After graduating from UCLA in 2002, Bareilles performed at local bars and clubs. She issued two demos of mostly live tracks in 2003: The First One in April and The Summer Sessions in October.
In January 2004, Bareilles released her first studio album, Careful Confessions. She signed a contract with Epic Records' A&R executive Pete Giberga on April 15, 2005. The remainder of the year and early 2006 was spent writing and reworking songs for her upcoming album.
Her debut major-label album Little Voice came out on July 17, 2007.
A Safe Place to Land
Sara Bareilles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When letting go is braver than keeping
When innocent words turn to lies
And you can't hide by closing your eyes
When pain is all that they offer
Like a kiss from the lips of monster
You know the famine so well, but never met the feast
The ocean is wild and over your head
And the boat beneath you is sinking
Don't need room for your bags
Hope is all that you have
So say the Lord's prayer twice, hold your babies tight
Surely someone will reach out a hand
And show you a safe place to land
Oh, imagine yourself in a building
Up in flames being told to stand still
The window's wide open
This is leap is on faith
You don't know who will catch you
Maybe somebody will
The ocean is wild and over your head
And the boat beneath you is sinking
Don't need room for your bags
Hope is all that you have
So say the Lord's prayer twice, hold your babies tight
Surely someone will reach out a hand
And show you a safe place to land
Be the hand of a hopeful stranger
A little scared but you're strong enough
Be the light in the dark of this danger
'Til the sun comes up
Be the hand of a hopeful stranger
A little scared but you're strong enough
Oh, be the light in the dark of this danger
'Til the sun comes up
Be the hand of a hopeful stranger
A little scared but you're strong enough
Be the light in the dark of this danger
'Til the sun comes up
'Til the sun comes up, oh
'Til the sun comes up, 'til the sun
'Til the sun comes up
'Til the sun, 'til the sun
Comes up
Sara Bareilles's song "A Safe Place to Land" is a song about finding hope and safety in difficult situations. The lyrics describe a situation where it may feel safer to hold your breath and let go than to continue bearing pain and lies. The song talks about finding a safe place to land when life feels like a sinking boat in a wild ocean. In the face of danger, the singer encourages the listener, depicting them as someone who is scared but strong enough to act as a light in the darkness, and be the hand of a hopeful stranger.
The lyrics of "A Safe Place to Land" are profound and speak to universal human experiences. The song deals with themes of pain, fear, and trauma, and the need for a safe, supportive community. It shows how people can be that safe place for others in a time of need, and the importance of hope and strength in difficult situations.
Line by Line Meaning
When holding your breath is safer than breathing
Sometimes it's better to be silent than to speak up and cause harm or be hurt yourself.
When letting go is braver than keeping
It takes courage to let go of things or relationships that are no longer serving you well.
When innocent words turn to lies
What seems innocent at first can quickly turn into deception and betrayal.
And you can’t hide by closing your eyes
Ignoring or denying problems won't make them go away.
When pain is all that they offer
Sometimes people bring more harm than good, and it's important to cut toxic relationships.
Like a kiss from the lips of monster
Toxic people can be charismatic and manipulative, but it's important not to be fooled by their charm.
You know the famine so well, but never met the feast
Sometimes we get so used to suffering that we don't recognize the good things that come our way.
And home is the belly of the beast
Sometimes the place that's supposed to be safe and nurturing can be the source of our pain and suffering.
The ocean is wild and over your head
Life can be overwhelming and difficult to navigate.
And the boat beneath you is sinking
Even when things seem dire, it's important to keep going and not give up hope.
Don’t need room for your bags
It's important to travel light and let go of baggage in order to move forward.
Hope is all that you have
In difficult times, holding onto hope can be a lifesaver.
So say the Lord’s prayer twice, hold your babies tight
In times of crisis, turning to faith and loved ones can be a source of comfort and strength.
Surely someone will reach out a hand
Help is often available if we're willing to reach out and ask for it.
And show you a safe place to land
In times of crisis, it's important to have a supportive community that can help us come back to safety and stability.
Be the hand of a hopeful stranger
Sometimes being kind and helping others can, in turn, help us heal and find hope.
A little scared but you’re strong enough
It's okay to be afraid, but we're often stronger than we think.
Be the light in the dark of this danger
Acting as a source of support and positivity can make all the difference in times of crisis.
