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


Lyrics submitted by acousticxxbaby

Paper Aeroplane Lyrics as written by Julia Stone Angus Stone

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Paper Aeroplane song meanings
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25 Comments

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  • +5
    General Comment

    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.

    metalandmemorieson August 21, 2011   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    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!!

    christinenilon January 03, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    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

    sarabeararoxon April 11, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    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'

    tommy91on April 16, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    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!!

    rustykenhason March 12, 2017   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    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.

    productofthe80son December 07, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    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

    jenny_magicon December 26, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    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.

    gracey.on January 25, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    the concept of a letter arriving via paper aeroplane is so cool.

    shut up hannah.on April 05, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    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

    ill_fly_awayon April 11, 2007   Link

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