Art Garfunkel Lyrics, Meaning & Videos

May 2024 · 4 minute read

Breakaway
Art Garfunkel Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴I watch the distant lights on the runway
Disappear into the evening sky
Oh you know I'm with you on your journey
Never could say goodbye

It's not the sun you're trying to find
Something else is on your mind
You need a little space and time

To break away
It's not the place you're going to
It's just a phase you're going through
Though I won't stop you I don't want you to

Break away
Fly across your ocean
Break away
Time has come for you
Break away
Fly across your ocean
Break away
Time has come

For you to awaken in another country
Greet the morning under foreign skies
Leaving me to face another Monday
It's not easy to get by

It's not the sun you're trying to find
Something else is on your mind
You need a little space and time
To break away
It's not the place you're going to
It's just a phase you're going through
Though I won't stop you I don't want you to

Break away
Fly across your ocean
Break away (breakaway)
Time has come for you
Break away (breakaway)
Fly across your ocean

Break away (breakaway)
Time has come for you


Overall Meaning

"Breakaway" by Art Garfunkel is a song about a person leaving behind everything they have known in order to go on a journey of discovery. The lyrics describe the singer watching the lights of a plane departing into the night sky, and though he knows the person on the plane is leaving, he is still with them in spirit. The singer understands that the person is not searching for the sun, but rather for something else that is on their mind. They need space and time to break away from their current situation and find themselves. Though the singer doesn't want to stop the person from leaving, he still feels a sense of loss, knowing that he will have to face his own struggles without them.


The song's message is one of understanding and acceptance, that sometimes we need to break away from our current lives and explore new places in order to find ourselves. The lyrics are beautifully written to convey a sense of longing, but also hope for the future. This song encourages people to take risks and explore new opportunities, even though it may be difficult to leave familiar surroundings.


Line by Line Meaning

I watch the distant lights on the runway
I observe the faraway lights flickering on the landing strip


Disappear into the evening sky
Gradually vanish into the dark sky


Oh you know I'm with you on your journey
You're aware that I'm accompanying you on your voyage


Never could say goodbye
I could never bring myself to bid farewell


It's not the sun you're trying to find
Your quest isn't to find sunshine


Something else is on your mind
Your thoughts revolve around a different matter


You need a little space and time
You require some time and distance


To break away
To liberate yourself


It's not the place you're going to
Your destination isn't what matters


It's just a phase you're going through
It's just a passing stage you're experiencing


Though I won't stop you I don't want you to
Although I won't hinder you, I don't desire you to


Fly across your ocean
Traverse the sea before you


Time has come for you
It's the moment for you


For you to awaken in another country
For you to arise in a new nation


Greet the morning under foreign skies
Welcome the morning under unknown skies


Leaving me to face another Monday
Abandoning me to confront another start of the week


It's not easy to get by
It's arduous to overcome


Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BENNY GALLAGHER, GRAHAM LYLE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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