Week 7 - Fireflies

Faith Hill's "Fireflies" applies specifically to a female audience. The very first few lines often resonates deeply with girls, young or old, all over the world: "Before you met me I was a fairy princess. I caught frogs and called them Prince and made myself the Queen." When they're young most girls are enthralled by the romantic, sparkling magic of fairytales. And no matter how old, they secretly cherish the dream of stumbling upon their own fairytale, complete with beautiful dress, magic wand, and perfect Prince. But this song also appeals to an older female audience because it applies the magic of childhood fairytales to surviving and overcoming adult trials.

She encourages us to continue dreaming and keep our faith in love alive with "I slept in castles and fell in love because I was taught to dream. I found mayonnaise bottles and pocked holes on top to capture Tinker Bell. They were just fireflies to the untrained eye, but I could always tell." The image of a young girl falling asleep in her imaginary castle and determinedly capturing Tinker Bell remind us of our own innocent faith in love and life. We could be

anywhere and anyone we wanted to be my willing it. Faith successfully conveys the message that this amazing ability should not be lost with childhood: we must pursue our dreams with the same trusting fervor

The chorus of the song is perhaps the most moving: "I believe in fairytales and dreamer's dreams like bed sheet sails, and I believe in PeterPan, and miracles, and anything I can to get by...and fireflies." Fond childhood memories of playing princess dress up, pixie dust, tents made out sheets, and the unshakeable belief in fairies like Tinker Bell in firefly form mix a strong sense of happy nostalgia with Faith's message to never stop believing in momentary magic and miracles.

Faith makes expert allusions to dreams and images strongly associated with the idyllic frame of mind found in children, specifically young girls. By playing on these chords of nostalgia she inspires us to seek out and foster that belief in all things beautiful and magical that is an integral part of who we are. The easy faith of young children is too often crushed by the harshness of reality, but we do not have to let it die. Faith's simple, resounding words of "I believe" illuminate the wonderful fact that it is a choice. We can still choose to believe.

"Fireflies"

Before you met me i was a fairy princess
I caught frogs and called them prince
And made myself a queen
Before you knew me i traveled 'round the world
I slept in castles and fell in love
Because i was taught to dream
I found mayonnaise bottles and poked holes on top
To capture tinkerbell
They were just fireflies to the untrained eye
But i could always tell

[chorus]
I believe in fairytales and dreamers dreams like bed sheet sails
And i believe in peter pan and miracles
And anything i can to get by
And fireflies

Before i grew up i saw you on a cloud
I could bless myself in your name and pat you on your wings
Before i grew up i heard you whisper so loud
"life is hard, and so is love, child, believe in all these things"
I found mayonnaise bottles and poked holes on top
To capture tinkerbell
And they were just fireflies to the untrained eye
But i could always tell

[chorus]

Before you met me i was a fairy princess
I caught frogs and called them prince
And made myself a queen
Before you knew me i traveled 'round the world
And i slept in castles and fell in love
Because i was taught to dream