Magic

Ben Folds Five

From the back of your big brown eyes
I knew you'd be gone as soon as you could
And I hoped you would
We could see that you weren't yourself
And the lines on your face did tell
It's just as well
You'd never be yourself again

Saw you last night
Dance by the light of the moon
Stars in your eyes
Free from the life that you knew

You're the magic that holds the sky up from the ground
You're the breath that blows these cool winds 'round
Trading places with an angel now
Saw you last night
Dance by the light of the moon
Stars in your eyes
Free from the life that you knew
Saw you last night
Stars in your eyes
Smiled in my room


Lyrics submitted by kevin, edited by levdavid

Magic Lyrics as written by Darren Jessee

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Magic song meanings
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54 Comments

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  • +3
    My Interpretation
    I love this song. It gives me goosebumps and a healthy healing cry over my mom who passed July 29 2012 from Alzheimer's...... I listen to it every year on the anniversary of her death. She's my angel . Thank Bennie❤️
    Barbiembody3@gmail.comon July 26, 2017   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    This song was actually written by Darren Jessee (the bass guitarist, I do believe). And it's supposedly a "love song to someone who has died." That's what Todd Lowry says anyway, in the introduction to the song in the BF5 music book/score.
    anna118kon April 25, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    does anyone else get the kind of hint of Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl" during all of those "Sha la la's"? and then the first verse "from the back of your big brown eyes"? I don't know; it just sounded kind of similar to me.
    JennyMayKayon May 20, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    Well, i never thought it was a song about suicide. Whenever i hear this song i think of someone sitting in a chair in the hospital saying this to someone they love who's dying. He can see that the person is fading, and he's glad , cuz he know that he/she will never be the same again. But at the same time he's remembering all the times that person was happy, before they got sick. Stars in your eyes, free from the life that you knew It's a sad yet very beautiful song.
    J. Chironon June 07, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    This song is sorrowfully (is that a word?) beautiful.. The music is absolutely gorgeous. I've had it on repeat all day yesterday and today. It doesn't seem like another typical BF5 song though.. It's got tambourines and cello and an organ.. hmmm
    anna118kon April 05, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    this is the cutest song i cry every time i hear it because in a sence its really sad
    Biggeston April 12, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    i think it's about suicide, or at least that's what was drilled into my head, when i first heard the song, i thought it was about this all time perfect girl (thus the angel reference) rejecting a boy, and he knew it was coming and it just hurt, ouch! i like the BFF with cello and stuff, it's pretty, there was that kind of music in WEAEA in evaporated and stuff..
    commonmaryon April 25, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    i think this song is about a girl he knew who committed suicide, which came as a surprise because she always seemed to make herself happy, but it became too much for her to bear
    MnOvrboard182on May 09, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I love this song. Almost every time I make a tape for myself or anyone else, it goes on it. I always try to evoke feelings through mix tapes and this one can often sum up exactly how I feel. There does seem to be a hint of Van Morrison in there somewhere. Maybe that's why I came to be such a big Van fan over the last couple of years.
    hang on to a dreamon May 27, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Lol i'unno.. in a simpler way i think its about losing a loved one. Then again, i'm horrible at analyzing lyrics.. squish.
    o Peanut oon May 30, 2002   Link

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