Hello there! I'm ApplesauceDoctr here today with my third DP Song Analysis article. I've forgotten how much I enjoy writing these, and since I re-watched Brave a few days ago, I thought I'd analyze one of its most notable songs -- "Into the Open Air".

Before we begin, thought I'd mention this -- the chorus occurs twice in the real song (the one you can purchase from the soundtrack), but only occurs once in the actual movie. The lyrics for the two are quite different, but because we only hear one version in the movie, I'll only discuss that one we hear. :D



This love, it is a distant star
Guiding us home wherever we are
This love, it is a burning sun
Shining light on the things that we've done


Important Note: This song uses the terms "we" and "us" very often, referring to both Merida and Elinor. (There are some instances where "I" is used, but more on that later.)
The first line about the "distant star" is...a little vague. And arguably, the part about the "burning sun" is as well. But the use of these terms makes sense by comparing it to their love -- or rather, by comparing their love to them. Merida's love for her mother and Elinor's love for her daughter are definitely there, though there has been some strain what with the events leading up to this song -- namely, the whole "wedding" deal and of course the transformation.
As I said, the first line especially is vague, but here's my interpretation: by comparing their love to a "distant star", they are saying that it is a way for them to connect, so to speak. It is something that they can come back to, that they can always look up to for hope, much like how Disney's "When You Wish Upon a Star" suggests. For example, when you find yourself in a difficult situation, you might look up to your loved ones for advice and support. I think that's what this comparison is getting at; even if the two feel hopeless, they can always go to each other for support (especially Merida to Elinor), much like how one may look up to a star.
The next line I think is much more straightforward. Their love being a "burning sun / Shedding light on the things that [they've] done" is simply a way of saying that they're looking back on some of their past actions and behaviors.
But there's one more important detail -- it's not simply "their love". It is "this love", the love that they feel for each other now. Heck, maybe even more than just that! "This love" seems to refer to not only their love for each other, but also their understanding of each other. If it is indeed their understanding, then "this love" could be a "distant star" in that it has brought them together in a way that's never been done before, and a "burning sun" because their new understanding has helped them to understand themselves as well, and how they may feel now about their past actions.

FINALLY! Let's move on.


I try to speak to you everyday
But each word we spoke,
the wind blew away


This is one of the instances in the song where the terms "you" and "I" are used. That's actually really clever -- you're supposed to interpret it as both Merida speaking to Elinor and Elinor speaking to Merida. In other words, they share that single voice.
So, what does it mean? It's pretty straightforward -- the two both try to talk to each other, but it's as if their words never land. This refers to the problem mentioned earlier about how they both feel that the other doesn't listen.
But isn't it interesting that it switches back to "we" in the second line? It doesn't sound like Merida blames Elinor for the not-listening thing, and vise versa. Think about it: "I try to speak to you everyday, but each word we spoke, the wind blew away." The blame seems to lie on a figurative "wind", not each other. The question is, what is this wind?

Perhaps I'm reading too much into things, but I thought about what that "wind" is supposed to be referring to for at least 20 minutes. I think I have it now, though this explanation may be confusing -- at this point in the movie, the "wind" is just the wind. By now, they've come to realize that it isn't the other's fault for the lack of listening and understanding. That is a big milestone. But like I said, that's at this point in the movie. Remember how before I was saying that "This love" is exclusive to how they feel about and understand each other now? Same thing here. Over the course of the rest of the movie, they realize that perhaps the blame lies on themselves. Thus, the "wind" is no longer just some figurative wind -- it is themselves. Merida was the reason she didn't understand Elinor, and Elinor is the reason she didn't understand Merida. It's like this:

At This Point in the Movie: "I realize now that it isn't your fault that we didn't understand each other."
By the End of the Movie: "Now I realize that I might be the reason we didn't understand each other."

Thus, the meaning of that particular lyric changes later on. At least, that's how I see it, and that puts a whole new light on the meaning behind their dialogue towards the end of the movie:

Merida: "You changed."
Elinor: "Oh, darling -- we both have."

We haven't even reached the chorus yet and this analysis is already long. xD




How did we let it come to this?
What we just tasted we somehow still miss


Thankfully, the first line is easy to explain; they question how their relationship reached this current stage. A lot of things added up for it to be what it is now.
The second line can be both figurative and literal. First, the literal: At this point in the song, Elinor is trying to catch fish on her own. She has recently tasted fish, but keeps missing them (can't catch them). She gets better from this point on, though. :D But is there a deeper meaning behind this line? Probably. This is another one that's tricky to interpret, but I think the figurative meaning is this: They've recently gotten a "taste" of what the other is like (they're growing more familiar with each other), yet they're still "miss[ing]" something (they don't fully understand each other yet). They understand each other better than they did before, but they still have a ways to go.




How will it feel when this day is done
And can we keep what we've only begun?


This backs up my claim above -- they're starting to understand and value each other, but know there is still room to grow. They question that here. What will happen after this adventure is over? Will things go back to the way they were, or will they be able to continue strengthening their bond?

Finally, we reach the chorus! Like I said, there are two variations, but we only hear one of these in the movie, which you can see below:


Could these walls come crumbling down?
I want to feel my feet on the ground
Can we carry this love that we share
Into the open air (x3)
This love, it is a burning sun

That first line of the chorus speaks of "walls" which likely represents the barrier between their relationship. The second line backs that up.

Literal Meaning: The walls that prevented someone from exploring the outside world "[crumble] down", so now they can "feel [their] feet on the ground".
Figurative Meaning: The barrier between Merida and Elinor is broken, and now they can strengthen their relationship and get to know each other better.

"Can we carry this love that we share / Into the open air?" is rather touching. However, it's just reiterating the lines above it. The lyric "Into the open air" is sung two more times, perhaps to emphasize the freedom they would feel if indeed that barrier was broken. Earlier in the movie, we clearly see that the two are...well, for lack of a better word, stressed because the other doesn't listen. If they did listen, they would be free of so much stress (again, not sure if that's the proper word to use here, but it's all I can think of).
Then the line about the "burning sun" is repeated, which as I stated earlier was supposed to mean that they were reflecting on their past actions. Maybe they're emphasizing that these two characters will continue to do so for the remainder of the film -- reflect on their past and use that as a guide for how to lead their futures.

WOW, that was a big analysis! And you're still reading? Congratulations, and many thanks for reading! Let me know what your thoughts on this song and analysis are, and feel free to share any other interpretations you may have. :)