Flying
The Peter Moon Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And purple strands
Woven like the many days
And countless ways
We've held our hands
Here we are,
Standing at an airport gate
All those wishes on a star
Will have to wait
Going, like an ebb tide flowing
Like a tradewind blowing
Soon you will be
Far across the sea
Flying, soon you will be flying
Like a teardrop drying
Leaving just a memory
Misty eyes
Looking many miles away
No time left to analyze
Apologize, No more to say
Stay a while
Linger just a minute more
Let me see that winning style
That little smile, You always wore
Going, like an ebb tide flowing
Like a tradewind blowing
Soon you will be
Far across the sea
Flying, soon you will be flying
Like a teardrop drying
Leaving just a memory
Flying, soon you will be flying
Like a teardrop drying
Leaving just a memory
Oohhhhhh
The Peter Moon Band's song "Flying" is a poignant and emotional tribute to the bittersweet feeling of saying goodbye to a loved one who is embarking on a journey far away. The lyrics are full of vivid imagery, capturing the beauty of the Hawaiian landscape and its traditional flower leis, and the sadness that comes in saying farewell.
The first stanza sets the scene at an airport gate, with flower leis of yellow, white, and purple strands woven together symbolizing the many days and countless ways the couple has held hands. The second stanza expresses the feeling of watching a loved one depart, like an ebb tide flowing out to sea, soon to be far across the ocean. The third stanza speaks of misty eyes and a sense of regret that there is no more time to analyze or apologize, only the wish to linger for one more moment and see that winning smile that was always present before.
The chorus repeats the theme of flying, with the loved one soon to be flying like a teardrop drying, leaving only memories behind. The song's overall tone is wistful and gentle, evoking a feeling of tender loss that will resonate with anyone who has had to say goodbye to someone they care about.
Line by Line Meaning
Flower leis, yellow, white
Flower garlands in different colors representing the days and unique ways we've spent together
And purple strands
Added purple color threads that emphasize the bond we form together
Woven like the many days
Symbolizing the great times that are strung together to create wonderful moments
And countless ways
Different ways we explore each other and create unforgettable experiences
We've held our hands
This represents the bond and closeness we share with each other
Here we are,
At the airport, ready to depart on different paths
Standing at an airport gate
Waiting for the respective flights at the gate
All those wishes on a star
These are the unfulfilled hopes and aspirations for our future together
That missed so far
The missed opportunities in our time spent together
Will have to wait
These hopes have remained only as unfulfilled dreams
Going, like an ebb tide flowing
The departure is compared to the ebb tide flowing, an inevitable natural occurrence
Like a tradewind blowing
The metaphor for the wind blowing highlights the competing tensions pushing us apart
Soon you will be
Refers to the separation that will soon occur
Far across the sea
The long distance that separates us as individuals
Flying, soon you will be flying
The anticipation and excitement of the upcoming flight
Like a teardrop drying
The tears dry up with time and life continues despite the initial disruption and sadness
Leaving just a memory
Our moments shared are reduced to memories that will last forever
Misty eyes
The sadness and tears one feels as they leave a loved one behind
Looking many miles away
The distance between us - both physically and emotionally
No time left to analyze
Time is so short, and no longer there to analyze or solve the inadequacies of our relationship
Apologize, No more to say
There is no apology left to make, and no more to say, as our time together ends
Stay a while
Requesting for a brief period of time to reminisce on our moments together
Linger just a minute more
Asking for more time to savor what little is left before the departure
Let me see that winning style
To witness the beauty and grace of your character
That little smile, You always wore
To see your familiar smile and feel the warmth of your embrace before we part
Oohhhhhh
Expressing sadness, nostalgia, and regret for what is being left behind
Contributed by Elliot J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@derekoliver310
