Mishra, a straight edger and ex-Marxist, often incorporates political concerns in his songs veiled in terms of personal relationships (as in his only hit). After a troubled working relationship with EMI Records, Mishra was dropped from the label in 1997 and since then has gone back to working with indie labels like Parasol Records. His last album, 2000's Peek & Poke, received moderately enthusiastic reviews but sold pitifully compared to his major label work.
In 2005 White Town contributed the song "The PNAC Cabal" to the charity album "Voyces United for UNHCR" (Voyces United for UNHCR (disc 1)).
In October 2006 White Town released a new album, Don't Mention The War on Mishra's own label, Bzangy Records.
Once I Flew
White Town Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And it made my fingertips sing
I was more like a God than a King
Now I can't believe that was true
Once I flew
Though you don't believe me I know
You look where I'm standing now
You can't believe I left the ground.
Look up to the bright blue sky
Can't you feel life passing by
If you could wouldn't you
Try to soar over everything?
All the pain this world can bring
Once I flew now I've lost my wings
Now I'm down here with you
Now I'm down here with you
Once I flew
And the angels were my friends
They would grant me every whim
Now I can't believe that was true
Once I flew
Though it's easy to forget
I don't seem to have managed yet.
And I don't think I ever will
Look up to the bright blue sky
Can't you feel the life passing by?
If you could wouldn't you
Try to soar over everything?
All the pain this world can bring
Once I flew now I've lost my wings
Now I'm down here with you
Now I'm down here with you.
And in my dreams I am happy again
You're in my arms and we're flying
again, Flying away.
The song "Once I Flew" by White Town is a contemplative and nostalgic reflection of the singer's past experience of experiencing the world from an elevated point of view, as if they were a God. The lyrics talk about how the experience of flying made their fingertips sing and how they were closer to being a God than a King. However, now the singer no longer believes that was true, as they have lost their wings and are now down here with the rest of us. The song speaks to the often elusive and fleeting nature of happiness and how we can sometimes feel disconnected from our past experiences.
The chorus of the song compels the listener to look up to the bright blue sky and feel life passing by. It invites us to imagine soaring over everything, including the pain that the world can bring, as the singer once did. However, now they find themselves stuck down here with the rest of us.
The song also has a hopeful undertone, as the singer dreams of being happy again and flying away with someone they love.
Overall, "Once I Flew" is a wistful and introspective look at the nature of happiness, perspective, and human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Once I flew
I used to fly
And it made my fingertips sing
It was an amazing feeling
I was more like a God than a King
I felt powerful, like a god
Now I can't believe that was true
It's hard to believe that it actually happened
Once I flew
I used to fly
Though you don't believe me I know
Even if you don't believe me, I remember
You look where I'm standing now
But now I'm grounded
You can't believe I left the ground.
You can't believe I was able to fly
Look up to the bright blue sky
Look at the sky
Can't you feel life passing by
Can't you feel time is moving forward
If you could wouldn't you
If you had the chance, wouldn't you
Try to soar over everything?
Try to rise above all the problems
All the pain this world can bring
All the suffering in this world
Once I flew now I've lost my wings
I used to fly but not anymore
Now I'm down here with you
Now I'm on the ground with you
Once I flew
I used to fly
And the angels were my friends
It felt like I had angels by my side
They would grant me every whim
They would fulfill all my wishes
Now I can't believe that was true
It's hard to believe that it actually happened
Once I flew
I used to fly
Though it's easy to forget
Even though it's easy to forget
I don't seem to have managed yet.
I still haven't forgotten
And I don't think I ever will
And I don't think I ever will forget
Look up to the bright blue sky
Look at the sky
Can't you feel the life passing by?
Can't you feel time is moving forward?
If you could wouldn't you
If you had the chance, wouldn't you
Try to soar over everything?
Try to rise above all the problems
All the pain this world can bring
All the suffering in this world
Once I flew now I've lost my wings
I used to fly but not anymore
Now I'm down here with you
Now I'm on the ground with you
And in my dreams I am happy again
In my dreams, I find happiness again
You're in my arms and we're flying again, Flying away.
We are flying away in my dreams
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JYOTI MISHRA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@susannadvortsin
This song aged so well. I love this song and album still.
@bignov5173
So much beauty packed into a few short verses. This is just a beautiful song (and album) all around. Keep up the great work dude and keep fighting the good fight!
Solidarity! ✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾
@JyotiMishra
THANK YOU for listening. This song comes from a very bad time but making it set me free of a lot. :-D
@bignov5173
@@JyotiMishrait’s one of my go to songs when I’m in a bad place so thank you for sharing it. It has helped me a lot. ❤
@diogobrito7926
Thank you for sharing.
@stephenvelez9710
26 years later, I listen to this gorgeous, life-changing album constantly ❤️
@JyotiMishra
Thank you, for your very kind comment, Stephen! :-D
@stephenvelez9710
@Jyoti Mishra Thank YOU. Women in Technology has been a life-affecting album for me❤️
@musicablog9572
Good song, I like it at 43 years old, I enjoy it a lot!! I am writing to you from Argentina!
@VARUNJAHSEH
Nice one dude ❤️💥