Parachute
Simon Joyner Lyrics
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Or maybe it's just flinching
The sun shot up just like a child
But these old hands are only inching
Would you believe it is my fault
I went and made myself lonely
I miss the way she said my name
Like I was a distant city
Winter came and swept away
The birds nest from my chimney
The cold air marched right through the walls
And settled her in my belly
But her memory keeps me tossing
Those letters into the fire
And the flames they're twitching
A love which has retired
Now New York is not a place I'd choose
To have my body buried
But Omaha has got the trains to take
The snow to the cemetery
There is a place called home I believe
If you're willing to step out of the loop
I miss the way she held on to me
Like I was a parachute
The song "Parachute" by Simon Joyner is a ballad about heartbreak and loss. The opening lines of the song suggest that the singer is witnessing the decline of his partner and may even be responsible for it. He wonders if her smile is "shutting down," and if he is the reason why she is withdrawing from him. He feels guilty for making himself "lonely" and recalls the sound of her voice saying his name. The reference to his name being a "distant city" suggests that she was not fully present or invested in the relationship.
As winter comes, he finds himself alone, with only the memories of his partner to keep him company. He describes the feeling of emptiness and coldness that seems to have settled in his belly. The memory of her continues to haunt him, as he tosses letters into the fire, perhaps as a way to let go of the past.
In the final stanza, the singer contemplates death and burial. He expresses a desire to be buried in the snow of Omaha, rather than the bustling city of New York. He believes that there is still a place called "home" where he can find comfort and healing. He misses "the way she held on to me/like I was a parachute," suggesting that he once felt safe and secure with her, but has since lost that sense of security.
This song is a melancholy reflection on the end of a relationship and the pain that comes with letting go of someone you love. It speaks to the universal experience of heartbreak and the difficulty of moving on.
Line by Line Meaning
I think that smile is shutting down
I believe that her smile is fading away, perhaps she is no longer happy
Or maybe it's just flinching
It's possible that her smile is still there, but it's just a reflex reaction
The sun shot up just like a child
The sun rose quickly and energetically, like a child jumping out of bed in the morning
But these old hands are only inching
Although the sun has risen quickly, his hands, perhaps metaphorical of his life, are only moving slowly
Would you believe it is my fault
I am responsible for the situation I find myself in
I went and made myself lonely
I caused myself to be alone, perhaps by pushing people away or isolating myself
I miss the way she said my name
I long for the way she used to say my name, which brought me joy and comfort
Like I was a distant city
Her saying my name made me feel like a far-off place that she wanted to visit and discover
Winter came and swept away
The winter season arrived and took away something important to me
The birds nest from my chimney
The birds had built a home in my chimney, which was taken away by the winter weather
The cold air marched right through the walls
The cold weather was so intense that it penetrated through his walls
And settled her in my belly
This cold feeling settled inside of him, becoming a part of him
But her memory keeps me tossing
He is plagued by memories of her, which cause him much distress and unrest
Those letters into the fire
He's burning letters, perhaps as part of his efforts to forget and move on from the past relationship
And the flames they're twitching
The flames from the burning letters are moving erratically or spasmodically, perhaps symbolizing his own struggles with letting go
A love which has retired
Their love has ended, it is no longer alive or active
Now New York is not a place I'd choose
If he had the choice, he wouldn't want to be buried in New York
To have my body buried
He's considering where his final resting place should be
But Omaha has got the trains to take
Omaha, Nebraska has reliable transportation to take him to his final resting place
The snow to the cemetery
The snow may add to the morbidity of being transported to a cemetery
There is a place called home I believe
Home refers to a sense of community where one belongs, it is an ideal concept
If you're willing to step out of the loop
To find that place of belonging, one must be willing to break from the familiar or popular direction
I miss the way she held on to me
He misses being embraced and the connection he had with her
Like I was a parachute
Her embrace was like a safety net or protection, much like a parachute
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JEFFERY ATKINS, SEVEN AURELIUS, ALAN SCHWARTZ, LEAH SIEGAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind