I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
In the calling out to one another
Of the lovers up and down the strand
In the sound of the waves and the cries
Of the seagulls circling the sand
In the fragments of the songs
Carried down the wind from some radio
In the murmuring of the city in the distance
Ominous and low
I hear the sound of the world where we played
And the far too simple beauty
Of the promises we made
If you ever need holding
Call my name, I’ll be there
If you ever need holding
And no holding back, I’ll see you through
Sky blue and black
Where the touch of the lover ends
And the soul of the friend begins
There’s a need to be separate and a need to be one
And a struggle neither wins
Where you gave me the world I was in
And a place I could make a stand
I could never see how you doubted me
When I’d let go of your hand
Yeah, and I was much younger then
And I must have thought that I would know
If things were going to end
And the heavens were rolling
Like a wheel on a track
And our sky was unfolding
And it’ll never fold back
Sky blue and black
And I’d have fought the world for you
If I thought that you wanted me to
Or put aside what was true or untrue
If I’d known that’s what you needed
What you needed me to do
But the moment has passed by me now
To have put away my pride
And just come through for you somehow
If you ever need holding
Call my name, I’ll be there
If you ever need holding
And no holding back, I’ll see you through
You’re the color of the sky
Reflected in each store-front window pane
You’re the whispering and the sighing
Of my tires in the rain
You’re the hidden cost and the thing that’s lost
In everything I do
Yeah and I’ll never stop looking for you
In the sunlight and the shadows
And the faces on the avenue
That’s the way love is
That’s the way love is
That’s the way love is
Sky blue and black
Of the lovers up and down the strand
In the sound of the waves and the cries
Of the seagulls circling the sand
In the fragments of the songs
Carried down the wind from some radio
In the murmuring of the city in the distance
Ominous and low
I hear the sound of the world where we played
And the far too simple beauty
Of the promises we made
If you ever need holding
Call my name, I’ll be there
If you ever need holding
And no holding back, I’ll see you through
Sky blue and black
Where the touch of the lover ends
And the soul of the friend begins
There’s a need to be separate and a need to be one
And a struggle neither wins
Where you gave me the world I was in
And a place I could make a stand
I could never see how you doubted me
When I’d let go of your hand
Yeah, and I was much younger then
And I must have thought that I would know
If things were going to end
And the heavens were rolling
Like a wheel on a track
And our sky was unfolding
And it’ll never fold back
Sky blue and black
And I’d have fought the world for you
If I thought that you wanted me to
Or put aside what was true or untrue
If I’d known that’s what you needed
What you needed me to do
But the moment has passed by me now
To have put away my pride
And just come through for you somehow
If you ever need holding
Call my name, I’ll be there
If you ever need holding
And no holding back, I’ll see you through
You’re the color of the sky
Reflected in each store-front window pane
You’re the whispering and the sighing
Of my tires in the rain
You’re the hidden cost and the thing that’s lost
In everything I do
Yeah and I’ll never stop looking for you
In the sunlight and the shadows
And the faces on the avenue
That’s the way love is
That’s the way love is
That’s the way love is
Sky blue and black
Lyrics submitted by kickin000
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Dreamwalker
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This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Blue
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Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Another Love
Tom Odell
Tom Odell
I think the meaning is pretty clear. This person got really burned in a previous relationship, and because of this is unable to love and show care in his present one, even though he so badly wants to. It's lovely song, and very sad. You can really feel how defeated and frustrated he is with himself.
A stunning, stirring, beautiful song. So many of his songs stop me dead in my tracks, I have to sit down and bathe in their emotion.
And at the same time the Friends scene referred to above was fairly deep and this song was an appropriate song choice and a lovely tip of the hat to those 20-30 something viewers who grew up in homes where Jackson Browne was standard background music.
"It's a dessert topping AND a floor wax"
This is such a beautiful love song. I'm thinking it's about the unconditional love of the man for the woman and how he remembers being with her and regrets what led to the breakup. He says how no matter what he will always be there for her. One of my favorites.
I think for the most part he's singing about being in a relationship where you belong, where you fit in, that makes you feel complete. But as time goes by you change, both of you. And at the end of the day this relationship wasn't meant to be. It was a younger love, more innocent than anything else. and eventually: "Where the touch of the lover ends And the soul of the friend begins"
He didn't really understand her, didn't know when to swallow his pride and what it was that needed fixing. But the memory of that belonging of being complete is something he'll remember and always look for. At least thats what i think.
AND I AGREE WITH hippycoED SOMETHING SO BEAUTIFUL IS NOT TO BE COMPARED WITH ROSS AND RACHEL!!!!
In a live interview (God, I think it was audio...possibly a print interview If Jackson can forget some words on occasion, then the general rule must apply to all, right?) I heard Jackson discussing this song. He had been addressing the fact that people bring their own experience to the narrative.
Of Sky Blue, he commented that he's been told of a couple who used it for their wedding. What he thought was a transparent break-up song used as a wedding anthem kinda amused him, and he noted the irony of writing a song, and then sending it out to the public. At that point it becomes everyone's song, and he has no control over how people understand it's meaning. Which is, after all, the point.
Another thing. I enjoy the harmonic structure of this piece. It is so simple and unfusty, and in turns, lends a purity to the music to underline the resigned gentle voice of the narrative.<br /> I-VI-II-V on the verses and VI-IV-I-V on the refrain. Written originally in C, these days I think he sings it down a whole step or more, but uses the transposer on the keyboard, cuz both B and Bb are a bitch to play in. The key of A is way freundlich, so maybe that one.
I-vi-ii-V and vi-IV-I-V you mean? ;)
I heard Jackson comment on this song. He said it's like when someone dies you never forget them you forget their bad traits you will always love them when they are gone. Died. He says its the same way with a relationship. You each die to each other and go your separate ways but you never forget each other. Jackson said its basically a funeral song for a lost love.
I always thought that it was more about a lost love instead of just a love song.<br /> <br /> of course, with Jackson Browne, no love song is ever just a love song.
@bennie6623 It reminded me of my father... he passed years ago, but...
This is about his wife who committed suicide; he was focused on his career and just wasn’t there.. He regrets it; this what this song is about
great song n i cant beleive no one else has commented on it
One Of The Best Songs I've Heard In A While Incredible... Jackson Browne Captures Something Inside Of Me Whenever He Sings, It's Amazing :-)
and.... its about being there for someone through ... well, Sky Blue and Black.
This is Ross and Rachel's song!
Very beautiful and I think it's about how much two people gave each other an incredible love and happiness. A promise: "If you ever need holding Call my name, I’ll be there..."
Somehow it captures the magic of Ross and Rachel and the extent to which they loved each other and always knew in the end, they would be there for one another no matter what.
I just threw up a little bit.
@Tooneygirl no you didn't. hopeless romantic kid wrote that 10 yrs ago. give me a break. it's like going to the In Your Eyes page and getting mad to see Say Anything brought up. really...