Sheppard's international hit single Geronimo was the Brisbane band's battle-cry, a super-sophisticated stadium pop anthem shot through with all the mixed emotions of being young. With this, the six-piece, formed around siblings George, Amy and Emma Sheppard, launched their debut album Bombs Away.
The Sheppard story starts two and half thousand miles from Brisbane in the tropical Pacific paradise of Papua New Guinea, where the family moved with their lawyer father. Music was in the air from day one: while dad blasted Cat Stevens in the house to get them out of bed in the mornings, mum sent them for lessons in piano and music theory. But their biggest influence was a music teacher at their Port Moresby school, Baruka Tau-Matagu, keyboard player of the legendary Aboriginal group Yothu Yindu and top session man for the likes of Janet Jackson and Madonna. From Tau the Sheppards picked up their love of harmony.
Sheppard came about by accident, back in Australia, in fact, when middle child Amy was studying for a music diploma and felt that one of her songs (working title *Cheese on Toast*) lacked a certain something. Brother George, then a drama student in Sydney, helped out on harmonies, and the pair realised they could write together. They added young composer and producer Jay Bovino, fresh from Sydney band Vienna Circus, and in the space of two months the trio Bovino / Sheppard / Sheppard had written 30 tracks. Brisbane musicians Michael Butler and Dean Gordon joined them on guitar and drums, with younger sister Emma on bass guitar. After trying out various producers, they finally hit upon one - Stuart Stuart of Analogue Heart Records - who let them be themselves. "With Geronimo," says Amy, "we kind of knew it was a hit. We wrote it in about two hours - there were so many hooks, and so many more hooks we could have added and didn’t.”
At the ARIA Music Awards of 2013, Sheppard were nominated for Best Independent Release for "Let Me Down Easy". At the 2014 ceremony, they were nominated for Album of the Year, Best Group, Best Independent Release, Best Pop Release, Song of the Year, Producer of the Year, and Best Video.
On 1 November 2016, "We Belong" was released.
Learning to Fly
Sheppard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With nothing but stars in our eyes
Where we'd make believe and with all of our dreams
We would color outside of the lines
Don't you ever wonder when it happened?
How did fun turn into fear?
Now I'm standing on the edge of now or never
(Ooh-ma-ma, ayy-oh-ma)
(Ooh-ma-ma, ayy-oh-ma)
I'm still learning to
I'm still learning to
(Ooh-ma-ma, ayy-oh-ma)
(Ooh-ma-ma, ayy-oh-ma)
I'm still learning to
I'm still learning to fly (ooh-ma-ma, ayy-oh-ma)
(Ooh-ma-ma, ayy-oh-ma)
I'm still learning to
I'm still learning to fly (ooh-ma-ma, ayy-oh-ma)
(Ooh-ma-ma, ayy-oh-ma)
I'm still learning to fly
Been learning to hide in tall buildings to seek all the millions
And hang like the suits and the ties
But, that voice deep inside us is trying to remind us
What it means to be alive
Don't you feel like we're running in circles?
How did days turn into years?
Now I'm standing on the edge of now or never
And the skies are looking clear
(Ooh-ma-ma, ayy-oh-ma)
(Ooh-ma-ma, ayy-oh-ma)
I'm still learning to
I'm still learning to
(Ooh-ma-ma, ayy-oh-ma)
(Ooh-ma-ma, ayy-oh-ma)
I'm still learning to
I'm still learning to fly (ooh-ma-ma, ayy-oh-ma)
I'm still learning to
I'm still learning to fly (ooh-ma-ma, ayy-oh-ma)
(Ooh-ma-ma, ayy-oh-ma)
I'm still learning to fly
Been learning to fly
Over and over, I keep getting closer
Closer to touching the sky
Going higher and higher, I see the horizon
Now, I know how to
Now, I know how to fly
Now, I know how to
Now, I know how to fly (ooh-ma-ma, ayy-oh-ma)
(Ooh-ma-ma, ayy-oh-ma)
Now, I know how to
Yeah, I know how to fly (ooh-ma-ma, ayy-oh-ma)
(Ooh-ma-ma, ayy-oh-ma)
Now, I know how to
Now, I know how to fly (ooh-ma-ma, ayy-oh-ma)
(Ooh-ma-ma, ayy-oh-ma)
Now, I know how to
Now, I know how to fly
The lyrics to Sheppard's song "Learning to Fly" capture the longing for freedom and the desire to break away from societal norms. The song begins with a nostalgic tone, reminiscing about a time when the world was full of possibilities, and where they could dance on tables with stars in their eyes, and color outside of the lines with all of their dreams. But as time passes, that sense of freedom begins to fade, and the song explores the feeling of being trapped in a world where fun has turned into fear, and days have turned into years.
The chorus of "I'm still learning to fly" echoes the theme of the song, portraying the struggle and the journey towards finding a sense of liberation amidst the mundanity of everyday life. The lyrics speak to the desire to break out of the cycle of hiding in tall buildings to seek all the millions, and instead listen to the voice deep inside us that reminds us of what it means to be alive. With each repetition of the chorus, the singer gets closer and closer to touching the sky, and finally achieves the ultimate goal of learning how to fly.
Overall, "Learning to Fly" is a song that encourages people to continue striving towards their dreams, to embrace the challenges, and to never stop learning and growing. It's a reminder that even when things seem bleak, there's always a possibility of breaking free and soaring to new heights.
Line by Line Meaning
We used to be able to dance on the table
With nothing but stars in our eyes
Where we'd make believe and with all of our dreams
We would color outside of the lines
In the past, we were carefree and imaginative, unafraid of expressing our creativity and goals in life.
Don't you ever wonder when it happened?
How did fun turn into fear?
Now I'm standing on the edge of now or never
And the skies are lookin' clear, oh
As we became older, our carefree lifestyle turned into anxiety and fear. Now, with a clear mindset, we have the opportunity to pursue our dreams.
Been learning to hide in tall buildings to seek all the millions
And hang like the suits and the ties
But, that voice deep inside us is trying to remind us
What it means to be alive
We have learned to prioritize our careers and financial success over our happiness and passions, but our inner voice is attempting to remind us of the importance of living life to the fullest.
Don't you feel like we're running in circles?
How did days turn into years?
Now I'm standing on the edge of now or never
And the skies are looking clear
We often feel as though we're not progressing and time is passing us by too quickly. Now, with an open and positive mindset, we have the chance to make change and chase our dreams.
Over and over, I keep getting closer
Closer to touching the sky
Going higher and higher, I see the horizon
Now, I know how to
Now, I know how to fly
Despite setbacks, we continue to move forward, improving and getting closer to our goals. Finally, we have gained the confidence and ability to achieve anything we set our minds to.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Amy Sheppard, George Sheppard, Jason Bovino, Jesse Cameron, Whakaio Taahi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dubinzi
This song is criminally underrated
@attackhelicopter4240
Geronimo
@spoolartist
I think I can walk around the world seven times with only Sheppard songs on my playlist including this amazing song and I will be just fine!
@FernandaNascimento-xw6ic
A¹5oi3
@michaelolympus5994
They definitely have this World Music feels in their songs!
@hanzo4339
uhh I'm late am i
@mauwystar8118
@Michael Olympus p
@angelicasalassa1404
@Fernanda Nascimento ¹¹
@stepansitek2715
This song is so positive, I love it. Greetings from Czech republic 🇨🇿
@Kxbicek
Same xD