Hummingbird

I saw that no one had posted this song yet, so I definitely felt the obligation to share such an amazing work with fellow John intellects. I've only heard this live, and I pray that he puts it on his next album because it is truly phenomenal. Its melancholy hopefulness reminds me of a friendship that I am disentangling myself from right now, and this song is how I hope that my friend feels about me. I put the lyrics up as an away message, hoping he'll get the point.

"Just because I said I didn't want her Doesn't mean I wanted her to go In fact I quite depended on her But then I didn't even think that she knows."

This hits home... he never told me until it was too late, and now I'm picking up and leaving. Leave it to John to write a song for every situation of my life. I hope everyone enjoys this as much as I do... I hope he plays it when I go see him in August.

"Just because I said I didn't want her Doesn't mean I wanted her to go In fact I quite depended on her But then I didn't even think that she knows"

i understand this part but the hummingbird parts are lost on me... any ideas? i think the flute in this song is kind of annoying perhaps because it sounds like a bird that wakes me up every saturday as i try desperately to sleep in. so yeah hate to admitt it but this is not one of my favorites of jcm's...maybe if someone had some insight into the meaning i might like it more though! help!

I think the correct lyrics are: "Once upon almost every mornin I woke up to find her flying in Hummingbird was making blurs of Blue and rings of purple in the air

All the while I was trying to keep her there Not man enough to leave Man enough to always care"

I think hummingbirds are symbolic of messengers and beauty. 'Its long tongue lets it bypass the often tough and bitter outer layer to find the hidden treasures underneath.' I think the meaning of this song is that there was a girl that brought beauty into his life (first lines) and he selfishly tried to hold onto her even when he wasn't feeling her that much. And only after she left did he truly realize what he lost.

"Just because I said I didn't want her Doesn't mean I wanted her to go"...... I love that... I think that there was a woman who brought joy to his life, but he was feeling himself too much and didn't let her know that he loved her... and he would tell all of his boys that he didnt really want her, or that she was just 'whatever' to him... but in reality she meant a lot. And now, when she's already gone, he doesn't know what to do.. he realizes he should've just told her he needed her/loved her.. but its too late.... even tho he 'will always care'

Once upon almost every morning I woke up to find her flying there Hummingbird was making blurs of Blue and rings of purple in the air

all the while I was trying to keep her there Now I'm man enough to leave Man enough to always care

Hummingbird Hummingbird That's all I heard That's my hummingbird

Just because I said I didn't want her Doesn't mean I want her to go In fact I quite depended on her But that i didnt want her to know

Now that she's gone i know all the while i was trying to keep her there Now I'm man enough to lead Man enough to always care

Hummingbird Hummingbird That song I heard That's my hummingbird

Hummingbird Hummingbird

"in fact i quite depended on her" ... as much as i love johnny, that line almost makes me mad. i guess just because it sounds like he's been taking her for granted.. maybe even hoping she wouldn't notice. well... i guess she did.

of course, i can't stay mad at johnny. haha. no way. he's my hero.

I love this song.

"Once upon almost every mornin I woke up to find her flying in Hummingbird was making blurs of Blue and rings of purple in the air"

This is saying she's a woman that's "flying" in and out of his life- flittering around like a hummingbird.

"All the while I was trying to keep her there Not man enough to leave Man enough to always care"

He doesn't really want to be in a relationship with her, but at the same time, wants to be in her life. Selfish, sure, but realistic- I think we've all been in that sort of situation before.

"Just because I said I didn't want her Doesn't mean I want her to go In fact I quite depended on her But that i didnt want her to know"

Again, he needs her, depends on her, but doesn't want to seem weak by admitting so. Actually, he doesn't want to admit how much he needs her because she's the one who will come and go as she pleases- it's easier for him to remain aloof at the chance of getting hurt. Like I mentioned earlier, the hummingbird metaphor is used to describe someone free who comes and goes as they pleases; this woman is a hummingbird to him.

That's my take on it all, at least :)

Just to help shed some light on the Hummingbird idea is that the Hummingbird represents a woman. These types of birds and fast, graceful, but hard to keep around. They are extremely timid, and if you don't give them enough space, they won't come around. So in a way, when John says, "Just because I said I didn't want her Doesn't mean I wanted her to go In fact I quite depended on her But then I didn't even think that she knows"

He doesn't want her to get scared because he feels too much too soon. Thats what I get from the entire song. This is one of my new favorites, but the list changes all the time.

I think the Hummingbird methaphor is about fear of commitment. The Hummingbird stays hovering in one spot or it flys backward, but i does not go forward. So it is like he is saying he wants to stay right here where they are and not move things forward or go to the next level. This line really says it all; Just because I said I didn't want her Doesn't mean I want her to go In fact I quite depended on her But that i didnt want her to know He did not want her to go but he did not want her in the forever sense.

This is the best jm song ever!