Daniel
Tortoise & Bonnie \"Prince\" Billy Lyrics

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Daniel is travelling tonight on a plane
I can see the red tail lights heading for spain
Oh and I can see daniel waving goodbye
God it looks like daniel, must be the clouds in my eyes

They say spain is pretty though Ive never been
Well daniel says its the best place that hes ever seen
Oh and he should know, hes been there enough

Lord I miss daniel, oh I miss him so much

Daniel my brother you are older than me
Do you still feel the pain of the scars that wont heal
Your eyes have died but you see more than i
Daniel youre a star in the face of the sky

Daniel is travelling tonight on a plane
I can see the red tail lights heading for spain
Oh and I can see daniel waving goodbye

God it looks like daniel, must be the clouds in my eyes
Oh God it looks like daniel, must be the clouds in my eyes

Overall Meaning

The song "Daniel" is a poignant tribute to a brother or a friend who is leaving for Spain. The singer can see the red tail lights of the airplane headed for Spain, and he sees Daniel waving goodbye. He is convinced that the clouds in his eyes make Daniel appear different in his last glimpse. The singer has never been to Spain, but Daniel has been there many times, apparently loving it. The repeated phrase of "God it looks like Daniel" indicates that the singer is struggling to come to terms with Daniel's departure and will miss him dearly.

The reference to scars that won't heal in the song adds a layer of complexity to the narrative. This phrase suggests that Daniel has been through some significant life experiences, a theme common to many of Bonnie "Prince" Billy's songs. This idea of personal struggles and conquering challenges is further reinforced when the singer proclaims Daniel is a star in the face of the sky.

The feelings of longing and nostalgia are evident throughout the song. The repetition of "Oh God, I miss Daniel" at the close of the song drives home this point. This song is not only a tribute to Daniel but also to the powerful emotions of love and loss that we all experience at some point in our lives.

Line by Line Meaning

Daniel is travelling tonight on a plane
Daniel is flying tonight on an airplane.

I can see the red tail lights heading for spain
I can see the plane's red lights as it flies toward Spain.

Oh and I can see daniel waving goodbye
I can see Daniel saying goodbye as he flies away.

God it looks like daniel, must be the clouds in my eyes
I see someone who looks like Daniel, but it's probably just an illusion caused by the clouds.

They say spain is pretty though Ive never been
Although I haven't been to Spain, people say it's beautiful.

Well daniel says its the best place that hes ever seen
According to Daniel, Spain is the best place he's ever been.

Oh and he should know, hes been there enough
Daniel has been to Spain many times and knows it well.

Lord I miss daniel, oh I miss him so much
I really miss Daniel and wish he were here with me.

Daniel my brother you are older than me
Daniel is my older brother.

Do you still feel the pain of the scars that wont heal
Do you still feel the emotional pain of past hurts?

Your eyes have died but you see more than i
Although you seem jaded, you still see things more deeply than I do.

Daniel youre a star in the face of the sky
You are a shining light in the vast expanse of the universe.

Oh God it looks like daniel, must be the clouds in my eyes
Once again, I see someone who looks like Daniel, but it's probably an illusion caused by the clouds - this refrain emphasizes the feeling of longing for Daniel that runs through the song.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: VLADIMIR CORT, ELTON JOHN, BERNIE TAUPIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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