Sparrow
St. Vincent Lyrics


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You were like a Sparrow
With a broken wing
You couldn't fly
And you couldn't sing
You couldn't smile
You were in despair
Cause you thought you were lost
As I found you there

I saw you were bleeding
From your wounded breast
And placed your heart
Warm against my chest
I gave you hope
When your hopes were gone
Made you part of my life
Kept you moving on

Fly Sparrow fly
You're much too young to die
You may be grey and humble
But to me you are the sky
To me you are the freedom
That money cannot buy
The freedom deep inside of us
That can make a beggar fly
Fly Sparrow fly

Fly Sparrow fly
When your wing is broken
You can fly with mine
On wings of love
Mighty and divine
Then you can fly
Higher than before
Fly where the angels fly
Knock on Heaven's door

When your body's dying
And is put to rest
I'll put a rose
On your open chest
I'll sing the song
That you left in me
Make you able to fly
To eternity

Fly Sparrow fly
You're much too young to die
You may be grey and humble
But to me you are the sky
To me you are the freedom
That money cannot buy
The freedom deep inside of us




That can make a beggar fly
Fly Sparrow fly

Overall Meaning

The song “Sparrow” by St. Vincent is a tribute to a broken and lost person. The person is compared to a sparrow that has a broken wing and can’t fly, sing, or smile. The songwriter found this person in despair and bleeding from a wounded breast. She took this person in her arms and gave them hope because the person had thought they had lost everything. The songwriter saw the person as a sparrow that should fly and not die, and that gray and humble are not what defines a person, but the freedom they have within themselves.
The songwriter placed the person’s heart on her chest and gave them the strength to move on as a part of her life. The song is about the freedom that one can have within themselves, the freedom that can make a beggar fly. The songwriter promises a beautiful farewell for the person who has found their freedom in her. The person can fly high above everything with the wings of love, and the songwriter will put a rose on the person’s open chest while singing the song that the person left in her.


Overall, the song “Sparrow” is a tender and empathetic tribute to a lost and broken person while also emphasizing the freedom that all individuals have within themselves. The song is a testament to the power of love and compassion to help heal and uplift even the most broken individuals.


Line by Line Meaning

You were like a Sparrow
You were fragile and vulnerable, like a small bird.


With a broken wing
You were injured and unable to fulfill your potential.


You couldn't fly
You were unable to reach your goals or ambitions.


And you couldn't sing
You were unable to express yourself or share your talents.


You couldn't smile
You were unhappy and didn't find joy in life.


You were in despair
You were experiencing extreme sadness and hopelessness.


Cause you thought you were lost
You believed that you had no purpose, direction or sense of belonging.


As I found you there
I discovered you in this state and wanted to help.


I saw you were bleeding
I noticed that you were hurt and in pain.


From your wounded breast
Your emotional wounds were deep and affecting your heart.


And placed your heart
I offered you my care and attention.


Warm against my chest
I held you close and provided comfort and security.


I gave you hope
I provided a positive outlook and encouraged you to believe in yourself.


When your hopes were gone
When you had lost all faith and confidence.


Made you part of my life
I welcomed you into my world and shared my experiences with you.


Kept you moving on
I motivated you to keep trying and not give up.


Fly Sparrow fly
I urge you to spread your wings and reach your potential.


You're much too young to die
You have so much life ahead of you and don't deserve to give up.


You may be grey and humble
You may not seem extraordinary, but you are special to me.


But to me you are the sky
You are my infinite and limitless source of inspiration.


To me you are the freedom
You represent the essence of liberation from constraints and expectations.


That money cannot buy
Your true value is intangible and beyond material possessions.


The freedom deep inside of us
We all have the potential to achieve liberation and self-realization.


That can make a beggar fly
Even those who are marginalized and disadvantaged have the potential to achieve great things.


When your wing is broken
When you face setbacks or failures.


You can fly with mine
I offer my support and encouragement to help you overcome obstacles.


On wings of love
Love is the driving force that allows us to soar beyond our limits.


Mighty and divine
Our love is powerful and transcendent.


Then you can fly
Once you have the necessary support and belief, you can achieve anything.


Higher than before
You can surpass your previous limits and soar towards greater heights.


Fly where the angels fly
You can reach the highest levels of achievement and greatness.


Knock on Heaven's door
You can achieve remarkable things and make a lasting impact.


When your body's dying
When you are facing the end of your physical existence.


And is put to rest
When your body is no longer functioning and you have left this world.


I'll put a rose
I will offer a symbol of love and appreciation.


On your open chest
On the space where your heart and soul reside.


I'll sing the song
I will honor your memory and legacy.


That you left in me
I will carry on the inspiration and impact you had on me.


Make you able to fly
I will keep your spirit and memory alive, so you can continue to inspire others.


To eternity
Your influence and legacy will continue beyond your physical existence.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Jan Vincents Johannessen, Per Kjetil Farstad

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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