sold a penny to the railroad
nothing gained and nothing lost
kept it underneath the pillow
and sent it out to you for your thoughts
will you hold it close to your heart
or will you lose it the same day
will you throw it in the well
to gently wish me away
do you really want me here
do you really want me to stay
do you really want me gone
do you really want to wish me away
the television glow will keep you
safe and warm when you're alone
and you won't be frightened by
ghosts of birds that fly around the room
and terrorize you flying
im wide awake now
you're sound asleep now
and these valiums are finally kicking in
i can feel it under my skin
i can feel your breath on my breath
i can feel your heart on my arm
i can see the glow in the room
i can see the hummingbird fly away
now i can feel your weight in my arms
i can feel this weight on my heart
do you really want me to stay
do you really want me to go away
im wide awake now
you're sound asleep now


Lyrics submitted by EroticLibrary

The Ghost Of A Dead Hummingbird Flying Around The Room song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

11 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +1
    General Comment

    widexeyes,

    I registered just for this comment... I know the feeling that you're talking about... and I still feel it too, even still now, after all these years...

    notimefornameon January 26, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    11 years later... I miss you. x

    widexeyeson August 02, 2015   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Reminds me of someone amazing. "Now i can feel the weight in my arms, i can feel this weight on my heart", i love that part, totally reminds me of what i'm feeling with this person at the moment. Makes me just want to reach out and give them the biggest hug.

    widexeyeson April 16, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Heh, I still feel that.

    widexeyeson January 13, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    still?

    Roundaboutxon July 20, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Even still now. x

    widexeyeson October 10, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i always used to skip this song but recently i sat down and actually listened to it and i'm so glad. one of my favorites now.

    sidelineson March 13, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    notimeforname, Your comment made me smile. It's nice to know someone's feeling the same way as me. Nearly 4 years on and I still feel it, maybe now more than ever. x

    widexeyeson March 19, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Me too, widexeyes. This is one of my favourite tracks on You Should Be at Home Here

    inkaon May 30, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    5 years, and nothing ever changes. x

    widexeyeson May 20, 2009   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
In regards to the meaning of this song: Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.” That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Album art
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Album art
Magical
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Album art
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Album art
Page
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.