Fly
The Tragically Hip Lyrics


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Seventy days to cross the ocean Seventy nights where no one's gonna hear me fall Freddie Mercury, "I've sometimes wished I'd never been born at all."

I Remain unphotographed yea. I don't exaggerate my intelligence.I might turn a broom into a tree but I'll never be one of them.
I fly, cause there's no why in getting beaten up by a guy who cries before he fights.

I don't want em to see me like this. The way they like to kick people when they're down you said, "Please stop worrying about this they stop kicking once you're down."
There's Mistaken Point, Newfoundland. There's Moonbeam, Ontari-ari-o. There are places I've never been and always wanted to go.
I fly, cause woe betide a guy who just lives to fight. Fly, Love is to try and die trying.
Fly, yea, that's right
Fly, yea, that's right
Try, love is to try and die trying.

Coastline rising out of the ocean. Coastline rises like a pair of glowing thighs. There's something down deep inside me says, "Where ya been all my life."




Fly, turn your back, get your face in the sky, Fly, love is to try and die trying.
Try, left and right, across your mind, Try, love is to try and die trying.

Overall Meaning

The song "Fly" by The Tragically Hip conveys the urge to escape one's problems and face them from a distance. The opening line, "Seventy days to cross the ocean, seventy nights where no one's gonna hear me fall," suggests a desire to run away from one's troubles and find solitude. The reference to Freddie Mercury's lyric from "Bohemian Rhapsody" paints a picture of a person who is struggling with their existence and yearns to be free from hardship. The lyrics express a sense of frustration with society's tendency to undervalue intellect and creativity while glorifying violence and aggression. The singer refuses to become one of the mindless masses, and instead chooses to rise above the fray and "fly."


The chorus of the song emphasizes the idea of trying, even if it means failing. "Fly, love is to try and die trying" suggests that love is not just about succeeding, but about making the effort to achieve it. The lyrics contain references to various locations like Mistaken Point, Newfoundland and Moonbeam, Ontario, implying a desire for exploration and discovery. The final line, "There's something down deep inside me says, 'Where ya been all my life,'" suggests a newfound self-awareness and understanding of one's place in the world.


Overall, "Fly" is a song about the transformative power of self-discovery and the desire to escape society's constraints. It is a rallying cry for those who refuse to conform and instead choose to blaze their own path.


Line by Line Meaning

Seventy days to cross the ocean
It took me a long time to get here, to this place where I am now.


Seventy nights where no one's gonna hear me fall
During those long nights, I was alone and struggling, but I wasn't going to give up.


Freddie Mercury, "I've sometimes wished I'd never been born at all."
Sometimes I feel like life is unbearable, but I remember others have felt the same way.


I Remain unphotographed yea.
I don't seek attention, my struggles and experiences are my own and I don't need to share them.


I don't exaggerate my intelligence.
I am humble and I don't pretend to be something I'm not.


I might turn a broom into a tree but I'll never be one of them.
I am unique and I don't fit in with the crowd, but that's okay.


I fly, cause there's no why in getting beaten up by a guy who cries before he fights.
I choose to rise above negativity and conflict, I won't let someone else's insecurity drag me down.


I don't want em to see me like this.
I don't want to be vulnerable in front of others, I don't trust them to support me when I'm down.


The way they like to kick people when they're down you said, "Please stop worrying about this they stop kicking once you're down."
I am afraid of being hurt by others, but I remind myself that eventually they will move on and the pain will lessen.


There's Mistaken Point, Newfoundland. There's Moonbeam, Ontari-ari-o. There are places I've never been and always wanted to go.
There is so much out there to explore and experience, and I long for the opportunity to see it all.


I fly, cause woe betide a guy who just lives to fight.
I don't want to waste my life fighting others, I want to rise above conflict.


Fly, Love is to try and die trying.
I know that love and life are risky and uncertain, but it's worth trying anyway.