I spent ten years in Hawaii as a former Kamaina one of the many lessons of Hawaii and its powerful marks it puts upon your soul is that when my friends left Hawaii to return to the mainland.. We would sing Aloha Oye to each and everyone of them as the left. It didnt take me long to see that I never saw or heard these wonderful people again and Aloha Oye became something when I heard it The Hawaiian words I didnt understand Became Clear to my Soul. Within the first three words of two songs this song & Aloha Oye..(on the plane or where ever i am.. I cant stop the tears and longing of Hawaii and my 2 beautiful Happa children every time I hear these 2 songs Ive heard these songs in rooms filled with people and I have to leave the room because I didnt want anyone to see the My Pain. There is no other 2 Songs in 62 years that start to play & The Loss of the most special people and place ive ever known manifest itself in my Heart and Soul.. Im so lucky that I saw the Peter Moon Band at the Blaisdale Arena. Not any music touches me like this. Because "Flying" takes on a new meaning when you live in Hawaii.. these loves and friends well They didnt ever come back.. It is powerful to me. Thank you for putting this song up. Aloha
@derekoliver310
PS To The Hawaiian People (My aunties and Uncles) and the All of The Rightful Owners of The Kingdom of Hawaii, You are The Kindest Warmest & Open People & most of All You Were Kind to Me You Take Me A Haole To Your Hawaiian Homeland Houses and We'd play guitar ride Horses & teach me Hawaiian Culture & even Taught me Many Hawaiian Words and they gave Me All they had.. You could have resented me Because I Was A Hoale and us Haole's well We did Destroy its Languages Culture Heritages all taken by Force & Gun Point & We Haole's & We Gave Them Nothing in Return. I call that Receiving stolen Property and Selling Stolen Goods For Money. May all of you receive a Hawaii Homeland Home !!!! & So to the Indians who live here all of the Indians& Hawaiians both robed of All They had it was done by terrible and greedy men! but still Yet You took me my Family in & I have many Hawaiian friends that took me to their Hawaii Homeland HOUSES AND WERE KIND TO ME IN EVERY WAY even though i was Haole I never saw Nothing but Kindness Compassion the Aloha Spirit to me Oh and Awesome Food to me, my kids and Wife. Thank You because you offered me All that you had & I Have Will Always Be Filled with Love Respect for the Hawaiian People & Their Great Sorrow Loss & Mistreatment since they Day they were Robbed and most all the loss of the Kingdom of Hawaii & Your Culture Language and even your Race is being wipped out, still yet. May God Bless the wonderful Hawaiian People & May God Help You with this Great Injustice and Humiliation & with its Struggle that will never end!. Very Few White Men Can See & Admit to Their Peoples Wrong Doing but I Do Because of the Grace You gave to me when You didnt have too. (I SEE IT & ITS WHY I WROTE THIS) Aloha Derek
@BridgetClary
Well said. I had a similar experience, living, loving and experiencing the true meaning of Aloha. Fell in love with a local boy who passed in 2017. I recently returned to Hawaii for 3 months and it immediately brought me back to the Banyan Tree Showroom at Hale Koa where I worked. They would sing this song every night as part of the show. I wish I could thank him for showing me the beauty of the islands and the local ways. We lost touch years ago but I am now grieving him in ways I didn't know possible. Thank you Ronnie McIntosh for showing this haole from the mainland the true meaning g of Aloha. I think you would be proud of how I turned out.
@garicpahinui9398
I miss you so much, Grandpa.♥️
@ruthpahinui7836
Awww so sweet babe, ❤️😢❤️ Gramma
@punagurl8
Beautifully sung by Martin Pahinui - the youngest of Gabby’s talented sons. RIP Martin, Cyril, Bla & Gabby. A special remembrance of Peter Moon, who was absolutely brilliant in his choices of musicians to join his band. I’ll always remember Peter, Cyril, Martin & Bobby playing at the Top Hat Bar in Wahiawa. I really miss those days and will treasure them forever. ❤️
@moondriver232
I miss them every day....
@_bohm_
❤ Legends!!💯🔥
@warren583
@punagurl8, I am jealous of you. I never got the chance to see Peter in any of his band iterations. When you think of the long list of vocalists he had, his was clearly the band to be in. The Cazimero’s, the Pahinui’s, Palani Vaughn, Bobby Hall, Randy Lorenzo, Steve Wofford, all fantastic vocalists capable of communicating the gut-wrenchingly emotional songs Peter chose to play. His ukulele playing opened my eyes to what a “rhythm instrument” can and should do.
@travisgrant5608
This is one of my most favorite Peter Moon songs. After living in Hawaii for many years ... this brings back so many memories of the day I had to leave. My heart broke with a deafening sound on that day.