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Alison Krauss & Union Station — Paper Airplane
Album: Paper Airplane
Avg rating:
7.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2659









Released: 2011
Length: 3:31
Plays (last 30 days): 2
I've put it all behind me
Nothin' left to do or doubt
Some may say

But every silver lining
Always seems to have a cloud
That comes my way

Anticipated pleasure
Or unexpected pain
No choice I fear

Love is hard to measure
Hidden in the rain
That's why you'll find me

Here all alone and still wonderin' why
Waitin' inside for the cold to get colder
And here where it's clear that I've wasted my time
Hopin' to fly 'cause it's almost over now

People come together
People go their own way
Love conquers few

And I'll do whatever
I'll say what I need to say
Just not for you

How many days should I smile with a frown?
'Cause you're not around with the sun on your shoulders
And how many nights must I wake up alone
And know in my soul that it's almost over now?

Our love is like a paper airplane
Flyin' in the folded wind
Ridin' high, dippin' low
But innocence is fair game
I'm hopin' I can hold it in
Our love will die, I know
Comments (168)add comment
 Cynaera wrote:

Her voice hits me in some visceral place - it makes me shiver and vibrate (pretty embarrassing in public, so it's a good thing I'm usually alone when I listen to her...) She and Patty Griffin do that to me.  Amazing voice, and with Union Station as backup, how could she go wrong?  I understand, now, why Robert Plant chose her as a partner-in-crime. A perfect balance.




    RIP Ann.
Damn!
Absolutely one of my very favorite female voices, if not THE favorite!
 OlderGentleman wrote:

Going to see this angel next month. I cannot wait, it has been too long. Oh yeah, some old rocker named Plant will be there too.



Saw them last month, just a fantastic show, i hope you will like it.
Good memories of listening to this on RP on road trips back in 2014-2016.
Going to see this angel next month. I cannot wait, it has been too long. Oh yeah, some old rocker named Plant will be there too.
Just magic
Shhhh! Just  listen. 
 meatmike wrote:

Witnessing Alison Krauss's voice live is  pretty special.  Backed with Union Station,  it's a truly moving experience.



I saw Alison & Union Station in an old, small (2,500 seat) venue many years ago. The tears and goosebumps I always experience while listening to her voice and their music was slightly awkward until I noticed I was far from alone in having those reactions...
thank you for listening <3
As my last wish, I want Alison to whisper something, anything, in my ear. I will die with a smile on my face, and... er... maybe leave a wet spot.

Oh and I'm from Illinois, so that makes it ok. 
That Jerry Douglas picking is the perfect compliment to Alison’s otherworldly voice.
Vocal lessons not required....
wonderful , she sounds just like Joni
What a beautiful piece of music
I don't hate God. But she did not grant me any gifts remotely like Krauss singing this song. So sure, I can get a little bitter. 
 Cynaera wrote:
Her voice hits me in some visceral place - it makes me shiver and vibrate (pretty embarrassing in public, so it's a good thing I'm usually alone when I listen to her...) She and Patty Griffin do that to me.  Amazing voice, and with Union Station as backup, how could she go wrong?  I understand, now, why Robert Plant chose her as a partner-in-crime. A perfect balance.
 

Totally agree Cynaera. I never new you on RP but with the thoughtful writing that you have always displayed, I miss you to...
 jelgator wrote:
She could sing death metal to me and i would still fall apart.
 
Fully agree. Elton John once said about James Taylor. Even if James Taylor would just sing the names in a telephone book i would listen to that. Same applies for Alison Kraus
 leafmold wrote:
I love RP, but these maudlin, cheesy female singers get on my last nerve.
 

any relation to Karl Maudlin?
 Proclivities wrote:

I guess a prodigious musician and singer, who has been releasing records since she was about sixteen years-old, ought to just retire or go back to playing only traditional bluegrass music, because you have deemed it so.  Her fans, sales, awards, and other accolades are completely meaningless.


