Toploader’s live career began playing with the likes of Coldplay and Muse in small venues across the UK. They later went on to back the likes of Paul Weller, Robbie Williams and Bon Jovi, becoming the last British band to play the original Wembley stadium. A string of top 20 hits both home and abroad followed, with Toploader quickly rising to become one of the most popular acts in British music. Their debut album, Onka’s Big Moka, sold over 1 million units and remained in the Top 5 of the UK album chart for over six months. Their cover of King Harvest’s song “Dancing in the Moonlight” became a global hit for the band. Their second album ‘Magic Hotel’, reached number 3, beating the number 4 of the debut. The result was over two million album sales to their name.
The band decided to break in 2003 due to the demise of their record label S2. In 2009, after an extended hiatus, they signed a one-album deal with Underdogs Music for their third album, which was released in June 2011.
The band line-up includes four of the five original members: Joseph Washbourn, Dan Hipgrave, Rob Green and Matt Knight.
High Flying Bird
Toploader Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You cannot see him from the earth
He sees as he flies
And knows as he sees
The masses below
There's trouble below
This high flying bird has no sense of time
His brothers have burned
Flown too close to the sun
But higher and higher
This white bird flies
This white bird flies
I feel you in my sleep
When the suns down
And the world sleeps below
You call across endless oceans
I hear you and want to fly too
There's no turning back as blue becomes black
The air becomes thin this flight begins
But the bird can still breathe
Brighter than before
On celestial wing
This bird can now sing
This bird can now sing
I feel you in my sleep
When the suns down
And the world sleeps below
You call across endless oceans
I hear you and want to fly to
In Toploader's song "High Flying Bird", the lyrics describe a bird that flies above the earth, seeing and knowing everything below. It is a reference to the idea of seeing things from a different perspective, and the power that comes with that perspective. The bird is free and unbound by the constraints of the earth, with a "sense of time" that is different from the human experience. It is also noted that the bird's brothers have flown too close to the sun and have burned, perhaps a reference to the dangers of reaching too high or taking risks.
The lyrics then transition to a personal reflection, with the singer feeling a connection to someone they hear calling across "endless oceans" in their sleep. They are inspired by the freedom of the bird and want to fly too. The stanza "there's no turning back as blue becomes black / the air becomes thin this flight begins" creates an image of taking a huge leap, moving beyond the safe and familiar into the unknown. The bird continues to soar, reaching new heights and singing, a metaphor for the power and beauty of the flight.
Overall, the song is about the desire to break free from earthly constraints, to see things from a new perspective, and to take risks to achieve something greater.
Line by Line Meaning
The high flying bird flies above
The bird is soaring high above the earth
You cannot see him from the earth
Because the bird is so high up, it cannot be seen from the ground
He sees as he flies
The bird is seeing the world from a unique perspective as it flies
And knows as he sees
The bird has gained knowledge and understanding through its aerial observations
The masses below
The people and activity happening on the ground far below the bird
There's trouble below
There are problems and issues occurring on the ground
This high flying bird has no sense of time
The bird is not constrained by time in its flight and travels through the skies for long periods
For a thousand years he's climbing the skies
The bird has been flying and climbing for ages
His brothers have burned
Other birds, like the sun too closely and did not survive
Flown too close to the sun
The sun caused the bird's brothers to burn and perish
But higher and higher
This bird continues to climb to even greater heights
This white bird flies
A majestic and pure white bird is making its way through the skies
I feel you in my sleep
The author is dreaming of their connection to another person
When the suns down
At night, when it is dark outside
And the world sleeps below
During this time, everything and everyone is quiet down below
You call across endless oceans
The person the author is dreaming of is reaching out to them from far away
I hear you and want to fly too
The author is inspired to take flight and join the person they are dreaming of
There's no turning back as blue becomes black
As the bird ascends higher into the sky, the color turns from blue to black, and there is no going back
The air becomes thin this flight begins
As the bird climbs to greater heights, the air becomes thinner and its journey becomes more difficult
But the bird can still breathe
Despite the lack of oxygen at such great heights, the bird is still able to breathe and fly
Brighter than before
The bird is shining even brighter than it was previously
On celestial wing
The bird is using its strong wings to soar through the heavens
This bird can now sing
With its newfound freedom and higher elevation, the bird has the ability to sing and make music
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOSEPH WASHBOURN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind