Changing his name from Jeremy Thomas McRae Blackall to just Tom McRae - he released his first, self-titled album in 2001, during the height of the new acoustic movement, and gained Mercury Music Prize nomination. His second album, Just Like Blood, was released in February of 2003, which was produced by Ben Hillier, responsible for Elbow’s Asleep In The Back, with which McRae’s album shares a similar melancholy but uplifting atmosphere. In 2004, McRae moved to California where he wrote and recorded his next album, All Maps Welcome, which was released in May 2005. His fourth album, King of Cards was released on 14th May 2007. A talented live performer, he supported Tori Amos on the UK leg of her Original Sinsuality tour, Paul Weller, Dido, World Party, The Waterboys among others. He is recognised as an intelligent and talented performer, influenced by, among others, Nick Drake, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Jeff Buckley.
Hummingbird Song
Tom McRae Lyrics
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Count the cracks in the ground
And we sleep through days of flood and fire
At night we fly above this town
Now we're coming down
Now we're coming down
We're coming down
At night I dream of the hummingbird
Feel the beatings of its wings
And if you only had one choice my dear
Would you fly or would you sing
Now we're coming down
Now we're coming down
We're coming down
And in a year of new beginnings dear
How do we write the end?
Here she comes
Here she comes
The hummingbird
The hummingbird
The hummingbird
The song Hummingbird Song by Tom McRae is a reflection of the current state of the world, and the struggles humanity is facing. The lyrics paint a bleak picture; people are living in a harsh environment, counting the cracks in the ground under the harsh sun, and enduring days of flood and fire. However, at night they dream of the hummingbird, a symbol of beauty and hope. In spite of the harshness of their surroundings, the people in the song are able to fly above it, to rise above their circumstances.
The hummingbird is a recurring theme in the song, and its presence is a reminder of the beauty that still exists in the world. The hummingbird is known for its delicate and intricate movements, symbolizing a sense of lightness and grace in a world that is often heavy and harsh. The lyrics seem to pose a question to the listener: would you rather fly like the hummingbird or sing like it? It's a choice between action and reflection, between doing and being.
Line by Line Meaning
Sunlight beats down hard here
The intense sunlight is glaringly present and harsh in this place
Count the cracks in the ground
There are so many cracks on the ground that it is hard not to notice them and they are worth taking a count of
And we sleep through days of flood and fire
We are oblivious to danger even when it is happening all around us
At night we fly above this town
In the darkness we have freedom to fly and dream, leaving behind our current surroundings
Now we're coming down
The dream state is ending and reality is resuming
Now we're coming down
The reality is setting in even more and we are being pulled back to our usual state
We're coming down
We are descending from our flight and re-entering our waking life
At night I dream of the hummingbird
The singer has a recurring dream of a hummingbird, signifying freedom and movement
Feel the beatings of its wings
The feeling of freedom is so palpable, it can be physically felt
And if you only had one choice my dear
If there was only one option available to you
Would you fly or would you sing
Would you choose freedom or would you choose expression
And in a year of new beginnings dear
This is a time for starting over and making changes
How do we write the end?
How will we ensure that the new beginning reaches a satisfying conclusion?
Here she comes
The hummingbird is approaching
Here she comes
The hummingbird is almost here
The hummingbird
Symbolizing freedom, vitality and joy, bringing a new sense of hope for the future
The hummingbird
A gleeful reminder of the uplifting power of the natural world
The hummingbird
Nature's own source of inspiration, radiating its life-affirming energy
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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