 
Agreed. Also to the original source comment, "chick version"? That's quite disparaging and mysoginistic. Perhaps only men can sing? This song is lyrically gorgeous, well-balanced, and really pleasing for any mood. 
 tvhmdaz wrote:

? Nose
 

 Proclivities wrote:

I guess a prodigious musician and singer, who has been releasing records since she was about sixteen years-old, ought to just retire or go back to playing only traditional bluegrass music, because you have deemed it so.  Her fans, sales, awards, and other accolades are completely meaningless.


 

I’m drunk with adoration 🥳
love the Jerry Douglas part the best
 Level 10 Goosebumps 
Witnessing Alison Krauss's voice live is  pretty special.  Backed with Union Station,  it's a truly moving experience.
Just awesome.
I'm sat here looking out at a typical autumn day in southern England, and the hairs on the back of my neck are telling me that is a very special voice ..
 Cynaera wrote:
Her voice hits me in some visceral place - it makes me shiver and vibrate (pretty embarrassing in public, so it's a good thing I'm usually alone when I listen to her...) She and Patty Griffin do that to me.  Amazing voice, and with Union Station as backup, how could she go wrong?  I understand, now, why Robert Plant chose her as a partner-in-crime. A perfect balance.
 
Well said. 
you right mate. I feel the same o:-)
Lawdy. That was sadder'n than even Emmylou or Patty Griffin doing a funeral dirge. Thankful for my cold heart on songs like that. Almost needed a hankie.  
This sure does plonk on the ol' heart strings.
She could sing death metal to me and i would still fall apart.
 cc_rider wrote:
I haven't looked at the lineup yet, but that sure sounds like Jerry Douglas' slide work. Wonderful.

Alison ain't so bad neither... 
 
Yeah, that's Douglas on the dobro.
This is such a pretty song!
What a voice, what a band, and what a song. 10


Best breakup song ever.  As have many experienced before me, I was there leaving a 13 year marriage when this came out and it's still a 10 for me.
 oldsaxon wrote:
her voice...

 
AMEN!!!!!
 TerryS wrote:
Recently heard this song at a small cafe and in the middle a substantial woman joined in with a trained voice contralto duet out of the crowd.
First time I ever really appreciated contralto. 

 
I love that, momments of magic. Lucky you.
her voice...
Recently heard this song at a small cafe and in the middle a substantial woman joined in with a trained voice contralto duet out of the crowd.
First time I ever really appreciated contralto. 
That was a great song to listen to and read the lyrics. Great delivery. Excellent guitar. Cheers!
 Ok, her emote sounds like a genuine whine.

crogers wrote:

Angels don't whine.  They emote.  And angelic voices are fine, as long as they're genuine — Alison is just about as genuine as you can get.

 

Astounding! Chipmunks can sing!
Simply magnificent, I'm in love...
Bill's 10 says godlike but AK's voice is angelic, maybe it needs an 11.

I've been smitten
 
 ih8bills wrote:
I saw Alison Krauss and Union Station, back in the mid-90's — in a local church that was converted to a concert venue... very intimate.
The beauty of that voice is truly something to behold when you're 30 ft away. It was magical.

If you ever get the chance— go and see her live, you won't be disappointed.

 
I share your views totally. Living in Perth, Australia, I was sent to Washington, DC, for work, but had the weekend free, so got a local flight to North Charleston and saw AK and Union Station at their best. What a band they are! Their DVD from the same era, around 2005, is a superb production. If only they would come to Australia. Please play more of them!
I saw Alison Krauss and Union Station, back in the mid-90's — in a local church that was converted to a concert venue... very intimate.
The beauty of that voice is truly something to behold when you're 30 ft away. It was magical.

If you ever get the chance— go and see her live, you won't be disappointed.
Such a hauntingly beautiful  and compelling song- but then, her music always makes me want to roadtrip along the backroads of America (again),  so there may be some bias there.
 Jannne wrote:
Always a wonderful sound from Alison Krauss and U Station....{#Heartkiss}

 


to marry her.
to sing with her.
A most amazing voice. Ear candy to say the least.
 tiare wrote:
The Music part is nice, but in this configuration she sounds very Whiny!

