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foxes-that-run · 4 months

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If I could fly

The TLDR is that If I could fly is about Harry being vulnerable with someone he is separated from by distance which is painful. Harry wrote it in February before the OTRA tour. When asked about it in the Track by Track, (1:52) Harry spoke about the album for 2 minutes, when prompted he covered his body language was closed before saying it 'kind of fell down, it was natural to sing it' then talked about Johan. Thank for sharing your music Harry.

When was it written

Harry wrote it with Johan Carlson and Ross Golan in Los Angeles. Johan said they wrote together several days a week over four weeks leading up to the On the Road Again tour, which started 7 February 2015. Harry wrote with Johan on ‘Just a Little Piece of your heart’, ‘I love you’, Maybe Someday and 'Stockholm Syndrome'. Johan said:

"He's such a good songwriter - it's an honour to write music with him. He's fantastic with the words and he can really put down lyrics that are very conversational and people can relate to. We're just having a good time."

Niall also said Made in the AM was written in January and February, before Zayn left the band in March. He also told Ryan Seacrest the bulk of the album was written before tour and recorded on the road.

Live performances

One Direction never performed it live and Harry hasn't since 2018. Harry included it in his first main setlist throughout 2018. He performed it on the B stage after Sweet Creature. When performing it live Harry paused, shushed the crowd with a finger for up to 2 minutes before saying "it's your turn" for them to sing the last chorus and "I feel it," both of which Harry led on the album.

What the band said about it

To Apple Music Liam said he got emotional listening to "the song Harry wrote", which is likely 'If I Could Fly' because his other writing credits were with 1D and/or 1D writers. Harry deflected answering what it is about but said it was a farewell (to a hoodie they had been joking about). The farewell is interesting to me as the lyrics are ambiguous to me, Harry sings of being apart from his muse, going out of mind and hoping they don’t run from him.

Julian Bunetta said to Rolling Stone:

“I remember when Harry first played it to me. That one I didn’t write, but I remember when I first heard it. We were in Westlake Studio for a week. I kept asking why he wanted to call it ‘If I Could Fly.’ It’s a great song, so it doesn’t really matter what it’s called, does it?”

The title is only in the first line, compared to 'for your eyes only' which is the main line of the chorus. If I could fly is a reference to the paper airplane necklace and Taylors Out Of The Woods "Two paper airplanes flying, flying, flying". It also sets the meaning of the song as about someone he's physically apart from rather than the band or fans.

Timeline

27 October - 1989 release, Harry and Taylor seen together again in November and December. (2014 timeline)

10 January - 4 weeks writing with Johan incl. 'If I could Fly'

16 January - The last time Harry and Taylor were seen together before the Exile BBMAs was Lily Aldridge's birthday. (WITW)

1 February - Taylor not at Harry's 21st birthday, in Nashville the next day, maybe broke up (Hunger and Coney Island).

7 February - ORTA tour start, end of writing period.

14 February - Style Music Video released and Two Ghosts written.

27 February - Harry posted the overgrown Winding Wheel.

7 November - Harry Tweeted 'If I could fly' before it was released. He had given Taylor the Airplane necklace on 7 November 2012.

Lyrics

If I could fly I'd be comin' right back home to you

"If I could fly" is not an obvious title for this song, but was important to Harry.

The opening of Taylor’s vault track The Very First Night is “I wish I could fly / I'd pick you up and we'd go back in time”

It is one of Harry's last One Direction songs, he fly's (over an ocean and woods) in the MV his first solo song, Sign of the Times, which works as a through line. Harry said to Jimmy Fallon that he 'would have been happy with a green screen' which sounds like the flying was his idea before he got concepts.

Harry has sung about flying and the distance separating him from his muse many times, especially in One Direction songs. This title and opening lyric are clear the song is about someone Harry is separated from by touring and living internationally:

Fools Gold "You're the shining distraction that makes me fly home"

Half The World Away "Never gonna be the same / 'Cause you're half the world away"

Lay down "Hearts are divided / Now that we’re worlds apart"

Trouble "And you know that i’ll be gone in the morning"

Already home "You don’t have to go, but you’re already leaving" and "From aeroplanes to the bullet trains, summer skies to the pouring rain / All the future plans we will never make, from a beating heart to the farthest place"

Daylight "If I was a bluebird, I would fly to you"

Canyon Moon "I'll be gone too long from you"

Daydreaming "You know I'll be gone for so long / So give me all of your love, give me something to dream about"

Since meeting Harry while writing Red, Taylor has sung about flying in more than 10 songs about him, most closely in The Very First Night: "I wish I could fly, I’d pick you up and we’d go back in time"

Home is also an important theme in Harry's music, home being with the person rather than a physical place.

