You got to leave me now, you got to go alone
You got to chase a dream, one that's all your own
Before it slips away
When you're flyin' high, take my heart along
I'll be the harmony to every lonely song
That you learn to play

When you're soarin' through the air
I'll be your solid ground
Take every chance you dare
I'll still be there
When you come back down
When you come back down

I'll keep lookin' up, awaitin' your return
My greatest fear will be that you will crash and burn
And I won't feel your fire
I'll be the other hand that always holds the line
Connectin' in between your sweet heart and mine
I'm strung out on that wire

And I'll be on the other end, To hear you when you call
Angel, you were born to fly, If you get too high
I'll catch you when you fall
I'll catch you when you fall

Your memory's the sunshine every new day brings
I know the sky is calling
Angel, let me help you with your wings

When you're soarin' through the air
I'll be your solid ground
Take every chance you dare

I'll still be there
When you come back down
Take every chance you dare,
I'll still be there
When you come back down
When you come back down



Lyrics submitted by kevin

Track duration: 03:50

"When You Come Back Down" as written by Timothy Page O'brien, Daniel J. O'keefe

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


When You Come Back Down song meanings
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46 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:The first time I heard this song, my youngest son sang it with his friend for a performance at a high school variety show. It brought tears to my eyes.

    The next time I heard it was after one of my other sons was killed in action in Afghanistan. He was in the Air Force. As you can imagine, the line, "my greatest fear is that you will crash and burn and I won't feel your fire..." touched me deeply. However, when he was killed, I know I felt his fire as he left this world, and that gives me tremendous comfort now.

    Now as I prepare for that youngest son to leave, who is now in the military and leaving soon, I listen to it often. It reminds me that he has to go alone and chase his dream. He knows I'm scared, but I will be there when he comes back down.
    Flag EODmom0620on April 07, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This could be about any relationship that may require you to let someone go who isn't ready to be tied down. It could be parents with children that are ready to leave home, or someone that loves another who may not know if they are ready for the commitment. Could also even be interperted as mentioned before as God's relationship with us as his children.

    Personally feel its about being a parent and having to let go and yet still be there to support them in everything they do. I feel this because of the allegory of flying, soaring, etc. which are actions of birds or people who travel long distances by plane. Also the reference to giving them their wings, which is what parents do preparing their children to leave the nest, or letting them fly far from home. Also, when a child leaves home they often go their own way and do not keep in good contact with their parents and the parents just wait for them to "come back down" at which time the relationship is much stronger and deeper. In, the meantime the parents do most the keeping in contact, "always holding the line that connects between your sweet heart and mine", and waiting for the call (on the other end waiting for your call) that they need them to help them come pick up the pieces when they fail/crash.

    This easily could be seen as God's love and devotion to us as his children as well, because that kind of goes back to the same principle of being a loving parent.
    Flag thisismyhearton February 18, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:It is an expression of pure, unconditional love. My spouse is Bipolar, and it is like someone wrote the lyrics to our relationship. His emotions and interests can change at a drop of a hat at times. He gets ideas that probably won't work, gets angry, sad, elated, scared, randomly without cause. I'm his foundation, and he know he can count on me no matter what happens. I ride out the highs and the lows, and wait for "my husband" without judgement. It is warming and heartbreaking at the same time. When you are with "the one", you can handle whatever life throws ate you because as frustrating and hard as it is, it is worth it.
    Flag snappy123on October 31, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:He has shown her a new way! It's "catch and release" He's setting her free! Beautiful song! Luv Nickel Creek
    Flag temptation777on June 13, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Love this song. We danced to it at our wedding which FINALLY happened after 3 years of being apart because of school. Always loved the line that says "my only fear will be that you will crash and burn, and I won't feel your fire." It says to me that even a failure is a success, and that going through that with someone is a blessing.
    Flag marmieon June 17, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I just heard this song today off of my friend's page and to me it's about a boy who loves this girl, but they can't be together for some reason, but he's telling her that he's still going to be there for her even though they can't be together. It's a sweet song! I'm really starting to like it. Thinking about this guy...and the girl...well, she acts kinda fickle, and he knows that she does, and her thoughts get so high and maybe her head gets stuck in the clouds alot, but he says he'll be there to bring her back down and to catch her when she falls.
    It's the sweet story of a boy who's waiting for this girl to return to him. Right now, she's off at school, doing her own thing, following her dream, and he's back in her hometown, but this song gives the two hope that they will be reunited once again. Til then, he's always going to love and care for me. (I hope) :)
    Flag adw3284on April 13, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:My family is a very close-knit unit and when I branched off to go to college (I'm the oldest of 2 girls), my dad helped me move in every box to my dorm. When we had finally gotten every last one up 8 flights of stairs, he handed me an envelope. He said, "Don't get your hopes up, there's no money in there-just a song that I think goes perfectly for us during this time." He hugged me in that parking lot and I felt his chin quiver on my shoulder. I lost it--it was so bittersweet to have such a supportive family (I'm forever grateful for their love) but at the same time the separation anxiety is hard to overcome! Anyways, when I got up to my dormroom, alone without a single friend yet made--I downloaded the song and read the lyrics. After each stanza he wrote his interpretation and modified it as necessary. After the "Crash and Burn" line he said "I hope not, but if it happens, I'll be there." I'm embarassingly enough crying as I type this, because this song means more to me than any other out there. I love reading different interpretations, and can understand all of them (I was so moved by yours, Grey_Street), but for me this will always be me and Daddy's song. AND I definitely plan on it being our dance at my wedding. Need to get engaged first though, ha!
    Flag hippycoEDon December 16, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I danced at my wedding to this song with my father. The song was very moving to both of us. To me the song is about letting your child go...to do what they dream to do. "Angel let me help you with your wings." Leaving the "Nest." Also, the song is about always loving and being there for the person leaving. A great song!
    Flag ltk3on October 09, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song was dedicated to me by my bff,
    one of my goals is to make a disc, have a band, write some songs, live like that..
    and when i went on a long trip last july she gave me a letter with this lyrics, it fit perfectly! i love it
    Flag aniutaon September 18, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I personally think this song is about loving someone SO much that you'll be whatever they need, kinda like the Imprinting thing in Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series, it's just...
    "I'll be the other hand that always holds the line, connecting inbetween your sweet heart and mine. I'm strung out on that wire!"
    that's about love, plain and simple...
    and chewylambchop... interesting perspective - I'd never thought of that, and I've been a Nickel Creek fan for a LONG time - I had one of the firsrt 2000 presses of the record this song is on.
    Flag OneBornOfLighton September 02, 2008   Link

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