 
Angels don't whine.  They emote.  And angelic voices are fine, as long as they're genuine — Alison is just about as genuine as you can get.


 tiare wrote:
The Music part is nice, but in this configuration she sounds very Whiny!

 
Well, she doesn't use the autotune thingy and it's a sad song...she was probably feeling it a bit. Whiney?..meh.
Still a 10 for me since the first time I heard this beautiful song that gives one pause to remember times past.
Always a wonderful sound from Alison Krauss and U Station....{#Heartkiss}
The Music part is nice, but in this configuration she sounds very Whiny!
I haven't looked at the lineup yet, but that sure sounds like Jerry Douglas' slide work. Wonderful.

Alison ain't so bad neither... 
 Proclivities wrote:

She did a recording of one of those which is available for download; I believe it's the phone directory for Bad Axe, Michigan.

 

Wow, I've been to Bad Axe aka Nasty Hatchet.
 eswiley2 wrote:
Best heard at an outdoor venue on a warm summer evening.   With wine, cheese and maybe a few grapes.  (And a few thousand of your closest friends.)

 
I saw them outside at the Oregon Zoo in Portland back in 2000.  The excellent show and their music in general helped me through a tough time.  I'll always have a soft spot for them and Alison in particular.
 leafmold wrote:
I love RP, but these maudlin, cheesy female singers get on my last nerve.

 
Amen.
 eswiley2 wrote:
Best heard at an outdoor venue on a warm summer evening.   With wine, cheese and maybe a few grapes.  (And a few thousand of your closest friends.)

 
:)
 leafmold wrote:
I love RP, but these maudlin, cheesy female singers get on my last nerve.
 
Obvious troll........
If I may recommend watching the original video. This is a masterpiece in my book, so easy, so simple, so powerful, so nice to hear  {#Hearteyes}
I Agree, Bill, It Was Quite lovely.
{#Kiss} ..... absolutely love Ms. Krauss - this gets a big F A T 9
 leafmold wrote:
I love RP, but these maudlin, cheesy female singers get on my last nerve.
 
Did you read the lyrics closely?  Hardly maudlin, but a stirring lament.
 msymmes wrote:
Cheesy female singer ?    She has won more Grammy awards that any other woman and NOT in the pop category  !

 

leafmold wrote:
I love RP, but these maudlin, cheesy female singers get on my last nerve.

 


The Grammy's?  Meh.

 


 msymmes wrote:
27 Grammy awards !   Holy smoke.

 

 


Cheesy female singer ?    She has won more Grammy awards that any other woman and NOT in the pop category  !

 

leafmold wrote:
I love RP, but these maudlin, cheesy female singers get on my last nerve.

 



I love RP, but these maudlin, cheesy female singers get on my last nerve.
I don't think there is a voice more beautiful than hers.
 ThePoose wrote:
She could sing the phone book, and I would illictly download the music file.

 
She did a recording of one of those which is available for download; I believe it's the phone directory for Bad Axe, Michigan.
I love this song, the words, and the story behind its recording, but am totally baffled at the way it ends.  
As always, Ms. Krauss is suffering from a bad case of "angel voice"...
 flyboy50 wrote:
As good as contemporary blue grass gets. For all you haters - suck it.

 

Remember that term the next time RP plays something you don't like or find annoying, OK?
She could sing the phone book, and I would illictly download the music file.
Best heard at an outdoor venue on a warm summer evening.   With wine, cheese and maybe a few grapes.  (And a few thousand of your closest friends.)
amzin, saw her with Robert Plant 2 summers ago at New Orleans Jazz Fest...awesome!!!
As good as contemporary blue grass gets. For all you haters - suck it.
Love the voice just not the genre...psd
The more I hear of her, the more I love her.
Sorry, SynapseRider.  Hope you come out the other side OK.
I've heard this numerous times, always liked it but never really listened to the words.  Today I listened.  I'm not sure anyone could capture my current situation any better than this.  After 23 years, "it's almost over now"...

 
 wolfbrother wrote:
after reading comments about ALISON, I've come to the conclusion a lot of u don't have a clue about music, better that u submerge your wasted ears in the sand!

