'One Day I'll Fly Away'
Performed by Nicole
Kidman
Written by Will Jennings and Joe Sample
Arranged by Craig Armstrong
Produced by BLAM, Josh G. Abrahams, Craig Armstrong and Marius DeVries
There are actually two versions of this song on the Moulin Rouge soundtrack. The tune featured on 'Volume 1' is the original film version, which is sung with amazing strength of emotion by Nicole Kidman.
One Day I'll Fly Away is a slow, saddened song that Satine sings atop the massive elephant in the gardens of the Moulin Rouge. The lyrics are poignant to her story, and we recognise that she is singing about her own dreams and aspirations. There is a sense of hopeless longing in her voice and posture, as if she doesn't actually believe she will ever be free of her current lifestyle. But as she begins the second chorus, the music builds to a crescendo and she sings triumphantly with her arms open, embracing the feeling of the freedom she so desperately seeks before drifting back into contemplative reality. Satine's singing is melancholy as she wishes that one day, she really will be able to fly away. The sadness of this piece is further enhanced by our knowledge that Satine is indeed going to be granted freedom very soon, although not in the way she so passionately dreams of.
Lyrics:
I follow the night,
can't stand the light
When will I begin to live again?
One day I'll fly away
Leave all this to yesterday
What more could your love do for me?
When will love be through with me?
Why live life from dream to dream?
And dread the day that dreaming ends
One day I'll fly away
Leave all this to yesterday
Why live life from dream to dream?
And dread the day that dreaming ends
One day I'll fly away, fly fly away