Til the sun comes up
Eventually, even the darkest night gives way to dawn and new beginnings.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Lori McKenna, Sara Bareilles
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Maudy Cancera
When holding your breath is safer than breathing
When letting go is braver than keeping
When innocent words turn to lies
And you can’t hide by closing your eyes
When pain is all that they offer
Like a kiss from the lips of monster
You know the famine so well, but never met the feast
And home is the belly of the beast
The ocean is wild and over your head
And the boat beneath you is sinking
Don’t need room for your bags
Hope is all that you have
So say the Lord’s prayer twice, hold your babies tight
Surely someone will reach out a hand
And show you a safe place to land
Oh, imagine yourself in a building
Up in flames being told to stand still
The window’s wide open
This is leap is on faith
You don’t know who will catch you
Maybe somebody will
The ocean is wild and over your head
And the boat beneath you is sinking
Don’t need room for your bags
Hope is all that you have
So say the Lord’s prayer twice, hold your babies tight
Surely someone will reach out a hand
And show you a safe place to land
Be the hand of a hopeful stranger
A little scared but you’re strong enough
Be the light in the dark of this danger
'Til the sun comes up
Be the hand of a hopeful stranger
A little scared but you’re strong enough
Oh, be the light in the dark of this danger
'Til the sun comes up
Be the hand of a hopeful stranger
A little scared but you’re strong enough
Be the light in the dark of this danger
'Til the sun comes up
'Til the sun comes up, oh
'Til the sun comes up, 'til the sun
'Til the sun comes up
'Til the sun, 'til the sun
Comes up
Ervin
Soft Place to Land (lyrics)
When holding your breath is safer than breathing
When letting go is braver than keeping
When innocent words turn to lies
And you can’t hide by closing your eyes
When pain is all that they offer
Like a kiss from the lips of monster
You know the famine so well, but never met the feast
And home is the belly of the beast
The ocean is wild and over your head
And the boat beneath you is sinking
Don’t need room for your bags
Hope is all that you have
So say the Lord’s prayer twice, hold your babies tight
Surely someone will reach out a hand
And show you a safe place to land
Oh, imagine yourself in a building
Up in flames being told to stand still
The window’s wide open
This is leap is on faith
You don’t know who will catch you
Maybe somebody will
The ocean is wild and over your head
And the boat beneath you is sinking
Don’t need room for your bags
Hope is all that you have
So say the Lord’s prayer twice, hold your babies tight
Surely someone will reach out a hand
And show you a safe place to land
Be the hand of a hopeful stranger
A little scared but you’re strong enough
Be the light in the dark of this danger
'Til the sun comes up
Be the hand of a hopeful stranger
A little scared but you’re strong enough
Oh, be the light in the dark of this danger
'Til the sun comes up
Be the hand of a hopeful stranger
A little scared but you’re strong enough
Be the light in the dark of this danger
'Til the sun comes up
'Til the sun comes up, oh
'Til the sun comes up, 'til the sun
'Til the sun comes up
'Til the sun, 'til the sun
Comes up
Laurel McCoy
I am a survivor of domestic violence, and left 1 year ago in a minivan with almost nothing... This song touched me more than I can say. I held my 4 babies tight and jumped from that window, and this song embodies the fear and the freedom, all at once. Thank you so much for this.
Jenn Chantelle
Laurel McCoy You're the strongest woman in the world for your children, they're very lucky to have you. I wish you all the best in the future.
ms-t-marie
I only have one, but we jumped from the same window. Much love to you, this duet brought me to tears.
Mary Blowers
You are amazing laurel!!! So happy you are free and so blessed your babies get to see how strong their mama is!
winterbjohnson1
You are a brave and amazing woman. Hope you and your babies are in a much better place, and that you and they are growing together somewhere safe.
Karon Thomas
Well done for finding the courage to do that. Many blessings to you all..
Shannon Flaherty Cardo
Sara Barilles is such a talent in writing and performing. She really deserve so much more recognition than she receives. This one never fails to make me cry.
David Blair
She is one of the finest musicians that I have ever heard! Also, even if it is a song that she wrote.. she never steps over a duet. I love her.
Lincoln MacEachern
I remember the old video of the Everly Brothers singing Mark Knopfler's "Why Worry," with MK ( and many others ) backing them up. MK looked like it was his greatest honor.
David Blair
@Lincoln MacEachern I'll have to check that one out.