Fly
The Church Lyrics


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Baby smiled like a tiny child
She talks her head off, and the land lies wild
Tossed and turned on a teardrop sea
And all the dark clowns who are following me

And they fly, she pointed up into the sky
And you can't touch them if you try
And they fly

Baby left as she lost her breath
Hastens off to some unknown death




Trapped inside her painted eyes
Takes herself into a new sunrise

Overall Meaning

The Church's song "Fly" is a poetic piece of music that tells the story of two people. The first verse describes a woman with childlike attributes. She is talkative, playful and full of life, which contrasts with the mention of the dark clowns who are following the singer. This contrast points to the idea that there is darkness and negativity in the world that try to diminish the light of those who are innocent and pure.


In the chorus, the woman points to the sky and talks about the clowns flying. This imagery of flying could metaphorically refer to freedom, escape or transcendence from the difficulties in life. The woman acknowledges that the clowns are unreachable despite trying to touch them. This imagery could point to the fact that there will always be elements in life that will be elusive or beyond our control.


The second verse takes a darker tone, as it speaks of a woman who leaves the singer's life in a breathless manner. She heads off towards some unknown death, which leaves the singer feeling trapped inside her painted eyes. Imagery of a new sunrise suggests that some form of transformation or rebirth is happening, but it is unclear who or what it is referring to.


Line by Line Meaning

Baby smiled like a tiny child
She expressed a small, innocent joy


She talks her head off, and the land lies wild
She talks continuously and freely, the surroundings reflecting her carefree attitude


Tossed and turned on a teardrop sea
She is struggling and feeling emotional like she is on a turbulent ocean


And all the dark clowns who are following me
Negative thoughts and emotions are chasing her


And they fly, she pointed up into the sky
She believes the negative thoughts/emotions can fly away or be overcome


And you can't touch them if you try
Negative thoughts and emotions cannot be resolved by simply trying to reach them


And they fly
The negative thoughts and emotions continue to linger


Baby left as she lost her breath
She moved on or departed as she became overwhelmed


Hastens off to some unknown death
She is moving quickly towards an unknown fate


Trapped inside her painted eyes
She feels stuck in her own self-made reality or perception


Takes herself into a new sunrise
She is moving forward and beginning anew




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: FONDA FEINGOLD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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BittersweetSymphony


on You're Still Beautiful

Sometimes I wonder if he is writing about himself

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