Still Learning How To Fly
Rodney Crowell Lyrics


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The hour is early
The whole world is quiet
A beautiful morning's about to ignite
I'm ready for danger
I'm ready for fire
I'm ready for something to lift me up higher
Life's been good, I guess
My ragged old heart's been blessed
With so much more than meets the eye
I've got a past I won't soon forget
You ain't seen nothing yet
I'm still learning how to fly
It's the dreams that die hard
With old habits to break
You can't let down your guard
When there's so much at stake
I'm halfway to heaven, halfway to hell
But I might roll a seven
You never can tell
Life's been good it's true
When I'm feeling just like new
The same old rules need not apply
I've got a past full of sticks and stones
And a good feeling in my bones
I'm still learning how to fly
I want to go faster
I don't want to slow down
I don't want to get off of this merrygoround
I want to be reckless
I want to be vain
I want to make love like a runaway train
Life's been good I said
I'm 10,000 miles ahead
The day I rest is the day I die
I've got a past like a broken wing
But you ain't seen anything




I'm still learning how to fly
I'm still learning how to fly

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Rodney Crowell's song "Still Learning How To Fly" are an inspirational take on life's journey. The verse opens with the singer ready to take on the world, looking for a lift that will take him higher. Life has been good, but the past cannot be forgotten - the memories and lessons learned along the way have contributed to the person he is now. The lyrics bridge the past with the present, accepting that old habits die hard, but the will to succeed ahead is stronger. The chorus represents the song's title excellently, with lines, "You ain't seen nothing yet/ I'm still learning how to fly." The song speaks to the idea of seizing the moment and taking the chances required to make life happen on one's terms.


The middle portion of the song talks about the fear of losing everything or taking risks that could go either way. The lyrics "I'm halfway to heaven, halfway to hell, But I might roll a seven, You never can tell" speak to the singer's fear of failure, but also a willingness to take risks and try, as life is all about uncertainty. Later in the song, the singer talks about wanting to fast-forward through life, take risks, and live life on the edge, not wanting life to slow down for anything. He is looking to push boundaries and live life intensely. The song speaks to the idea of continuous growth and development, one that is never-ending, transcending age, personality, and experience.


Line by Line Meaning

The hour is early
It's the beginning of the day, but I'm already up and ready to take on whatever comes my way.


The whole world is quiet
Everything around me is calm and peaceful, like the world is waiting for something to happen.


A beautiful morning's about to ignite
It feels like something exciting is going to happen, like a spark is about to light a fire.


I'm ready for danger
I'm not afraid to take risks, even if it means putting myself in danger.


I'm ready for fire
I'm ready to face whatever challenges come my way, even if it means things get hot.


I'm ready for something to lift me up higher
I'm looking for something to give me a boost, to take me to the next level.


Life's been good, I guess
Overall, my life has been pretty good, but there have been some bumps along the way.


My ragged old heart's been blessed
Despite everything, I've been lucky in love and feel grateful for the good relationships in my life.


With so much more than meets the eye
There's more to me and my life than what people see on the surface.


I've got a past I won't soon forget
I've had some experiences in my past that have taught me important lessons and shaped who I am today.


You ain't seen nothing yet
I've accomplished some things in my life, but there's still so much more I want to do and achieve.


I'm still learning how to fly
I'm still figuring things out, still growing and changing, still trying to find my true path in life.


It's the dreams that die hard
Sometimes it's hard to let go of the dreams we have, even when it seems like they'll never come true.


With old habits to break
Breaking free from old patterns and habits can be difficult, but it's necessary to move forward.


You can't let down your guard
Even when things are going well, you have to stay vigilant and aware of potential challenges.


When there's so much at stake
When the stakes are high, it's important to stay focused and not let distractions get in the way.


I'm halfway to heaven, halfway to hell
My life is a balance between good and bad, joy and pain, success and failure.


But I might roll a seven
Life is unpredictable, and sometimes unexpected good things can happen.


You never can tell
Anything is possible, and sometimes the things we think are impossible actually happen.


Life's been good it's true
Overall, I've lived a good life, and I'm grateful for all the experiences I've had.


When I'm feeling just like new
When I'm feeling refreshed and energized, it's easier to believe that good things are possible.


The same old rules need not apply
Sometimes it's necessary to break free from the constraints of convention in order to achieve something new and exciting.


I've got a past full of sticks and stones
I've been hurt before, but I've also learned from those experiences and know how to protect myself now.


And a good feeling in my bones
Despite everything, I have a sense of optimism and hope that things will continue to improve.


I want to go faster
I'm not content with standing still - I want to keep moving forward and achieving more.


I don't want to slow down
I'm not ready to take it easy yet - there's still too much I want to accomplish.


I don't want to get off of this merry-go-round
I enjoy the excitement and unpredictability of life, and I don't want to give that up.


I want to be reckless
Sometimes it's necessary to take risks in order to achieve great things.


I want to be vain
I want to indulge in the pleasures of life and not worry about being humble or modest all the time.


I want to make love like a runaway train
I want to experience passion and intensity in all areas of my life, not just in romance.


I'm 10,000 miles ahead
I've accomplished a lot already, and I'm far ahead of where I ever thought I'd be.


The day I rest is the day I die
I'm not ready to stop working and achieving yet - there's still too much I want to do and see.


I've got a past like a broken wing
I've been through some tough times, but I've managed to keep going and not give up.


But you ain't seen anything
There's still so much more I want to accomplish and see in my life - I'm just getting started.


I'm still learning how to fly
Even though I've had some successes, I still feel like I have a lot to learn and achieve in my life.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RODNEY CROWELL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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