 
To each his own. I think this is insipid crap. But glad you enjoy it.
27 Grammy awards !   Holy smoke.

 
Sweet, sincere and pretty. Yep.
Nice playlist

Joni and then Alison 
Vocal perfection.
 jt1 wrote:

Can't imagine what was wrong with me last time I heard this...it seems I rated it a 4. At this rate, it will be a 10 in a couple more listens.



 
I was quicker than you: I started at 8 and ended up with 10 soon enough. Since then, I've been stuck there.
For those who like real great talent, bare simplicity and true performing emotion, watching the original video on YouTube is also highly recommended. 
Beautiful song!
 sajitjacob wrote:
Yep. thought it was that horrible Katie Melua.

 
suesblues wrote:
cheesy and sappy
 
  Completely agree. Total sappy crap
after reading comments about ALISON, I've come to the conclusion a lot of u don't have a clue about music, better that u submerge your wasted ears in the sand!
Yep. thought it was that horrible Katie Melua.

 
suesblues wrote:
cheesy and sappy
 


cheesy and sappy
 jt1 wrote:

Can't imagine what was wrong with me last time I heard this...it seems I rated it a 4. At this rate, it will be a 10 in a couple more listens.

 
I started this one as a 2 and it's moving down. Too much nasal whining sound.

Can't imagine what was wrong with me last time I heard this...it seems I rated it a 4. At this rate, it will be a 10 in a couple more listens.


Awesome song.
 Proclivities wrote:

That's a good list.
 
That's An excellent list....and there are more!     {#Flamed}
PERFECT MUSIC!
 oldsaxon wrote:
...Three favourite female vocalists today :Alison Krauss, Sarah Jarosz  and Neko Case....but that changes daily....order is arbitrary.
 
That's a good list.
 Dave_Mack wrote:

I like your list, though I don't know much about Sarah Jarosz. I'd certainly add Patty Griffin to it if it were my list.
 
Was thinking the same thing.....
 oldsaxon wrote:

Everyone is entitled to an opinion, regardless of how isolated it may be. It's nice that you can feel comfortable enough here to share what you think. I personally think you're maybe stuck in some bluegrass field and need to get out more, but that's just my opinion....

As for Alison's voice, I've said it before: she can sing the gas bill and I'd still give her a 10. 

Three favourite female vocalists today :Alison Krauss, Sarah Jarosz  and Neko Case....but that changes daily....order is arbitrary.
 
I like your list, though I don't know much about Sarah Jarosz. I'd certainly add Patty Griffin to it if it were my list.
I saw her sing this live a couple weeks ago. Sooooo beautiful. She and her band are amazing musicians too.
 TJS wrote:
I agree.  Her voice is absolutely lovely, but it's a little thin.
 

...it's velvet...
 TerryS wrote:
Love the song, melody, but I'd like to hear it performed by a woman with a strong voice, the voice of an eagle, rather than a butterfly's wing.
 
I feel her voice is plenty strong enough when it needs to be. Unless you're hoping for a Florence and the Machine cover? (shudder)
Just saw them last week. Fabulous musicians.
What a nice voice.......like honey....7.
 TerryS wrote:
Love the song, melody, but I'd like to hear it performed by a woman with a strong voice, the voice of an eagle, rather than a butterfly's wing.
 

I agree.  Her voice is absolutely lovely, but it's a little thin.
 Andy_B wrote:
Still a 10 for me.  And hearing it today is perfectly appropiate,...had my final divorce hearing this morning.
 
