According to the Slow Songfacts, Sarah spent the early years of her life in Pakistan,having been born in Islamabad on 3rd June 1979, where her father was the chief-engineer of the enormous Tarbela Dam, 30 miles to the northwest of Islamabad. The youngest of seven children, living in an expat colony without TV or newspapers, Rumer and her family would often sing and write songs together. Her brother Rob gave Rumer her first guitar; which she taught herself to play, and on which, years later, she wrote all the songs on her debut album, Seasons of My Soul.
The singer/songwriter spent her teenage years in Carlisle at Newman School before leaving at 16 to pursue her ambition. It has been a hard slog but years later she is finally hitting the big time and gradually becoming a household name. She now hopes her success will inspire other young people to follow their dreams.
Having had her single listed ahead of its release on both Radio 2 and Magic FM, she is also preparing to support Jools Holland on his UK tour this autumn – the finale being a show at the Albert Hall.
She also has a celebrity fan in the form of easy listening legend Burt Bacharach, who invited her to sing for him when she visited California.
Flyin
Rumer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Skys comin' down again
I get so tired
Of these same old blues
Same old song
Baby, it won't be long
'Fore I be tyin' on
My flyin' shoes
Till I be tyin' on
My flyin' shoes
Spring only sighed
Summer had to be satisfied
Fall is a feelin' that I just can't lose.
I'd like to stay
Maybe watch a winter day
Turn the green water
To white and blue
Flyin' shoes
Flyin' shoes
Till I be tyin' on
My flyin' shoes
The mountain moon
Forever sets too soon
Bein' alone is all the hills can do
Alone and then
Her silver sails again
And they will follow
In their flyin' shoes
Flyin' shoes
They will follow in their
Flyin' shoes
Days full of rain
Skys comin' down again
I get so tired
Of the same old blues
Same old song
Baby, it won't be long
Till I be tyin' on
My flyin' shoes
Flyin' shoes
Till I be tyin' on
My flyin' shoes
Rumer's song "Flyin' Shoes" is a melancholic yet dreamy reflection on the passage of time and the restless desire to escape the monotony of daily life. The song is structured around a series of images and motifs that create a sense of yearning and nostalgia, evoking the changing seasons, the mountains, the moon, and the feeling of being stuck in the same place. The lyrics are simple yet sophisticated, with a poetic quality that enhances the mood and atmosphere of the song.
The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song, describing days full of rain and a sense of heaviness and fatigue. The repetition of the "same old blues, same old song" suggests a feeling of ennui and frustration, while the reference to "tying on my flyin' shoes" implies a desire to break free from this cycle and soar above it all. The image of the flying shoes is a recurring motif throughout the song, representing the possibility of escape and the transformative power of imagination.
The second verse introduces the theme of the changing seasons, with spring, summer, and fall each symbolizing a different mood or emotion. Spring is described as a sigh, suggesting a sense of wistfulness or longing, while summer is portrayed as something that must be satisfied or endured. Fall, on the other hand, is a feeling that the singer can't lose, implying a sense of sadness or regret. The reference to "watching a winter day turn the green water to white and blue" is a vivid image that captures the beauty and transience of nature, hinting at the idea that change is inevitable and fleeting.
The final verse brings together several of the song's key themes, with the mountain moon setting too soon and the hills being lonely and still. The reference to "her silver sails again" is ambiguous but could be interpreted as a metaphor for the moon or the passage of time. The idea that others will follow in their flying shoes implies a sense of community or shared experience, suggesting that the desire to escape is universal.
Overall, Rumer's "Flyin' Shoes" is a haunting and evocative song that captures the complex emotions of longing, nostalgia, and restlessness. The lyrics are full of rich imagery and symbolism that create a sense of depth and meaning, while the melody and arrangement enhance the dreamlike quality of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Days full of rain
The singer is tired of consistently experiencing bad days.
Skys comin' down again
The weather is gloomy and depressing.
I get so tired
The singer is tired of their current circumstances.
Of these same old blues
The artist is tired of experiencing the same problems repeatedly.
Same old song
The artist is tired of the same routine, possibly referring to their life.
Baby, it won't be long
The singer believes they will soon be able to leave their current situation behind.
Fore I be tyin' on
Before the singer puts on their shoes, they will be leaving soon.
My flyin' shoes
The shoes represent the artist’s ability to leave their current situation behind, metaphorically or literally.
Till I be tyin' on
The artist is expressing a desire to leave.
My flyin' shoes
The artist needs to use their “flyin’ shoes” to escape their current situation.
Spring only sighed
Springtime was not as satisfying as the singer thought it would be.
Summer had to be satisfied
The summer passed by quickly and there was not much the artist could do about it.
Fall is a feelin' that I just can't lose
The fall season brings back fond memories for the singer.
I'd like to stay
The singer wishes they could remain in the current moment.
Maybe watch a winter day
The singer would prefer to watch the seasons pass by rather than experience them firsthand.
Turn the green water
The artist wants the scenery around them to change with the snowfall.
To white and blue
The artist wants everything to look white and blue as a result of winter.
The mountain moon
The singer is likely referring to a landscape setting they are familiar with.
Forever sets too soon
Time moves too quickly for the singer in this landscape.
Bein' alone is all the hills can do
The hills are devoid of people, so they must be alone.
Alone and then
The hills are alone a lot, and then something changes.
Her silver sails again
The artist is likely referring to a ship or boat.
And they will follow
The hills are following the boat as it moves.
In their flyin' shoes
Just like the artist, the hills are moving quickly in their own way.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Townes Van Zandt
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind