Story Behind The Song
Originally named "Big Sky," this song was written in the summer of 2000 following a trip I made to Texas for a family reunion. It is a blend of two themes: (1) the breakup of a love relationship (a close friend's, not mine) and (2) the most terrifying flight I have ever experienced. I was travelling to Albuquerque to hook up with my husband and daughter who had made the road trip from Seattle. On my way into Phoenix to change planes we hit a wall of storm, so vast I had been watching it from my plane window for a couple of hours as we tried to go around it. It's hard to describe the scene after we hit the wall, but our male flight attendants were flat on the floor holding on to the base of the seats, and people were screaming like we were on a rollercoaster ride (which we were I guess). The big sky continued to haunt me as we drove south through New Mexico to Texas and the haunting, dark feel of the song always makes me feel thankful that we didn't plummet into the ground.
Song Description
The song follows the journey of a person who has left love behind and is traveling across the country through a series of violent storms. Seeing the storm around her, she is filled with foreboding and anticipates an emotional breakdown in response to recent events.
| Song Length |
4:31 |
Genre |
Country - Contemporary, Folk - Contemporary |
| Tempo |
Medium Slow (91 - 110) |
Lead Vocal |
Female Vocal |
| Mood |
Gloomy, Restless |
Subject |
Breaking Up, Storms |
| Similar Artists |
Lucinda Williams, Sarah Mclachlan |
Language |
English |
| Era |
2000 and later |
| |
Lyrics
Last night I flew out of Seattle
Heading southeast for the ride
Thunder clouds were looking angry
And lit up like a fire on the fourth of July
Those clouds were welling up with fury
And I was welling up inside
Heading down to Albuquerque
And far away from my old love I once shared with you
And there's a big, dark sky out there
And it's leading me somewhere
Away from the sadness, away from the pain
This big, dark sky will break and cry the rain
Today I'm headin' down the highway
Drivin' south toward the Gulf of Mexico
Tumbleweeds are blowin' wildly
Gator pieces lying black on the side of the road
I've just got eyes for the lightning
And ears to hear the thunder roll
And every mile I drive you're fading
And the solitude appeases the hole in my heart
And there's a big, dark sky out there
And it's leadin' me somewhere
Away from the sadness, away from the pain
This big, dark sky will break and cry the rain
This big, dark sky will break and cry the rain
Cry the rain, cry the rain...