Learn to Fly
Parker McCollum Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴To left of me a striped fence
To me, this does not make sense
What's two when all you need is one
Who's to blame for the empty gun
If all tears fall from the sky
Why do they fall from your eyes
Leave a sparkle that you see in dreams
What's to come when the grass don't turn green
It's runnin' fast
Cannot slow
Sit and wonderin' where I'll go
Driftin head and lazy eyes
Hold me momma as I learn to fly

And if it tastes too good
It could be a lie
You ain't the apple of your momma's eye
Who needs a moon for the light
Flip a switch and we're back to life
Now what's in the air
Who's on the street
Who's the pretty girl glaring at me
Why's the sun shinin' off her hair
Why now do I seem to care

It's runnin' fast
Cannot slow
Sit and wonderin' where I'll go
Driftin head and lazy eyes
Hold me momma as I learn to fly

Now shake a left or take a right
Hope that there's no one left in sight
Do shadows really dance and gleam
They all look pretty damn dark to me
And times the only thing I'd say we are in
While we are fightin' till the bitter end
Cashin' in everything we know
Does dying rich determine where we go

It's runnin' fast
Cannot slow
Sit and wonderin' where I'll go
Driftin head and lazy eyes
Hold me momma as I learn to fly

It's runnin' fast
Cannot slow
Sit and wonderin' where I'll go

Driftin head and lazy eyes
Hold me momma as I learn to fly

Overall Meaning

The song "Learn to Fly" by Parker McCollum seems to talk about a person who is in a state of confusion and uncertainty about certain aspects of life, particularly about where he is heading and what he should do. The first verse mentions a striped fence to his left that does not make sense to him, indicating that he is unsure of what is happening around him. He ponders why we need two tears when one is enough and who is to blame for an empty gun, implying that there may be irrational or unnecessary things happening around him. The line "What's to come when the grass don't turn green" may convey a sense of futility or melancholy, suggesting that the future looks bleak.

The second verse appears to delve into existential questions about truth, identity, purpose, and perception. The lines "if it tastes too good, it could be a lie" and "you ain't the apple of your momma's eye" may suggest that things that look or feel good may not always be true or beneficial. The reference to a moon as a source of light and a switch to turn on the light may represent different ways of viewing the world and the self. The line "Now what's in the air, who's on the street" may testify to the singer's increasing awareness of his surroundings and the people who may or may not affect his life.

The chorus, "It's runnin' fast, cannot slow, Sit and wonderin' where I'll go, Driftin' head and lazy eyes, Hold me momma as I learn to fly," epitomizes the central theme of the song: a struggle to find direction and meaning amidst constant movement and confusion. The singer seems to rely on his mother as a source of comfort, protection, and guidance as he embarks on a journey of self-discovery.

Line by Line Meaning

To left of me a striped fence
I'm surrounded by a striped fence on my left, which seems odd

To me, this does not make sense
I can't figure out why the fence is striped and it's confusing me

What's two when all you need is one
Why have two of something when one is enough?

Who's to blame for the empty gun
No one wants to take responsibility for the gun being empty

If all tears fall from the sky
Why does crying make us feel like we're under a storm cloud?

Why do they fall from your eyes
Why do my tears fall from my eyes specifically?

Leave a sparkle that you see in dreams
Tears might leave a mark behind that could be noticed even in your dreams

What's to come when the grass don't turn green
If nothing seems to be growing or changing, what's the point of anything?

It's runnin' fast
Time feels like it's slipping away quickly

Cannot slow
There's no way to slow down or stop time

Sit and wonderin' where I'll go
Feeling lost and uncertain about what the future holds

Driftin head and lazy eyes
Feeling drowsy and unfocused, maybe from too much thinking

Hold me momma as I learn to fly
Seeking comfort and support from a parental figure as I navigate new experiences

And if it tastes too good
If something seems too perfect or easy, it's probably not

It could be a lie
Things that seem too good to be true usually are

You ain't the apple of your momma's eye
Realizing that not everyone will always be loved unconditionally

Who needs a moon for the light
Why rely on outside sources for our own light and guidance?

Flip a switch and we're back to life
Sometimes all we need to do is change our perspective or mindset to see things differently and feel re-energized

Now what's in the air
What's happening around me that I can't see or may not yet understand?

Who's on the street
Who else is moving through life in their own way and experiencing their own struggles?

Who's the pretty girl glaring at me
Who is this person I've caught the eye of and why are they looking at me that way?

Why's the sun shinin' off her hair
What is it that makes this person stand out to me and seem so radiant?

Why now do I seem to care
Questioning my own sudden interest in this person and what it could mean

Now shake a left or take a right
Faced with a decision and uncertain which direction to take

Hope that there's no one left in sight
Hoping to avoid negative consequences or judgment from others

Do shadows really dance and gleam
Questioning whether the things we see and perceive as real are actually true and valid

They all look pretty damn dark to me
Feeling pessimistic about the current outlook or situation

And times the only thing I'd say we are in
Feeling like we're constantly being controlled by and running out of time

While we are fightin' till the bitter end
Struggling and putting in effort until there's nothing left to give

Cashin' in everything we know
Putting all of our faith and knowledge into something in hopes that it will pay off

Does dying rich determine where we go
Is it worth sacrificing everything for the sake of wealth and success if it doesn't bring true happiness or fulfillment?

Writer(s): Parker Mccollum

Contributed by Anthony N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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