Courage
Sarah Vaughan and Milton Nascimento Lyrics
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I didn't have too much to say
I was needing some inspiration
And you just got in my way
I took a shot at an easy target
You were too stunned to say anything
You were the unsuspecting martyr
You were not the most dangerous game
Bring my courage back now
Bring it back to me
I'm tired of being afraid of what I can't change
I want to be living free
Well it could be that I was mistaken
Or maybe I deceived myself
But it's hard to understand somebody
Doesn't want to understand himself
There's an ocean of unlatched windows
And a world of unlocked homes
The only reason anybody can still feel safe
Is most people still knock on the door
Bring my courage back now
Would you bring it back to me
I'm tired of being afraid of what I can't change
I want to be living free
I don't want to be a prisoner
Bound in these chains
Don't want to be a prisoner
I want to be free again
And though we all return to dust
There's a lot of us in a terrible rush
Some take the road to Damascus
Some take the road to Hell
I'll take Highway One to the evergreens
And everything will turn out well
Bring my courage back now
Would you bring it back to me
I'm tired of being afraid of what I can't change
I want to be living free
I don't want to be a prisoner
Bound in these chains
Slave to my fear
I want to be free again
I want to be free again
The lyrics of "Courage" by Sarah Vaughan and Milton Nascimento speak of the desire to regain one's courage in the face of fear and uncertainty. The song begins with the singer admitting their initial reluctance to engage in conversation, but gradually finding the inspiration they need to overcome their anxiety. They then acknowledge that people can be their own worst enemy, as it is difficult to understand oneself and confront personal struggles. Despite the challenges of life, the singer ultimately desires freedom from the confines of fear and self-doubt.
The themes of courage and vulnerability are prevalent throughout the song, as the singer grapples with their fears and seeks to reclaim their strength. The lyrics also highlight the importance of human connection, as the singer notes that safety is often secured through the kindness of others. Ultimately, "Courage" is a heartfelt plea for inner strength and liberation from the prison of our own minds.
Line by Line Meaning
At the start of the conversation
At the beginning of the talk
I didn't have too much to say
I wasn't very talkative
I was needing some inspiration
I was searching for something to inspire me
And you just got in my way
And you obstructed my route
I took a shot at an easy target
I aimed at a simple objective
You were too stunned to say anything
You were too shocked to reply
You were the unsuspecting martyr
You were the unaware victim
You were not the most dangerous game
You were not the riskiest conquest
Bring my courage back now
Return my bravery to me immediately
Bring it back to me
Deliver it to me
I'm tired of being afraid of what I can't change
I am weary of fearing things beyond my control
I want to be living free
I aspire to live unrestricted
Well it could be that I was mistaken
It could be that I was wrong
Or maybe I deceived myself
Or maybe I tricked myself
But it's hard to understand somebody
But it's challenging to comprehend somebody
Doesn't want to understand himself
Who doesn't desire to comprehend himself
There's an ocean of unlatched windows
An enormous quantity of unlocked windows
And a world of unlocked homes
And a universe of unsecured houses
The only reason anybody can still feel safe
The sole cause for anyone to still feel secure
Is most people still knock on the door
Is because most individuals still announce themselves before entering
Would you bring it back to me
Can you please return it to me
I don't want to be a prisoner
I refuse to stay captive
Bound in these chains
Restricted in these shackles
Slave to my fear
In servitude to my anxiety
I want to be free again
I yearn to be liberated once more
And though we all return to dust
And although we all eventually perish
There's a lot of us in a terrible rush
There are numerous individuals in a dreadful hurry
Some take the road to Damascus
Some embark on the path towards Damascus
Some take the road to Hell
Some journey down the highway to Hell
I'll take Highway One to the evergreens
I will travel down Highway One to the evergreen trees
And everything will turn out well
And everything will work out positively
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: GLEN PHILLIPS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind