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.
I spilled the ink across the page
Trying to spell your name
So I fold it up and I flick it out
Paper aeroplane
It won't fly the seven seas to you
'Cause it didn't leave my room
But it awaits the hands of someone else
The garbage man
Gotta say mmh, mhm
Gotta say mmh, mhm
So he opens it up and reads it out
To all his friends
Amongst the crowd a heart will break
And a heart will mend
Walks on home tired from work
The letter falls from his hand
He reaches out only to catch the sky
It's gone with the wind
Gotta say mmh, mhm
Gotta say mmh, mhm
Go
Said I spilled the ink across the land
Trying to spell your name
Up and down there it goes
Paper aeroplane
It hasn't flown the seven seas to you
But it's on its way
It goes through the hands
Then to someone else
To find you girl
Gotta say mmh, mhm
Gotta say mmh, mhm
Gotta say mmh
Trying to spell your name
So I fold it up and I flick it out
Paper aeroplane
It won't fly the seven seas to you
'Cause it didn't leave my room
But it awaits the hands of someone else
The garbage man
Gotta say mmh, mhm
Gotta say mmh, mhm
So he opens it up and reads it out
To all his friends
Amongst the crowd a heart will break
And a heart will mend
Walks on home tired from work
The letter falls from his hand
He reaches out only to catch the sky
It's gone with the wind
Gotta say mmh, mhm
Gotta say mmh, mhm
Go
Said I spilled the ink across the land
Trying to spell your name
Up and down there it goes
Paper aeroplane
It hasn't flown the seven seas to you
But it's on its way
It goes through the hands
Then to someone else
To find you girl
Gotta say mmh, mhm
Gotta say mmh, mhm
Gotta say mmh
Lyrics submitted by acousticxxbaby
Paper Aeroplane Lyrics as written by Julia Stone Angus Stone
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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The way I like to interpret this song is that he wanted to tell this girl he loved her, but he got in his own way when he "spilled the ink across the page trying to spell [her] name." From there he follows the potential route of the message feeling despite a lack of control for how the message will reach her. The lack of control signifies the idea that he may never be good enough for her, not good enough to give the letter the force it needs to "cross the seven seas" to get to her. However, he hopes that someday, in some way, it lands in her hands. At this point, it's unclear whether she'll know it's from him, or whether the message he's trying to convey is assigned to the "someone else" who hands it to her.
@metalandmemories I love that interpretation! <3 <br /> <br /> I spilled the ink across the page trying to spell her name
@metalandmemories I like this interpretation and agree. The opening verse is him ‘spilling ink ‘ criticising himself for doing other things and feeling confused for the conflicting emotions. Thus the Garbage Man
Angus said at a concert just before they played this song that this song, Paper Aeroplane, is just simply a letter for a girl who used to send him letters all the time, but he never wrote one back for her, all thought he promised he would. So he wrote a song about this experience and that would kind of also be the answer to all the letters she sent to him. Beautiful song!!
Simple to me really. Nothing really hidden in the lyrics.
Boy likes girl. Doesn't know how to tell her. Writes a letter addressed to girl. He tells his friends about it and tells them he is too chicken to deliver it. He is going not going to give the letter to her, but the letter fall from his hand and is carried by the wind to the girl. Naturally (since this song takes place in a fantasy world) the girl will love him back... and Happily Ever After
I think it basically means that there is generally alot of pain and emotional trauma before somebody finds Mr/Mrs right. The song explains that love 'hasn't flown the seven seas to you, but its on its way'
I love happy songs. Not songs about how great a shit you had this morning or how great your car is. Songs that celebrate life. This song imbues a child-like happiness and it's contagious. We need more songs like this!!
A love song?
Im not sure, but it does make me want to go eat bananas under a palm tree...if only I could afford one.
i think its about wanting to tell someone you love them but you can't. either an actualy letter or like metaphorically. its such a cutie song x
i agree with you jenny_magic. especially when he says "Amongst the crowd a heart will break and a heart will mend" makes sense. i really like angus' voice, extremely unique, he is preety easy on the eye too.
the concept of a letter arriving via paper aeroplane is so cool.
i really love this song, im not really sure what it means, but its awesome. and i agree gracey, angus is hot :D julia is pretty too