I think I might Give up everything, just ask me to

Here, in Maybe Someday and in Taylors 'The Lakes' they have both sung about being together after giving up their careers, Slut! and Gold Rush Also has a similar message.

however on Harry's House in Music for a Sushi Restaurant and As it Was Harry started to say he should be able to have both because 'he's not going to go broke' or 'you know it's not the same.'

Pay attention, I hope that you listen 'Cause I let my guard down Right now I'm completely defenseless

Harry guards his privacy carefully, he has spoke in the Behind the Album that the world knew everything about him in the band and he found he didn't like that. To let someone in is important.

For your eyes only I'll show you my heart For when you're lonely And forget who you are I'm missing half of me When we're apart Now you know me For your eyes only For your eyes only

I really love the phrasing of 'when you're lonely and forget who you are' it beautifully communicates how highly Harry thinks of his muse, but knows they don't see themselves as he does. This is quite similar to

Lay Down: "Two Hearts are divided / Now that we’re worlds apart, They seem so hard to take"

Satellite "I can see you're lonely down there, Don't you know that I am right here?"

Little Freak "I was thinkin' about who you are / Your delicate point of view"

I've got scars Even though they can't always be seen And pain gets hard But now you're here and I don't feel a thing

This verse gets me everytime. Harry is speaking about past trauma, which he also touched on with Rolling Stone discussing his parents separating and wanting to protect his mother, as well as internet criticism. Taylor Swift has a similar story in Seven, and in Cardigan "You drew stars around my scars"

I can feel your heart inside of mine I feel it, I feel it I've been goin' out of my mind I feel it, I feel it Know that I'm just wastin' time And I hope that you don't run from me

To me the outcome for the relationship in the song is ambiguous, as it may have been for Harry. He’s vulnerable, hoping the person doesn’t run from him, but is leaving and thinks he wasting his time. To me this reflects a relationship that’s complex, but clearly special. As we can see with how Harry didn’t want to discuss the song.

This verse reminds me of these lyrics.

Sweet Creature "Two hearts in one home"

Where do broken hearts go "Mind is running in circles of you and me"

Fools Gold "You're the raise on the waves that calm my mind"

#one direction #harry styles #haylor #one direction haylor

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foxes-that-run · 4 months

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2015 Haylor Timeline

Timeline Tag, or years 2011 […] 2014, [...], 2016, 2017, […] and 2024.

2 January - Harry arrives in LA 3 weeks before the rest of 1D, starts writing with Johan Carlsson (If I could fly). Neither Harry or Taylor seen on the 3rd or 4th On the 5th Harry was seen in an LA carpark.

6 January - Taylor posted clear blue water (Lyrics from This Love) to instagram. Harry in Malibu and around LA. A year later Harry posted the rain on a window 6 January 2016 and on 7 January 2017 recorded the leak 'Lately'. This may have been their break up. Harry was pictured with a fan wearing the shirt from Band-Aid.

7 January - Harry pictured with fans at Cafe Habana for lunch and dinner. There are three recording studios within 10 minutes, (including Shangri-La) so he was likely working.

10 January - Reports Harry driving with Nadine Leopold. Tweets from 8 till late. He got Froyo. Both HS/TS Golden Globes parties

11 January - Harry tweets he had a "I Had a Good Morning :D Hard Work.... 'Yikes' !!". Kendall and Khloe post "Forget You "I see you driving 'round town/With the boy I love and I'm like/Forget you."

15 January - lily Aldridge's birthday, Harry posts serendipity, his watch is in a photo talking to Taylor, TMZ posts awkward footage of them in the lobby, they go for food in a group after and are friendly. (WOTW: Yesterday I went out to celebrate the birthday of a friend / But as we raised our glasses up to make a toast / I realised you were missing) Niall said they wrote Made in the AM in January and February. Matty Healy said dating Taylor was all fake, it didn’t really happen. He also talked about Harry as “there’s no one I know less in the world than Harry styles” video interview

16 January - Harry tweets "Cake?"

17 January - Taylor shares photo of her kitchen with framed Temper Trap lyrics on her stove. Again they broke up before his birthday. :( Harry tweets that "This bucket hat might be the best purchase we've made in years." Cara and Kendall retweet that and the Cake? Rumour they bought a hat. H played golf the next day.

