I Can Fly - The Meaning

Yes, your eyes do not deceive you. The Pick is here! First of all, I would like to thank every one of you for your support and wonderful words while I was recovering. I am thankful that I am in such wonderful company here.

Some of you know already that Tree was delayed due to my surgery, but it is now back on track. Rich was kind of enough to go ahead and select a new internet single, "I Can Fly."

This is one of my favorite songs on the album, and I felt that is neccessary to share with you a bit of insight into the meaning of this song.

We will first start off with the lyrics:

The city's filled with those who've fled the skies,
empty trees and streets filled up with lights.
down below me the world is alive.
I am alone inside an empty sky.

That's why I'm leaving, that's why I'm here,
that's what he's whispering into my ear.
And if I leave, I won't need no God.
Won't need no safety, won't need no facade.
Not too much happening, not too much to see.
Not much to listen for at the top of a tree.
Take one more step and my head kissed the sky.
Just one more step, I'm feeling way too alive.

I can fly, I know I can,
I aint no boy, don't you know, I'm a man,
take one more step, the wind starts to cry,
feel myself lifting, don't you know I can fly.

The wind is high, clouds all around,
good luck, Godspeed and may you never hit the ground,|
with one last push from the Morning Star,
Those who get lost don't know how lucky they are.

Commentary:  This song is one of two turning points in the album (the second of which is the song Losing Rhythm).  This turning point reflects the fooling of oneself into leaving what is good and safe and holy, and taking a step into something terrible, just to find out firsthand what it's all about.

In the song, the singer first expresses a latent longing for the grass on the other side of the fence (down below me the world is alive/I am alone inside an empty sky), then an incredulous skepticism for the spiritual symbolism of the Tree (and if I leave I won't need no God/won't need no safety, won't need no facade).  Finally, the song ends with an almost euphoric sense of empowerment (I can fly, I know I can/I aint no boy, don't you know, I'm a man).

At the end, the true motivator reveals his face.  The 'Morning Star' figure spoken about in the last stanza is a Satan or devil figure, previously represented by the latent discontent with the tree, and later (and more boldly) by the denial of God.  The primary function of the Satan figure in this song is to draw the singer out of his previously accepted safety to pull him down to the world on the ground.  As he assures the singer that those who get lost don't know how lucky they are, you get the feeling that the singer may have taken on something too big, but has failed to realize it yet.  From this point in the album until the song Back to Roots, you are exposed to the varying stages of regret that resulted from this one decision.