Sierra lyrics by Boz Scaggs, 10 meanings. Sierra explained, official 2024 song lyrics | LyricsMode.com
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Boz Scaggs – Sierra lyrics
What about the one who said he loved you?
What about the one who said he cared?
Don't bother trying to find him
Way up in the icy air


Oh, you played with his heartstrings
And you played without a care
But not up in the High Sierra
You won't play his heart out there

The angels lay their clouds across his sky
They line up for him every night
Some have wings and others sing
The rest do lazy ballets in the air

There he's got a bird to give him warning
And he's gotta lookout too
The beauty of the High Sierra
And she's looking out for you

The angels lay their clouds across his sky
They line up for him every night
Some have wings and others sing
The rest do lazy ballets in the air

What about the one who said he loved you?
What about the one who said he cared?
He's up in the High Sierra
But don't bother looking there
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Lyrics taken from /lyrics/b/boz_scaggs/sierra.html

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Songwriters: WILLIAM SCAGGS
Sierra lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Spirit Music Group

Sierra meanings Post my meaning

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    I remember the first time I truly heard this song. On a train, leaving NYC, heading home after a long and challenging work trip in the midst of a simmering personal crisis. I listened to it back-to-back-to-back at least five times. I felt in the moment and still do, the song reflects on a broken heart, seeking distance and walls and protection from being hurt again. Seeking an escape, with natural and spiritual effects guarding the broken heart, not to be broken again. Retreating and finding protection. Refuge. Cold and lonely, self imposed, finding the beauty of a needed isolation from a broken trust. Better alone than hurt. Alone with a hope to heal.
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    This song touches me so deeply that I cry when I hear it. I think of my two daughters who both died of drug overdoses. I see them as the angels doing ballets in the air. I wonder if it was written for his son who died of an overdose, too. It’s cathartic for me. I love when I can feel close to my girls.
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    The perspective is that of someone (he) who identifies with "the one who said he loved you" and "you played with his heartstrings ... without a care". The one who loved you is up with the angels (he's dead) and from suicide as a result of his/her rejection. It's a hopeless perspective that assumes "you never cared". Sad.
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    The chap up in the High Sierra is telling the chap he loved (who spurned him) not to come and look for him. But I believe the High Sierra guy would be overwhelmingly happy if the spurning actually came and found him. Who wouldn't? Fabulous song I lost for ten years and found again today. Angels might be birds, clouds, forces of nature. ..
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    I think this song is about a girl/woman who used to love a man but broke his heart. He's since died and because they both loved the mountains when they were together, she longs to see/feel his presence again. But, he's in heaven looking down, and she won't ever find him again... especially up in the high Sierras...
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    "What about the one who loved you". It's in the past.. Angels lining up, a bird warning, the High Sierra is looking out for you.. This is about a refuge, a haven, or heaven,.. C'mon on folks, this is about someone who has died - he's up in the High Sierra but don't bother looking there.
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    Nobody has died here. This is about a famous musician with his following of women (angels) who are in love with him, his talent, fame and image. They come to the show with their fantasies (clouds) of love, they line up for him every night in the rows of the venue where they dance, sing and do their “lazy ballets in the air”. When one gets the chance to be close to him and he allows her to play with his heartstrings, she believes he loves her. When done, he’s back op in the icy, high Sierra where she cannot reach him. He has people that keep women at arms length, give him warning and he has a lookout all to protect him from the angels that want him. This song tells one and all “don’t bother trying to find him”, you’ll not get through. Unless, of course, if wants you to “play with his heartstrings “.
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    The angels reference is, imho, referring to the heights and the view from the high ridges. Talk to a climber and they will tell you of the heavenly view from a ridgetop. And the air is clear there and there is no place for game playing and the games that people play with each other's heart. That is why this refuge works, it is beyond, it is where facts like up and down and hot and cold are pure and true. A missed step will kill you but it isn't personal.
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    No one died here. It’s a rock star (like other powerful men) who have the opportunity to use women (angels) who line up for him every night. One who loved him thought she was playing with (reaching) his heartstrings only to find out that, once he is back on stage he is in the icy high Sierra Unreachable with lookouts to keep the angels at a distance.
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    I grew up in the High Sierras both my late father and mother and my nana are all there with there Pease at the home they wanted. I shall join them when the time comes. I must thank Boz for allowing a smile on my face. Enjoy all to the best place ever! KAISER!
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      I remember the first time I truly heard this song. On a train, leaving NYC, heading home after a... Read more →
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      This song touches me so deeply that I cry when I hear it. I think of my two daughters who both died... Read more →

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