22 January - Harry went for yogurt, Nadine Leopold in his car

20-23 January Taylor goes to Hawaii with Haim sisters and her mum. She also posts that it’s been a year since she wrote I Know places and capitalized “and we RUN” Harry seen with Jeff

24 January - Harry tweets "Cake-gate"

1 February - Harry’s 21st birthday party, everyone is fabulous with Gigi, Kendall, Cara there Harry Styles turns 21 with the A-list No mention of Taylor or Lily Aldridge, although Harry had been at Lily’s birthday 2 weeks earlier. (Is this the birthday he made her cry in Hunger?) WITW written in Japan in February. Taylor posts video of giving Olivia treats. Xander also posted and photo box photo of Harry with Nadine Leopold

2 February - the next day KK, lily Aldridge and Taylor are in Nashville. (1 year would have been turning into 2 of that was written for his debut.)

4 February - Harry leaves LA for One Direction On the Road Again Tour 7 February – 31 October

7 February - for #1D2D take over of Teen Party on Spotify, Harry chooses riptide by Vance Joy as his 7th song.

8 February - Ariana performed Just a little piece of your heart in front of Taylor at the Grammys. Taylor’s iconic response of hanging out with friends and “going home to the cats” is at 0:23 - 0:39. 1D was Australia, (was he the intended audience for the cat’s comment?)

13 February - Style Music Video released. Inspiration for Two Ghosts

20 February - During Happily in Perth Liam asked Harry "Are you OK?" (1:01), it was song 7 for 8 shows, then never played again. Harry posted a photo of a crosswalk B&W stripes caption 'chains around my feet'. His feet have 'never gonna dance again' tattooed on them, George Michael lyric about being faithful

24 February - Taylor met Calvin. The shows in Australia were a bit flat. Earlier in the day Ed and Taylor are on Nick Grimshaw, Nick asks TS "Haim Holiday," 'he and his friends' were talking about why so many photos, then played Style.

25 February - Happily was replaced with Stockholm Syndrome as song 7 on the OTRA tour, (after a few shows as encore.)

27 February - Harry posted the overgrown “my winding wheel” instagram post.

3 March - Oscar Gorres became a father, he said So it Goes was written soon after. At that point "Taylor already had the lyrics". Calvin breaks up with his girlfriend 11 March Taylor walks backward to avoid papa

18 March - Zayn's last performance with One Direction in Hong Kong

20 March - KK/TS vogue photoshoot posted

25 March - Zayn leaving announced

27 March - Taylor at whole foods with Calvin in matching outfits

9 April - Taylor shared that Andrea’s cancer diagnosis.

12 April - Matty Healy says Harry and 1D stole his sound and refers to Change your ticket. 1D's reps say ''It seems a bit unfair to rant at Harry, especially if it's because of the song 'Change Your Ticket'. Harry had nothing to do with that song - that was all Niall and Zayn's work.'' (the whole band is credited, but H did seem to try to smooth it over by going to his concert with Taylor in December.

28 April - media that CH felt threatened and asked Taylor to stop talking to Harry as they had been hooking up recently.

5 May - 12 December - 1989 world tour. 85 dates in 221 days, the majority of time Taylor dated Calvin. Blind KK was only allowed one hour to move out of TS apartment. TS had everything boxed and labeled with contents inventoried that the model had to sign for

8 May - Elle interview where she talked about texts and that true love is disappointing.

15 May - Taylor rock in rio set, plays wonderland for the first time (1 of 6 total plays) and has Ed out for Tenerife sea. It’s early in the tour and a festival, reviews were not great.

17 May - The train wreck 2015 BBMs showed Haylor was raw AF, his smile (at 0:24) when she arrived looked like it wasn’t over to Harry... until he started accepting awards (at 0:57) with CH & TS in the front row.

20 May - Taylors clean speech on Haylor anniversary included "maybe you lost a person you never thought you would lose, maybe you lost yourself. You know, I think that we all go through things like this. We all have questions about where we’re going or where we been or where we should have been at that time." Taylor played wonderland

22 May - Taylor played wonderland.

23 May - Taylor telegraph interview she says she’s single and references Perfect: “But ask her what the tape looks like if you fast-forward five years and she seems less certain. ‘I’ll be 30,’ she gasps. ‘I’ll probably still be single, let’s be honest. No one’s going to sign up for this and everything that goes with it. Like, “Hi, nice to meet you, want a date? Do you love camera flashes? I hope you do!” I don’t know what’s going to happen if I’m ever content in a relationship – no idea how that’s going to work,’ she continues, still smiling. ‘I don’t even know if that’s possible with the life I have.” Harry in London. Fan posts a photo of Harry wearing the st Laurent coat with lipstick stain and says it’s their lipstick. They aren’t wearing lipstick.

