One flight down
There's a song on low
And your mind just picked up on the sound
Now you know that you're wrong
Because it drifts like smoke
And it's been there playing all along
Now you know
Now you know

The reeds and brass have been weaving
Leading into a single note

In this place
Where your arms unfold
Here at last I see your ancient face
Now you know
Now you know

The cadence rolls in broken
Plays it over and then goes

One flight down
There's a song on low
And it's been there playing all along
Now you know
Now you know


Lyrics submitted by SiLLyHeAD

One Flight Down Lyrics as written by Jesse Harris

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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One Flight Down song meanings
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16 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    This song is about a man and a woman who have known each other for 20 years and the woman has been in love with him all this time. He had his heart broken once by someone else and he was afraid to take a another chance. He searched all over looking for true love and never found it. It was always there right below him, drifting like smoke. One day he realizes it has been there all along and he finally notices that he has wasted all this time looking for what has always been there for him. Its sad because their youth is gone and their lives have taken different paths. Now you know.

    treena1155on August 11, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    to me this is a song about a place, a bar or blub where someone remebers what they used to be like and they can't deny it any longer and they just realease and be their self.

    lumosnox90on June 08, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    *club

    lumosnox90on June 08, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    a truly melancholy darken bar with the dust heavy in the air song, a tale of waking up and realising certain facts that have been staring you in the face but you have only just realised it after all this time...

    miko168on July 11, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    My interpretation-A person reflects on the past, searching their soul discovering some truth about themselves they have denied, hid, or ignored all along and finds loss and regret.

    jcsdragonon September 24, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    very reflective and meditative of what you used to be and the realization of what you have become

    regardemylasheskgmon June 11, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I can remember the first time i heard this song. It was featured at the end of an episode of Judging Amy, where one of the characters loses her husband to be. His death affected all of the characters in various ways. But her loss was obviously the most important. At the end of the episode she cuts her hair with this song playing in the background.

    To me, this song is about finally realizing what you have in someone; essentially, a song that has always been playing in the background. At first the song is easy to ignore, but eventually the aroma of the music drifts upward until you can't deny it. One can easily run from love, but eventually, the song will catch up with you and you'll be dancing in time to it.

    its_delicateon February 28, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I like that this song is self-contained. I hadn't really payed attention to the words, and it was just hazy, pleasant background music. I look them up and behold - "There's a song on low and your mind just picked up the sound." It describes itself!

    mercyonmeon May 01, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song sounds like maybe norah's narrative on her introduction to jazz.... first memories. a discovery.... or not... who cares.... it makes me wish for a cigarette and a crown and ginger when its dark... and it makes me wish for darkness when its light

    j.enslowon August 24, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I really wish I would have done a cover of this song at the concert, this song is beautiful and suits her voice so well!

    summervolcomstarson October 30, 2005   Link

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