very far behind

Fly away skyline pigeon fly




Towards the dreams
You've left so very far behind

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Pholhas's song "Skyline Pigeon" depict a longing for freedom and escape from a dreary and confining existence. The singer implores to be set free and allowed to soar over natural, picturesque landscapes, including green fields, trees, mountains, and flower-filled fountains. The stanza also suggests a critical contrast between the beauty of the world beyond the singer's confines and the permanent darkness and shadows of his current residence. The world outside stirs the singer's senses, highlighting the appeal of the "open," but the cage of his current situation prevents him from feeling the sun and the breeze. Thus, his mind runs to fantasy, to the life seeking the day when he can "spread his wings / And fly away again."


In the following verses, the yearning becomes more vivid, more nostalgic, and more profoundly personal. The singer aspires to live a simple but wholesome life, starting with waking up to the fragrance of new hay, feeling a full spectrum of human emotions - pleasure and sorrow, joy and anguish - and hearing church bells in the distance. However, his passion for freedom and the open skies becomes more pressing, and he pads, hoping to be released from the metal cage that symbolizes his confinement.


Skyline Pigeon was written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, which first appeared in John's debut album, Empty Sky in 1969. John and Taupin collaborated on many other songs over the years, including "Rocket Man" and "Tiny Dancer," both of which were also on the same album. Many famous artists covered the song, including Dusty Springfield, who was the first to record the song in 1969, Barbra Streisand, and Westlife. It is said that Elton John wrote the song about his breakup with his lover at the time, Linda Woodrow, and the desperation he felt to escape the pain of the separation. Finally, the song's title may have been inspired by a flock of pigeons that John saw flying above the New York City skyline.


Line by Line Meaning

Turn me loose from your hands
Release me from your grasp


Let me fly to distant lands
Allow me to roam far away


Over green fields, trees and mountains
Above verdant meadows, woodlands, and peaks


Flowers and forest fountains
Blossoms and springs of the wood


Home along the lanes of the skyway
Returning to my abode in the skies


For this dark and lonely room
In this somber and solitary space


Projects a shadow cast in gloom
A shade of melancholy is cast


And my eyes are mirrors of the world outside
My perception reflects the world at large


Thinking of the way the wind can turn the tide
Reflecting on how fickle fate can be


And these shadows turn from purple into grey
These dark patches fade from violet to ashen hue


For just a skyline pigeon dreaming of the open
A bird yearning to soar freely in the sky


Waiting for the day he can spread his wings and fly away again
Longing for the chance to fly away once more


Fly away skyline pigeon fly, towards the dreams you've left so very far behind
Take flight and move towards the aspirations left way behind


Just let me wake up in the morning to the smell of new mown hay
Permit me to arise to scent of freshly cut grass


To laugh and cry, to live and die, in the brightness of my day
To express joy and sorrow, to experience life and death, in the fullness of each moment


I want to hear the peeling bells of distant churches sing
I yearn for the chimes of remote temples to ring


But most of all please free me from this aching metal ring
Above all, unshackle me from this oppressive metal band


And open out this cage towards the sun
Throw open this cage and let me bask in the sunlight


Fly away skyline pigeon fly, towards the dreams you've left so very far behind
Spread your wings and glide, towards the desires you abandoned high and dry




Writer(s): Elton John, Onions M

Contributed by Micah M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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