26 May - Calvin at Vegas pool party and photographed leaving with a woman

4 June - Taylor walks backwards on hike in LA to avoid paparazzi. Harry in London with Grimmy. Ryan Seacrest interview.

6 June Taylor played wonderland. (Harry colour IG post on 3rd in LA. Blind Calvin cheating.

5 - 27 June OTRA Europe dates

11 June - Harry has 2 days off and fly's to NYC alone and is pictured with Xander and a model. Taylor posts photo on a swan with Calvin LA

12 June - "One Direction will stay together or but pursue solo careers" E weekly.

13-19 June Taylor tour break then London

13 June - in Brussels 18 and No Control added and One Thing removed from OTRA setlist.

19 June - 1D Oslo show, Harry called out school friend who stole his GF. 4 days off .

20 June - last time Wonderland played till rep, in Germany. Harry in London.

21 June - Taylor’s letter to Apple, Germany

22 June - Harry posts a color scrabble board to IG. Tweets “I have missed you” to Sweden

23 June Taylor fly’s to Glasgow, introducing New Romantics she says it was written when her ex went to Japan. Harry in Sweden, 3 days off. Tweet s “Felt great to be back in Sweden. Thanks for coming.”

24 June Taylor Manchester then 3 days off. Clean speech mentions “treacherous”, hints at Slut and at this is me trying. Harry with one direction at London nightclub, libertine

25 June - Harry London, looks tired leaving hotel in daytime. Taylor replies to a fan on Tumblr that Breathe in, Breathe out is her favorite song on Hillary Duff's album. She later uses a line from it in Getaway Car and uses the melody in Paper Rings.

26 June - Taylor out with Elle Goulding in London

27 June - Taylor London show w/Kendall, Gigi, Serena, KK, Martha, Cara. 1D in Helsinki.

28 June - Calvin arrives in London. Boat on Thames with Taylor, Karlie, Gigi, Joe, Andrea, and Scott. This clean speech

30 June - holy ground surprise song in Dublin. Clean speech “Those things that haunt them. Those things that scare them, or confuse them. Memories you wish you didn’t have. Memories you wish you could forget. “

4 July - CH at Taylors 4th July Party bikini photos. Ed invited Cherry ❤️.

4-7 July Harry photographed in Malibu with Xander 4th July breakfast, driving, dinner

9 July - Harry falls over on stage in San Diego, Ellen plays on TV. Xander and Jeff at show

26 July - Xander at Minnesota 1D show

4 August Harry and Xander leave Lottie’s birthday in NY

5 August - Xander st met life, Harry mimes lacrosse (Xander is a lacrosse player)

19 August Calvin twitter fight with Zayn, Calvin shades one direction and Louis gets involved. media that Calvin is a “douchebag” citing that he cheated on his GF with Taylor, and racist and fat shaming tweets

24 August - One Direction announce a hiatus at start of 2016. Niall told Ryan Seacrest Made in the AM was finished in August (20 November).

25 August - Taylor mouths I love you to Calvin on stage at the end of her concert in LA

27 August - xanders birthday Harry posts cake

28 August - Harry posted a van gough in colour from the Chicago art institute. Xander Ritz also posted a photo of an empty gallery and liked Harry’s. Flew from Cleveland and back in day

29 August - Detroit 1D Harry backstage with Xander

31 August - Harry ate at this restaurant and they have the receipt pinned up 9 years later. It was at university in Philadelphia. Seen with Xander getting ice cream

1 September 1D show in Phili, Xander attended then Xander Harry and Jeff dinner NY

21 September - Harry posts a photo of a girl in a flooded room, very clean/falling coded

17 September - Xander, Jeff and Harry La dinner

26 September - 1D London O2 during “Don't Forget Where You Belong” Harry kissed the heart for the first time since Tayvin went public. (3:55)

28 September - Harry talks about anniversaries on stage (London). Taylors clean speech (st Louis) she talked about being heartbroken being vulnerable for love then "one day, whether it’s a year later, or 3 months later, [...] you wake up, and you look in the mirror, and you don’t see “heartbreak” written all over your face anymore.” 'You belong with me' surprise song. It had been 3 months since Harry's colour scrabble board and Sweden tweets.

