A Safe Place to Land
Sara Bareilles [feat. John Legend] Lyrics
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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
The lyrics of "A Safe Place to Land" by Sara Bareilles featuring John Legend depict a message of resilience and hope in the face of adversity. The song speaks to the struggles of navigating through a world filled with pain and deceit, while longing for a place of safety and comfort. It acknowledges the difficulty of letting go and embracing the unknown, but ultimately encourages finding strength in vulnerability and reaching out for help.
The opening lines, "When holding your breath is safer than breathing, when letting go is braver than keeping," highlight the paradoxical nature of survival and courage. It suggests that sometimes the path of least resistance, like numbing oneself or avoiding pain, may seem safer, but true bravery lies in letting go and facing the truth head-on. The lyrics also touch upon the experience of being deceived by others, where innocent words turn into lies. It emphasizes the struggle of finding trust when faced with a world that seems to constantly offer pain.
The chorus paints a vivid metaphor of being lost at sea, with the ocean symbolizing the overwhelming challenges one faces. The sinking boat represents a lack of security and stability in life. In this desperate situation, the lyrics encourage finding solace in hope, represented by the line, "Don't need room for your bags, hope is all that you have." The Lord's prayer is mentioned as a source of comfort and strength during times of deep distress.
The second verse introduces the imagery of being trapped in a burning building, metaphorically representing a dangerous and uncertain situation. The leap of faith required in this scenario denotes the importance of taking risks and trusting that someone will catch you, even when it feels uncertain. The song comes full circle in the chorus, emphasizing the need for kindness and support from others in order to find a safe place to land.
Overall, "A Safe Place to Land" is an inspiring and empowering song that encourages resilience and reaching out for help in challenging times. It underscores the importance of finding comfort and safety in the midst of chaos, and echoes a hopeful message of unity and compassion.
Line by Line Meaning
When holding your breath is safer than breathing
When it feels safer to hold your breath instead of facing the reality of the situation
When letting go is braver than keeping
When having the courage to let go is stronger than holding on
When innocent words turn to lies
When words that were once pure and truthful become deceitful
And you can't hide by closing your eyes
Closing your eyes won't make the problems go away or make them any less real
When pain is all that they offer
When all they have to offer is pain and suffering
Like a kiss from the lips of monster
Their actions resemble the harmful touch of a monster
You know the famine so well, but never met the feast
You are all too familiar with scarcity and deprivation, yet haven't experienced abundance
And home is the belly of the beast
Home, unfortunately, feels like a dangerous and hostile place
The ocean is wild and over your head
The challenges you face are overwhelming and beyond your control
And the boat beneath you is sinking
The support system that should carry you through tough times is crumbling
Don't need room for your bags
You don't need to carry any extra baggage or burdens
Hope is all that you have
The only thing you can rely on is hope
So say the Lord's prayer twice, hold your babies tight
In times of despair, cling to faith and protect your loved ones
Surely someone will reach out a hand
Believe that someone will come to your aid and support you
And show you a safe place to land
They will guide you towards a secure and comforting environment
Oh, imagine yourself in a building
Visualize yourself trapped in a burning building
Up in flames being told to stand still
Even in the midst of danger, you are commanded to remain motionless
The window's wide open
There is a way out, an opportunity for escape
This leap is on faith
Taking this jump requires trust and belief
You don't know who will catch you
You are uncertain who will provide support and be there for you
Maybe somebody will
There's a chance that someone will come through for you
Be the hand of a hopeful stranger
Be the helping hand of someone who remains optimistic despite their own fears
A little scared but you're strong enough
Even though you may feel fear, you possess the strength to overcome it
Be the light in the dark of this danger
Be the guiding light in the midst of this threatening situation
'Til the sun comes up
Continue to be the beacon of hope until a new day dawns
'Til the sun comes up, oh
Keep shining your light until the darkness is replaced by daylight
'Til the sun comes up, 'til the sun
Stay strong and hopeful until the sun rises
'Til the sun, 'til the sun
Endure and persist until the light of the sun illuminates the situation
Comes up
Becomes visible and brings a new beginning
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.