And if she asks you why you can tell her that I told you
That I'm tired of Castles in the Air
I've got a dream I want the world to share in castle walls
Just leave me to despair

Hills of forest green where the mountains touch the sky
A dream come true, I'll live there 'til I die
I'm asking you, to say my last goodbye
The love we knew, ain't worth another try

Save me from all the trouble and the pain
I know I'm weak but I can't face that girl again
Tell her the reasons why I can't remain
Perhaps she'll understand if you tell it to her plain

Oh, but how can words express the feel of sunlight
In the morning in the hills away from city strife
I need a country woman for my wife
I'm city born but I love the country life

For I can not be part of her "Cocktail-Generation Partner's Waltz,"
Devoid of all romance
The music plays and everyone must dance
I'm bowing out, I need a second chance

Save me from all the trouble and the pain
I know I'm weak but I can't face that girl again
Tell her the reasons why I can't remain
Perhaps she'll understand if you tell it to her plain

And if she asks you why you can tell her that I told you
That I'm tired of Castles in the Air
I've got a dream I want the world to share in castle walls
Just leave me to despair


Lyrics submitted by Novartza, edited by bigblueblogger

Castles in the Air Lyrics as written by Don Mclean

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Castles In The Air song meanings
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23 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    My fav line is "But how can words express The feel of sunlight in the morning in the hills, Away from city strife" it just reminds me of me, I love camping, and eveything about nature, even when you run out of toilet paper and you have to use pinecones, and I love when I'm in the mountins and I just sit and watch the sun rise

    Olexon December 20, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I love Don McLean and I’d rather move to the country too but this song makes me a bit mad… why is he having someone else break up with his girlfriend for him? He should grow some courage and do it himself. And it even seems a bit presumptuous that whoever he’s telling this to is going to be willing to take on that responsibility. Just tell her yourself. That part just really annoys me. Sure maybe he can’t take the city life for one more minute but that’s a lame excuse not to tell her himself in my opinion. He could at least give her a phone call. He’s not in middle school, he’s a grown man. It’s a pretty song otherwise, and I hope I get to move out of the city someday.

    MusicLover722on December 26, 2023   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is one of my all time favrite songs! The melody and the lyrics are just magnificently matched. Typical elegance by one our premiere singer song writers.

    BoyBlueon June 12, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    yeah i love this song

    Bulkyoneon July 28, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Favorite Line: "For I Will Not Be Part Of Her Cocktail Generation, Partners Waltz, Devoid Of All Romance, The Music Plays, Everyone Must Dance, I'M Bowing Out, I Need A Second Chance"

    pabloon June 25, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    My favorite line is "away from city strife I need a country woman for my wife I'm city born but I love the country life"

    Avenger101on April 27, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song speaks about Don McLean's disenchantment with high society. The girl he's referring to may be an upper-class socialite with whom he had a relationship, or possibly even describing his dalliances in high society as an affair he had with materialistic, consumerist city life. Either way, he no longer wants for the dream of more. The song reminds me a little of "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald, in which Jay Gatsby seems to be ever in search for the elusive American Dream, where he can finally be accepted into the old money world. However, after Daisy refuses him yet again, he realizes that perhaps his fruitless efforts to fit in are a blessing in disguise, in that he doesn't have to live a life of immorality and superficiality. The lines: "For I will not be part Of her cocktail generation, partners waltz Devoid of all romance the music plays And everyone must dance..." remind me of Gatsby's sparkling parties, as well as the character of Jordan, who epitomizes the philosophy during that cultural paradigm. The end of the novel sees Gatsby's death, as well as the narrator, Nick Carraway, leaving the East and West Eggs. Nick's casual and barely imperceptible relationship with Jordan, coupled with his subsequent departure from the Eggs corresponds with McLean's need take leave of the relationship with the city life and woman. Don McLean is rejecting modern life, in all its mundanity, with its trinkets and conveniences, for the beautiful simplicity of nature and the "country life".

    SvenSchborsteinheimon June 22, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Also, however romantic "castles in the air" may seem, it is unattainable and ultimately, he becomes disillusioned with its impossibility. What was a dream, turns nightmarish, as "castles walls just lead [him] to despair." Instead of trying to obtain the unrealistic fantasy, he recognizes the beauty and romance that had always existed in nature and his very foundations for life. Though "Castles in the Air" may be a dream for most, the narrator instead, ironically, finds "Hills of forest green/Where the mountains touch the sky, a dream come true".

    SvenSchborsteinheimon June 22, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Very intuitive, svenschborsteinheim. I think the thing I like most about this song is that he's getting someone else to break up for him. An interesting way to frame the song. I wonder what the significance of that is? At any rate, it makes me smile for some reason!

    illuminatedon November 07, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love this song

    It is just one of the most beautiful songs ever written

    And so underrated...why is this song not more popular than it is

    Its a shame but at least i know it and love it

    ijs182on June 27, 2008   Link

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