29 September - Taylor buys Samuel Goldwyn’s estate in LA.

10 October - fan sign “I’m here for Xander ritz” Harry points at himself and says me too

13 October - Kendall and Cara seen dancing at a One Direction concert. Harry has breaks his foot playing football In the Zane interview he talked about the the Dublin show being a lesson and taped it for the rest of the shows. (22 mins). ABC News that Calvin might sue over tabloids saying he cheated, Taylor likes his tweet.

16 October - Perfect added to OTRA setlist, replacing Diana

28 October - 1975 Love Me video released where Matty Healy makes out with a Take me Home era Harry cut out. In the BTS he said "I just wanted to make a video that was about some kind of sexually confused rockstar type that who buys into his own nonsense really"

31 October - Final one direction concert in Sheffield. Xander and Jeff there

2 November - Jeff, his now wife Glenne and Xander attend MITS awards with Harry

10 November - Harry tweeted "I told her that I loved her, I'm not sure if she heard. :'( and End of the day Made in AM 1D lyric, which HS doesn’t have a writing credit I’m on.

12 November - One Direction in the BBC Live Lounge. Harry struggled in Story of My Life, he turned around twice and didn't finish the last line. He kissed his heart tattoo also.

13 November - One Direction releases Made in the AM. There is the last push of 1D promo when the band knew it was over. They are wrecked emotionally and exhausted, but watching them look over the precipice of 1D is fascinating, plus this adorable Olivia video.

31 October - Final one direction concert in Sheffield.

10 November - Harry tweeted "I told her that I loved her, I'm not sure if she heard. :'( and End of the day Made in AM 1D lyric, which HS doesn’t have a writing credit I’m on.

12 November - One Direction in the BBC Live Lounge. Harry struggled in Story of My Life, he turned around twice and didn't finish the last line. He kissed his heart tattoo also.

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14 November - Taylor Vogue Australia cover, wearing infinity ring in the video. Foreshadows Rep with: "Then I’ll feel like I’ll need to give people a breather from me because at a certain point they’re going to get a little sick of hearing about me, so I’ll need to go away for a while then, depending on my gauge on how sick of me they are, I’ll decide when to put out the next album.” One direction London seasons for MITAM. Filmed for Apple Music where story of my life was, with James Corden. The video with James asking about perfect with 1989 song titles. Julian’s Bunetta joins them and Harry jokes the albums not finished because Olivia doesn’t have trumpets. Performance of Perfect where harry says “if you think it’s so funny you sing it” rather than the break up songs line of the bridge.

15 November - Harry so quiet on x-Factor it's on the news. He barely spoke, they perform Perfect, looks sad and kicks his feet in the bridge

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20 November, in the London secret session for made in the AM Harry avoided singing the “break up songs” line in the Perfect Bridge, rather than sing it he said to the crowd "if you think it's so funny you can sing it".

21 November - 1D Spotify ping pong Harry says his MITAM lyric is summertime and butterflies all belong to your creation. Really sweet video, Harry’s foot in moon boot. Also that H brushes his teeth before the stage.

22 November - Taylor is a no show at the AMAs but nominated for 6 awards, Lots of speculation. She was shooting OOTW in NZ. 1989 won best pop/rock album. One direction performed perfect and Harry looks upset, rolls his eyes and glared at Louis in the bridge.

27 November - One Direction play the Telehit Awards in Mexico and Harry tweets James Taylor (Begin Again) Mexico Lyrics "The sun's so hot I forgot to go home." 1D Press conference.

28 November - 1989 world tour filmed in Sydney, you are in love (28 times that tour). Rumour Harry with Kendall at golf club.

13 December - final 1D x-factor performance, 5 years from first signing. On her birthday Taylor's pre-recorded interview with Zane Lowe is released, she's made up with Apple.

29 December - Yachtgate starts, later a blind that Calvin sending nudes to other women

30 December - Harry cover of 'things I can' with Eagle Tattoo seen

31 December - actual last 1D performance Dick Clark's Rockin New Years TV Special, their performance was pretaped. The Out of the Woods music video premiered on the same show.

Continue to 2016

#haylor #Youtube #haylor timeline #2015

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