That must suck.  Like stepping off a cliff........
On the other hand, maybe it's a new beginning.
Best wishes. 
every time i think, "who owns this beautiful voice?" it is inevitably Alison Krauss. 
Still a 10 for me.  And hearing it today is perfectly appropiate,...had my final divorce hearing this morning.
By the way, any of you "sound geeks" out there who want to know more about how this record was made, check out this article from Sound on Sound:


Love the song, melody, but I'd like to hear it performed by a woman with a strong voice, the voice of an eagle, rather than a butterfly's wing.
 bokey wrote:

She has brilliant control and vocal discipline.Maybe it could be perceived as too technical, but it's a real long road to get to be that good.I appreciate what I know she's done and given up to get to the place she's at.

 Try playing an instrument like she does while singing like that.

   She is the real deal.She worked for it and it shows.
 

i completely agree...she is one the best performers I have EVER seen, simply ethereal yet grounding...amazing indeed.
 Sjaaks wrote:


I partially agree with pdelrio. Whether you like it or not is not part of what pdelrio is saying. If you listen to an entire album of Alison singing, it really isn't dynamic at all. It's all in the same range, almost afraid to try something else. . . That doesn't say Alison is a bad singer or musician. It's just pdelrio's opinion based on listening to Alison's music and how he feels about that.

The part about Union Station and going back to whatever isn't really worth a discussion, that's just an empty conclusion based on an opinion. . .
 
She has brilliant control and vocal discipline. Maybe it could be perceived as too technical, but it's a real long road to get to be that good. I appreciate what I know she's done and given up to get to the place she's at.

 Try playing an instrument like she does while singing like that.

   She is the real deal. She worked for it and it shows.


 pdelrio wrote:
Alison Krauss is a great bluegrass fiddler but too often goes into that rhythm chop. Her voice is somewhere in the dog hearing range and she sings it through her nose. That gets annoying after a couple of songs and sounds too whiney. Union Station is a great group of musicians but they should go back to real bluegrass and leave this chick version alone.  Alison needs more edge to her stuff...more energy.
 

I partially agree with pdelrio. Whether you like it or not is not part of what pdelrio is saying. If you listen to an entire album of Alison singing, it really isn't dynamic at all. It's all in the same range, almost afraid to try something else... That doesn't say Alison is a bad singer or musician. It's just pdelrio's opinion based on listening to Alison's music and how he feels about that.

The part about Union Station and going back to whatever isn't really worth a discussion, that's just an empty conclusion based on an opinion...
 oldsaxon wrote:

Everyone is entitled to an opinion, regardless of how isolated it may be. It's nice that you can feel comfortable enough here to share what you think. I personally think you're maybe stuck in some bluegrass field and need to get out more, but that's just my opinion....

As for Alison's voice, I've said it before: she can sing the gas bill and I'd still give her a 10. 

Three favourite female vocalists today :Alison Krauss, Sarah Jarosz  and Neko Case....but that changes daily....order is arbitrary.
 
Agree with oldsaxon. Everyone has an opinion, and mine is this group as a whole is wonderful. I wish she'd come sing my electric bill.


 pdelrio wrote:
Alison Krauss is a great bluegrass fiddler but too often goes into that rhythm chop. Her voice is somewhere in the dog hearing range and she sings it through her nose. That gets annoying after a couple of songs and sounds too whiney. Union Station is a great group of musicians but they should go back to real bluegrass and leave this chick version alone.  Alison needs more edge to her stuff...more energy.
 
Everyone is entitled to an opinion, regardless of how isolated it may be. It's nice that you can feel comfortable enough here to share what you think. I personally think you're maybe stuck in some bluegrass field and need to get out more, but that's just my opinion....

As for Alison's voice, I've said it before: she can sing the gas bill and I'd still give her a 10. 

Three favourite female vocalists today :Alison Krauss, Sarah Jarosz  and Neko Case....but that changes daily....order is arbitrary.
3 to 2. This one just irritates me. I'm at work and took the time to note how much this one reminds me of nails on a chalk board.

Ugh.