Eric Woolfson wrote most of the music and lyrics while Alan Parsons overviewed the production process. Prior to starting his Project, Parsons worked as an engineer with names such as the Beatles (Abbey Road, the Get Back roofttop concert) and Pink Floyd (Dark Side of the Moon, Atom Heart Mother).
Since the 1990s Alan Parsons has been performing live shows, touring all over the world, but without Eric Woolfson.
Closer To Heaven
The Alan Parsons Project Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Silently calling no one is there
Oh, bird that is flying so high and so free
Closer to heaven than you and me
Voices of strangers keep me from sleep
Guardian angels watch over the deep
A ship that is sailing way out to the sea
Visions of rain fall out of blue skies
Rivers of tears fall out of dry eyes
Answer my question tell me no lies
Is this the real world or a fool's paradise?
Wind that is blowing so wild and so free
Closer to heaven than you and me
Closer to heaven longing to be
Closer to heaven than you and me
Visions of rain fall out of blue skies
Rivers of tears fall out of dry eyes
Answer my question tell me no lies
Is this the real world or a fool's paradise?
Love that lies sleeping wakes in the night
Secrets for keeping that won't see the light
I look to the future and I hope it will be
Closer to heaven than you and me
Closer to heaven longing to be
Closer to heaven than you and me
In the first two lines of the song, the singer is using imagery to describe the feeling of weightlessness and unimportance that they are experiencing. They feel as though they are floating in the air, with nothing grounding them or holding them down. The next few lines show the singer's feeling of isolation, as they are being kept awake by the voices of strangers and can't seem to find any comfort or solace. They refer to "guardian angels," implying that they are looking for some kind of divine protection or guidance.
Next, the singer describes a ship sailing out to sea, further than they could possibly comprehend or reach. They use this imagery to describe their yearning for something greater than themselves, or some kind of ideal they are striving for. The singer also mentions "visions of rain" and "rivers of tears," suggesting that they are feeling overwhelmed and emotional. They then ask a question about the nature of reality and whether or not they are living in a "fool's paradise."
The wind blowing "wild and so free" represents the idea that even though the singer feels trapped and isolated, there is still a sense of adventure and discovery out there. The last few lines repeat the idea of the singer hoping to be "closer to heaven," implying that they are striving for some kind of spiritual or emotional enlightenment.
Overall, the song seems to be about the singer's feeling of being trapped in their own mind or world, and their desire to break free and experience something greater. They use a lot of imagery to convey their emotions and ideas, and the repeated phrase "closer to heaven" serves as a kind of mantra or goal for them.
Line by Line Meaning
Rising and falling lighter than air
Ascending and descending like a feather, weightless and ethereal
Silently calling no one is there
Speaking softly without any answer or listener
Oh, bird that is flying so high and so free
Expressing admiration for a bird soaring effortlessly in the sky
Closer to heaven than you and me
Enjoying greater proximity to paradise than human beings
Voices of strangers keep me from sleep
Unfamiliar sounds disturb my slumber
Guardian angels watch over the deep
Angelic protectors keep a close eye on the abyss
A ship that is sailing way out to the sea
A vessel voyaging to the far reaches of the ocean
Closer to heaven than you and me
Nearer to the divine realm than human beings
Visions of rain fall out of blue skies
Imagining precipitation from cloudless heavens
Rivers of tears fall out of dry eyes
Weeping despite a lack of apparent cause
Answer my question tell me no lies
Requesting truthful responses
Is this the real world or a fool's paradise?
Pondering if reality is genuine or illusory
Wind that is blowing so wild and so free
A tempestuous gust of air unrestricted in its movement
Closer to heaven than you and me
In closer proximity to heaven than humankind
Closer to heaven longing to be
Yearning to attain a state of greater proximity to heaven
Visions of rain fall out of blue skies
Mental images of precipitation from clear skies
Rivers of tears fall out of dry eyes
Crying without an apparent reason
Answer my question tell me no lies
Requesting truthful answers
Is this the real world or a fool's paradise?
Asking whether reality is authentic or illusory
Love that lies sleeping wakes in the night
Previously dormant affection becomes active in the darkness
Secrets for keeping that won't see the light
Concealed information that must not be revealed
I look to the future and I hope it will be
Anticipating and desiring a favorable tomorrow
Closer to heaven than you and me
In closer proximity to the divine realm than human beings
Closer to heaven longing to be
Yearning to be nearer to paradise
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALAN PARSONS, ERIC WOOLFSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@KBAFourthtime
Rising and falling
Lighter than air.
Silently calling,
"Oh, what is there?"
Oh, bird that is flying
So high and so free,
Closer to Heaven
Than you and me.
Voices of strangers
Keep me from sleep.
Guardian angels
Watch over the deep.
A ship that is sailing
Way out to the sea.
Closer to Heaven
Than you and me.
Visions of rain fall out of blue skies.
Rivers of tears flow out of dry eyes.
Answer my question. Tell me no lies.
Is this the real world or a fool's paradise?
Wind that is blowing
So wild and so free,
Closer to Heaven
Than you and me.
Closer to Heaven,
Longing to be
Closer to Heaven
Than you and me.
...
Visions of rain fall out of blue skies.
Rivers of tears flow out of dry eyes.
Answer my question. Tell me no lies.
Is this the real world or a fool's paradise?
Love that lies sleeping
Wakes in the night.
Secrets for keeping
That won't see the light.
I look to the future
And I hope it will be
Closer to Heaven
Than you and me.
Closer to Heaven,
Longing to be
Closer to Heaven
Than you and me.
...
Closer to Heaven
Than you and me.
@anthonyrichardson8625
Been in love with this song since seeing the Miami Vice episode with Lou Diamond Philips.
@seaningram3285
"Red Tape"
@alztino
Me also!!
@olivierjansen694
Best episode
@mcclift9451
Final scene filmed in Dania Beach Florida,fall 87'. Aired a few weeks later
@goldstocktrades
Me too
@JisINSANE3
Miami Vice!
@janosattilalakatos1665
Miami Vice season 3 episode 19.
It was the best part of the Miami vice!
@gcdhvf4896
A really interesting Miami vice episode with lou diamond Phillips and viggo mortensson as younger apprentices yet to learn the ropes in deceit and corruption, even within the police!
@olivierjansen694
I didn't run over... I really really hope Lou heard that man... Really