Fly, yea, that's right
I am confident in my choices and my path forward.


Try, love is to try and die trying.
I know that trying and failing is a possibility, but it's worth the risk to experience love and life fully.


Coastline rising out of the ocean.
As I look out at the vast ocean, I am reminded of the endless possibilities that exist in this world.


Coastline rises like a pair of glowing thighs.
The beauty and majesty of the natural world inspires me and fills me with awe.


There's something down deep inside me says, "Where ya been all my life."
I feel like I've been searching for something my whole life, and I'm getting closer to finding it.


Fly, turn your back, get your face in the sky, Fly, love is to try and die trying.
I am moving forward with confidence and courage, knowing that love and life are worth the risk.


Try, left and right, across your mind, Try, love is to try and die trying.
I am considering all my options and possibilities, knowing that trying and failing is part of the journey.




Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: GORDON SINCLAIR, PAUL LANGLOIS, JOHNNY FAY, GORDON DOWNIE, ROBERT BAKER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@Kieran84ire

Lyrics:

Seventy days to cross the ocean
Seventy nights where no one's going to hear me fall
Freddie Mercury, i've sometimes wished
I'd never been born at all
That's right

I remain unphotographed, yeah
I don't exaggerate my intelligence
I might turn a broom into a tree
But I'll never be one of them
That's right

I fly
'Cause there's no why in getting beaten up by
A guy
Who cries before he fights

I don't want them to see me like this
The way they like to kick people when they're down
You said, "Please stop worrying about this
They stop kicking once you're down"
That's right

There's Mistaken Point, Newfoundland
There's Moonbeam Ontari-ari-o
There are places I've never been
And always wanted to go
That's right

Fly
'Cause woe betide a guy who just lives to fight
Fly
Love is to try die trying

Fly, yeah, that's right
Fly, yeah, that's right
Try, love is to try die trying

Coastline rising out of the ocean
Coastline rises like a pair of glowing thighs
There's something down deep inside me
Says where you been all my life

Fly, turn your back, get your face in the sky
Fly, love is to try die trying
Try, left and right, across your mind
Try, love is to try and die trying



All comments from YouTube:

@JustinmacD

This was actually a phenominal album. Didn't know what to think of it at first, but it really grew on me. Awesome song.

@peterdaigle4772

When I miss Gord, I play the newer stuff.
When I miss my mum, I play the classic hip.
Two deaths I've had issues over

@longliverocknroll5

Such an incredibly quirky song. Love it.

@Emmibolt

This is the best song on the album! ^____^ im a BIG hip fan!

@Kieran84ire

Lyrics:

Seventy days to cross the ocean
Seventy nights where no one's going to hear me fall
Freddie Mercury, i've sometimes wished
I'd never been born at all
That's right

I remain unphotographed, yeah
I don't exaggerate my intelligence
I might turn a broom into a tree
But I'll never be one of them
That's right

I fly
'Cause there's no why in getting beaten up by
A guy
Who cries before he fights

I don't want them to see me like this
The way they like to kick people when they're down
You said, "Please stop worrying about this
They stop kicking once you're down"
That's right

There's Mistaken Point, Newfoundland
There's Moonbeam Ontari-ari-o
There are places I've never been
And always wanted to go
That's right

Fly
'Cause woe betide a guy who just lives to fight
Fly
Love is to try die trying

Fly, yeah, that's right
Fly, yeah, that's right
Try, love is to try die trying

Coastline rising out of the ocean
Coastline rises like a pair of glowing thighs
There's something down deep inside me
Says where you been all my life

Fly, turn your back, get your face in the sky
Fly, love is to try die trying
Try, left and right, across your mind
Try, love is to try and die trying

@royglenn2487

That’s right.

@colins7771

Amazing song like every Hip tune

@aladdinsane7882

Gord is soaring with the angels.
That's right.

@gavinfernandez6339

Fly high Gord

@MrDietz7

indeed

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