The Chicago-born singer-songwriter, was discovered by Kris Kristofferson. He collaborated with close friend John Prine throughout his career. His superb guitar ability (honed at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music) and creative songwriting ability led him to success in the 1970s folk scene. Often funny, sometimes heartbreaking, always unpredictable, Steve Goodman was the consummate performer whether in a small Chicago venue, Austin City Limits, or opening for Steve Martin (and often stealing the show!). Steve is probably best known for his song "City of New Orleans", which was later covered by Arlo Guthrie among others. He has also been covered by Jimmy Buffett and many others. Steve was the ultimate suffering Chicago Cub fan, writing the songs "Go, Cubs, Go" and the unfortunately very true "A Dying Cub Fans Last Request".
Steve's life was cut short in 1984 by leukemia, but fortunately an extensive catalog remains, including the recently released, "Live at the Earl" as well as the DVD "Steve Goodman Live at Austin City Limits and More."
I'll Fly Away
Steve Goodman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When this life is over,
I'll fly away.
When I die, Hallelujah, bye and bye,
I'll fly away.
Sing it
Just a few more weary, weary days and nights.
Halle..
One of these mornings, won't be long,
Call my name and I'll be gone.
Go up to heaven, talk with the father,
Chat with the son,
Tell him 'bout the world that I just come from.
Gonna look up David in the heat of the day,
Tune up the harp and start to play.
Right through heaven,
Sing and shout,
Nobody there to turn us out.
The lyrics of Steve Goodman's song "I'll Fly Away" depict the anticipation of the afterlife and of going to heaven when life on earth comes to an end. The first few lines evoke a sense of hope and longing for that other-worldly existence, expressing a desire to fly away from life's challenges and towards an eternal peace. The use of hallelujah, a word of praise and thanksgiving, emphasizes the joyful anticipation of what lies ahead. The next line serves as a reminder that death is an inevitable part of life, but the following line suggests that the singer is not afraid of it because it will lead to the ultimate reunion with God and a state of pure bliss.
The second verse references the biblical story of David, a musician and king in the Old Testament, and suggests that in heaven, the singer will be able to meet him and enjoy music together. The image of playing the harp and singing in unison with a legendary figure underscores the idea of being in a state of perfection and sharing that with others who have departed from earth as well. The final line of the verse emphasizes the sense of permanence and belonging that the singer hopes to experience in the afterlife.
Overall, the song is a reflection on death and the yearning for what comes after it. The lyrics convey a sense of excitement, hope, and faith in a better world beyond this one.
Line by Line Meaning
Some bright morning,
One day, in the near future, possibly in the morning,
When this life is over,
After my time on Earth has ended,
I'll fly away.
I will leave this world behind and ascend to a better place.
When I die, Hallelujah, bye and bye,
Upon my death, I will be filled with happiness and excitement in anticipation of what's to come.
I'll fly away.
I will leave my mortal body and soar to a higher existence.
Just a few more weary, weary days and nights.
I only have a short time left to spend on Earth before I depart.
When I
As it draws nearer to my death,
Halle..
My emotions are building up, and I am filled with gratitude for what's to come.
One of these mornings, won't be long,
Soon, a new day will dawn and bring forth the beginning of my next journey.
Call my name and I'll be gone.
All I need is to be summoned, and I will leave this world and embark on a new adventure.
Go up to heaven, talk with the father,
When I reach the promised land, I will have a conversation with my Creator.
Chat with the son,
In addition, I will have the opportunity to converse with the Messiah.
Tell him 'bout the world that I just come from.
I will share with them the story of my life and the world that I have left behind.
Gonna look up David in the heat of the day,
While in heaven, I will seek out David and spend some time with him.
Tune up the harp and start to play.
Together, we will make music with the harp, a symbol of beauty and peace.
Right through heaven,
Our music will echo throughout the land of the divine.
Sing and shout,
We will raise our voices in song and rejoice together.
Nobody there to turn us out.
In this realm, there is no one who can prevent us from enjoying our time together.
Contributed by Brooklyn S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.