Fly

Album: Maddie & Tae EP (2014)
Charted: 61
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The second single released by Maddie & Tae finds the duo harmonizing through most of the song backed by acoustic instruments and fiddle. We hear the pair croon about persisting in the face of adversity:

    So keep on climbing, though the ground might shake
    Just keep on reaching, though the limb might break
    We've come this far, don't you be scared now
    'Cause you can learn to fly on the way down


    "'Fly' is so important to us because it really is the story of our journey, of doing something that might be crazy," Tae Dye told Rolling Stone Country. "Being scared and being emancipated to come to Nashville at 17… saying, 'No, we want to write our own songs,' not knowing if that's gonna break the deal. But you have to believe in yourself."

    "That's why this song matters," added Maddie Marlow. "We hope for anyone else trying to make a dream come true, they can find the faith to keep going in 'Fly' when they're about to give up."
  • Maddie & Tae's intention for the song is that it empowers people wherever they are in life, whatever challenge they may be encountering. "'Fly' hits home every time we listen to it," said Tae Dye. "We really wanted to write a song that was, 'You may not have anything figured out, but it doesn't matter.'"
  • Maddie & Tae performed the song for the first time on TV on the January 23, 2015 episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
  • The music video shows Maddie & Tae performing the song while sitting on chairs perched high up on a wall. The clip was directed by Brian Lazarro (Cassadee Pope's "Wasting All These Tears," Eli Young Band's "Drunk Last Night.") "I think Brian really took the idea of how vulnerable you feel when you're trying and it's crazy," said Tae Dye, "and found ways that weren't literal to represent that."

    "Brian's amazing," added Maddie Marlow: "The idea of ladders and chairs to show the climb? Being suspended - which we are in the performance - is just how it feels when you want everything to happen, but you're sort of stuck in what you want and how it is. But that's what the song's about, too, those are the times when you really truly do have to keep trying."
  • The song was released as the follow-up to "Girl in a Country Song."

    "The reason we chose 'Fly' [as our second single] is because we wanted a different song than 'Girl in a Country Song,'" Dye explained to The Boot. "'Girl in a Country Song' showed our funny and witty side, and [it is] very uptempo, so ... we wanted a slow song to show our fans that we do have both sides to us, and to pick songs for our album, we wanted to show our fans all the different sides of us."

Comments: 1

  • Peyton from HouseThis is my fav song it's like my inspiration.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes

Chris Robinson of The Black CrowesSongwriter Interviews

"Great songwriters don't necessarily have hit songs," says Chris. He's written a bunch, but his fans are more interested in the intricate jams.

Brandi Carlile

Brandi CarlileSongwriter Interviews

As a 5-year-old, Brandi was writing lyrics to instrumental versions lullabies. She still puts her heart into her songs, including the one Elton John sings on.

Fire On The Stage

Fire On The StageSong Writing

When you have a song called "Fire," it's tempting to set one - these guys did.

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")Songwriter Interviews

A top country songwriter, Barry talks about writing hits for Little Big Town, Tim McGraw and Jason Aldean.

Penny Ford of Snap!

Penny Ford of Snap!Songwriter Interviews

The original voice of Snap! this story is filled with angry drag queens, video impersonators and Chaka Khan.