Back to Earth
Willie Nelson feat. Melonie Cannon Lyrics


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I guess my heart just settled back to earth
I rode a dream so wild and free for all that dream was worth
True love is both a blessing and a curse
I guess my heart just settled back to earth

I remember what you said that night so long ago
My dream for you had ended and you let me know
So I bounced from sky to sky, tryin' to keep the dream alive
But everything I did just made it worse
I guess my heart just settled back to earth

The songs our love created, I still sing
And every night we'd make the rafters ring
And tonight I'll sing for everything I'm worth
For all the hearts that settle back to earth

The songs our love created, I still sing
And every night we'd make the rafters ring




And tonight I'll sing for everything I'm worth
For all the hearts that settle back to earth

Overall Meaning

In "Back to Earth," Willie Nelson laments the difficulty of moving on from a past love. The song begins by acknowledging that the singer's heart has "settled back to earth." The dream of being with their former lover has ended, and the singer has come back to reality. Despite the pain of heartbreak, the singer recognizes that true love is both a blessing and a curse.


Nelson then reflects on his attempts to keep the dream alive after his lover ended things. He "bounced from sky to sky" in pursuit of the fantasy. But, as he notes, "everything [he] did just made it worse." In the end, the singer must return to the ground, accepting the reality that his love story has ended.


The final verse of "Back to Earth" is optimistic. Nelson sings of the legacy that his love has left behind. While he can no longer be with his former partner, the songs they made together continue to live on. He sings for "all the hearts that settle back to earth," offering comfort to anyone who has suffered the pain of heartbreak.


Line by Line Meaning

I guess my heart just settled back to earth
My heart has returned to reality and stopped chasing unrealistic dreams.


I rode a dream so wild and free for all that dream was worth
I pursued an extravagant dream without abandon, despite its unrealistic nature.


True love is both a blessing and a curse
Love can bring both great joy and deep pain.


I remember what you said that night so long ago
I recall the words you spoke to me on a distant evening.


My dream for you had ended and you let me know
The fantasy I had for you came to an end, and you made it clear to me.


So I bounced from sky to sky, tryin' to keep the dream alive
I leapt between different illusions, attempting to maintain my delusion.


But everything I did just made it worse
My actions only worsened the situation.


The songs our love created, I still sing
I continue to sing the melodies we wrote during our relationship.


And every night we'd make the rafters ring
We used to sing so loudly that it echoed throughout the room.


And tonight I'll sing for everything I'm worth
I'll sing from the depths of my soul tonight.


For all the hearts that settle back to earth
In honor of all of those whose hearts have returned to reality.




Lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: WILLIE NELSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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