Story Behind the Song - That's What Hopes Are For

I wrote this song for my The Stuff of Fairy Tales album years ago but I still remember how the song was inspired! I was watching a Monk* episode and in it, Natalie tells Monk, “I’m worried you’re getting your hopes up.” And he replies, “Well, that’s what hopes are for!” And it stuck in my head how true it was!

The ‘castles in the air’ line is from my favorite quote ever by Thoreau: “If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.” And then with all that, it seemed appropriate to simply fill in other cautionary metaphors that would be used to temper unbridled optimism.

The whole album is based on fairy tales and this song I used for the story of Jack and the Beanstalk because his optimism seems to cause all sorts of problems for him and his mother at the start but ends up being their saving grace. I recorded it on my Instagram page back on Easter if you want to watch!

Here are the lyrics and i’ve included a link to the sheet music if you want to play it yourself!

I appreciate your concern

When you say I’ve got a lot to learn

You say, one day, the piper will have to get paid 

And

All good things have got to end

And I have been on a good thing bend

You say, you know, I’ve got to keep my expectations low

But

Chorus:

I’ve got my head in the clouds

There I’m safe from the madding crowds

My hopes are high, and more

Cause that’s what hopes are for

I build castles in the air

And I plan to live up there

Call me a fool, but I’m sure

That that’s what hopes are for

And

I count my chickens while they’re still eggs

It’s easier than when they’ve got legs

I don’t hold my horses

I give them free reign of courses

And

I don’t wait for that show to fall

I don’t even wait at all

First look, then leap

I’d sell my cow for some magic beans

Cause

Chorus:

I’ve got my head in the clouds

There I’m safe from the madding crowds

My hopes are high, and more

Cause that’s what hopes are for

I build castles in the air

And I plan to live up there

Call me a fool, but I’m sure

That that’s what hopes are for

And

I’ve got my head in the clouds

There I’m safe from the madding crowds

My hopes are high, and more

Cause that’s what hopes are for

I build castles in the air

And I plan to live up there

Call me a fool, but I’m sure

That that’s what hopes are

That that’s what hopes are

That that’s what hopes are for