I want to make you happy
But I've fallen, I'm sorry
I thought my wings could hold me up
With angels not demons
You don't know how cool you are
To find the ways to love me without shame

I want my life to be red
With trees and like Autumn
I'd float away from evil and
Down towards the healing
So sad now we have become
The children trapped in the mazes
I'd give my soul to the one who has the courage
To find me and free me now

If I run I'll just become like all the faking lights
So let the thunders take me under
And break my legs tonight



Lyrics submitted by Goliath

Track duration: 05:29

"Down Towards the Healing" as written by Michael L. Shepard

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Down Towards The Healing song meanings
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31 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:I believe the line "I want my life to be red, with trees and like autumn" is a double meaning that can't be just seen off a page. It has to be heard. So obviously you can hear "read" and "red". Read of course corresponding with the trees, books are made of paper which come from trees. "I want my life to be read, with trees..." He wants to be remembered. He wants his life to be something worthwhile, so worthwhile he can be read to future people.
    Then there is the red that corresponds with autumn. Of course, trees in fall become orange and red. Red represents passion and bravery- autumn represents shedding yourself to prepare for a period of stillness (winter) followed by a rebirth (spring). "I want my life to be red, like autumn." The braveness of starting new, shedding off your past "leaves" so to speak.
    This lyric my favorite line out of any of their songs. This band should be recognized for their poetic genius.
    Flag emilygoon September 24, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:what about how at the end of the song, he repeats the first line "i wanna make you happy, but i've fallen. i'm sorry." ?

    to me it makes me think about how we can realize we are nothing without God and we'll go on for a few days or weeks in the happiness that is reflected close to the end of song, but after a while we forget about God in a sense and then catch ourselves falling away from God again.. i don't know maybe?
    Flag jfoeckingon March 02, 2010   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation:Here's a thought:

    One, Michael Shephard is a very poetic lyricist with a cinematic command of language. In achieving this, he uses many tools like metaphors and similes.

    In the beginning of the second verse, he sings, "I want my life to be red with trees like autumn." He writes this in the accompanying lyrics book as well. However, I would argue he is consciously alluding to something greater.

    In the recording, listen to the emphasis of the 'un' sound after he sings the word 'trees.' He could be saying 'and'. Or, consider the following:

    "I want my life to be red with treason, like autumn."
    Throughout literature and psychology, red is illustrious of negative emotions, such as death, betrayal, and tumult. As the song creates a sense of transcendence from a past life/life surrounding by wrong. Red represents the death of this life, and the welcoming of a new start. Similarly, autumn marks the same type of change. As the leaves begin to shed their color and skin, it marks the passage of new life.

    A step further.
    "I want my life to be read with treason, like autumn."
    If another were to 'read' Shephard's life, he wants them to see his change. If a narrator is one way through a story, then goes through a rebirth and essentially starts over, it is treason to the previous idea of the self.


    ---------------
    Keep in mind this is just a though. Something to consider.
    Flag BlackMarigoldson October 03, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this is song is like seeing someone love you but not being able to please them because of you own problems. And wanting so bad to make them happy but you just can't because you can't even take care of yourself. at least that is what it is about to me.
    Flag losing_coveron April 13, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:...she?
    Flag drmnon February 25, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:To me, it's about wanting to be better for someone, but being trapped in your mind and unable to free yourself from the torment that you continue to experience. You are baffled by the fact that some one could love you when you find that hard to do yourself. How could they take all of your imperfections and accept them if you can't? You want to be happy, but you just can't figure out how to get there and you would do anything to get there even if it meant selling your soul. You can dream of what you would want in your life. If only you could start living it. She's trying to explain to him why she can't live a normal life and why in some ways she rather continue to struggle and stay true to who she is than to take off and play a part in order to stay up to speed. She's torn between what's normal and where she is and how she could be herself only happy. She's trying to find herself and become a person who wouldn't find it so amazing that someone could love her for who she is even though she finds that impossible.
    Flag eveieon January 06, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:okay, i'm not into stretching songs to have a spiritual twist

    that said, i dont see how this song can be interpreted any other way.

    i was raised in a religious home and at 18, i abandoned all faith for my own journey of spiritual faith.

    this song is the epitome of what i felt when i finally decided to believe in god again
    i thought i could stray from him and do good, but all sorts of evils filled my life.

    this song is definitely about surrender.
    it's so bold and honest. and haunting, like lovedrug loves.

    i was so broken inside for 2 years after i left all my faith, i find it enormously uplifting:

    i float away from evil and down towards the healing.
    Flag jaci_ohon December 24, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I never really connected this song with god or religion at all but i now see how that could be gotten out of it. I like many others thought this song was about a failing relationship and I usually listen to it when I feel like I have failed at something. No matter what its a beautiful song.
    Flag ky.reneeon October 04, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I really love this song.
    It's so simple...and I think there are many ways to interperet the lyrics.
    That's what's so great about it.

    This song reminds me of my ex boyfriend, and the wonderful times that we spent together.
    I remember we would listen to this song all night and just talk.

    This was my favorite song for a while, so he would always write me little messages that ended with "you don't know how cool you are, to find the ways to love me without shame."

    Even now, it still makes me smile.
    Flag emotinaon June 21, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The bit of the lyrics that is missing here ("Hallelujah, I'm not breathing") is the crucial part to me. He seems so relieved, as he is finally dead and free. Or at least he wish he was.
    Flag drmnon May 23, 2007   Link

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