Glen Hansard explains on his live performance:
“The song is about when, in your life you hit a wall, and can’t get past, you try to get over, get around, but it’s a dead end. There is only one option, walk away. You walk away from the world, and you find yourself where you need to be.”
[Verse 1]
Here, back, down a long and straight track
I have chose the long road
That leads me out to god knows
So I can't stop right now
[Pre-Chorus]
Even the good stars can fall from grace and falter
Lose their faith and slide
But I can't get an ocean that's deep enough for my day
[Chorus]
It's the first of the ascension
It's a sad way we've flown after the storm
And her last words were "I was only thinking of you"
In my golden days I was a slave
[Verse 2]
Well now it's time for to sound your voice
And capture what you're after
My ship was sold right up the river
But I'm not going down here
[Chorus]
This journey isn't over
It's a long way to the house of Fitzcarraldo
And her last words were "I'm always thinking of you"
In my golden days I was a saint
[Bridge]
Even the good stars can fall from grace and falter
Like lapdogs that stride that mystery
And her last words were "I'll see you down in history"
It's the only way that we can go
I shall eclipse you
[Instrumental]
[Outro]
It's a long way to Fitzcarraldo
I don't want to pray for you
In the name of something true
Fitzcarraldo was written by Glen Hansard & Colm Mac Con Iomaire & David Odlum & Paul Brennan & Noreen O’Donnell.
Fitzcarraldo was produced by Pete Briquette & Trevor Horn.