In his own words (from his myspace page):
“For me it’s all about the SONG. I remember watching my father sitting at our dining room table for hours and hours with his pencil and pad crafting his songs; spending the time to find the perfect word, the perfect chord, the perfect melody. That really made an impression on me. When I write a song it really is a kind of science, an operation; but it isn’t mathematical or calculated, it is alive and breathing and moving. At the risk of sounding like a hippie on a soapbox, music is still powerful and holy and sacred to me. You can turn it into a product and a business, but you can’t start it that way. To me the genesis of a song has to be honest and unassuming. I truly believe that God hands me these gifts and it is my job to translate them as honestly as I can. You have to let a song be what it is. We can’t lose that. When I write songs, I like to focus on the fact that we are all the same and we are all just searching for answers and trying to make sense of everything. It's about exploring life and celebrating truth when you find it.”
Heaven's Doors
Sean McConnell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In some boxes that I thought were gone
And seeing your face made me replace
The notion that I had moved on
And it's foolish to talk to a memory
But it helps me believe in a way
That I'm not crazy for asking you questions
So I ask you what you would tell me
When I get to Heaven's doors
And it could be the wind or the emotion I'm in
But I swear that you've answered before
And you said,
"I'll tell you how proud I am of you
How you look just like your father
And how tall you have grown
And then I'll hold you like I used to
How you slept on those long winter car rides from Boston to home
And then I'll tell you that I love your music
Then I'll say that the apple don't fall far from the tree
Then I'll tell you that you've done everything right
To become the man I knew you would be."
And those words still echo inside me
Like a scream in a large, empty home
Where the things that are said come back from the dead
And times when you feel all alone
And so I hold on to them like a blanket
That I wrap around my confused heart
And it reminds me of phrases whispered inside me
That I should have known from the start
So I ask you what you would tell me
When I get to Heaven's doors
And it could be the wind or the emotion I'm in
But I swear that you've answered before
And you said,
"I'll tell you how proud I am of you
How you look just like your father
And how tall you have grown
And then I'll hold you like I used to
How you slept on those long winter car rides from Boston to home
And then I'll you that I love your music
Then I'll say that the apple don't fall far from the tree
Then I'll tell you that you've done everything right
To become the man I knew you would be.
And then I'll tell you that you've done everything right
To become the man I knew you would be."
The song "Heaven's Doors" by Sean McConnell is an emotional tribute to a loved one who has passed away. The song begins with the singer finding an old photograph of the loved one that brings back memories and makes him realize that he hasn't really moved on. He talks to the memory of the loved one, asking what they would tell him if he were to meet them in heaven. He believes that the loved one hears his words and has even answered before. The singer imagines a conversation with the loved one, where they say that they are proud of him, love his music, and think he has become the man they knew he would be.
The lyrics of the song are heartbreaking but also comforting in a way. The singer's longing to connect with his loved one who has passed away is something that many people can relate to. The idea of imagining an afterlife where you can still have conversations with those who are gone is a comforting one, and the words that the loved one says in the singer's imagination are affirming and supportive.
Overall, "Heaven's Doors" is a deeply emotional and moving song about love, loss, and the hope of an afterlife where we can be reunited with those who have passed away.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I found an old photograph of you
I stumbled upon a picture of you that I thought was lost or gone.
In some boxes that I thought were gone
I came across the photo in a box that I thought was emptied or disposed of.
And seeing your face made me replace
Your image replaced the idea that I moved on from our relationship.
The notion that I had moved on
I thought I had let go of the past, but your picture made me realize I hadn't.
And it's foolish to talk to a memory
I understand that it's irrational to speak to someone who's no longer here, but it helps me cope.
But it helps me believe in a way
Communicating with you in my mind makes me feel like you're still here in some capacity.
That I'm not crazy for asking you questions
Talking to you in my head makes me feel less insane for wanting to know what you would say or do if you were still alive.
And that you hear every word that I say
I believe that despite your physical absence, you are still able to hear my thoughts and words.
So I ask you what you would tell me
I wonder and imagine what you would say to me if you were still alive.
When I get to Heaven's doors
When I reach the end of my life and hypothetically meet you again in the afterlife.
And it could be the wind or the emotion I'm in
It's possible that my imagination is playing tricks on me, but I feel like I've heard your voice before in these moments.
But I swear that you've answered before
I am convinced that I've heard your response to my questions before.
And you said,
In my mind, I heard your voice reply...
"I'll tell you how proud I am of you
You would express your pride in me and acknowledge similarities between myself and your partner.
How you look just like your father
You would recognize my physical resemblance to my dad.
And how tall you have grown
You would compliment me on my growth and development.
And then I'll hold you like I used to
You would embrace me in the same way as you used to give me comfort.
How you slept on those long winter car rides from Boston to home
You would specifically reference a time in our past when we would take long drives together.
And then I'll tell you that I love your music
You would express admiration for my work and highlight some of my accomplishments.
Then I'll say that the apple don't fall far from the tree
You would acknowledge the resemblance between my personality or achievements and those of yourself or my dad.
Then I'll tell you that you've done everything right
You would give me validation and support, ensuring me that I've made all the right choices.
To become the man I knew you would be."
You would express confidence in me and speak to the potential you saw in me.
And those words still echo inside me
Your response remains vivid in my mind and heart.
Like a scream in a large, empty home
Your words reverberate in me like a cry in a vast, empty space.
Where the things that are said come back from the dead
In these moments, words that have been spoken before resurface, almost like they are being brought back from the dead.
And times when you feel all alone
I am most likely to experience these feelings when I am grappling with feelings of loneliness or grief.
And so I hold on to them like a blanket
I cling to your words like a comforting blanket, providing warmth and a sense of security.
That I wrap around my confused heart
I use your words as a balm for my aching and uncertain heart.
And it reminds me of phrases whispered inside me
Your words remind me of whispers or secret messages spoken directly to me and only me.
That I should have known from the start
I realize in retrospect how true these messages were and wish I had listened to them earlier.
And then I'll tell you that you've done everything right
(repeated line) You have done everything right and I am proud of you.
To become the man I knew you would be.
(repeated line) Your choices and actions have been true to my original impression of you, and I hold you in high esteem.
Contributed by Ryan D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.