The song “How Far I’ll Go” and its reprise are two musical pieces from Disney’s movie Moana, released in 2016. They were written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, with extra music and co-production by Mark Mancina for the reprise.
In the film, Moana sings this song to show her decision to follow her dreams instead of sticking to what’s expected of her. Auli’i Cravalho sings it in the movie, but during the ending credits, it’s performed by Alessia Cara, a Canadian singer-songwriter.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what the lyrics mean.
“How Far I’ll Go” Lyrics Meaning
[Verse 1]
I’ve been staring at the edge of the water
Long as I can remember, never really knowing why
I wish I could be the perfect daughter
But I come back to the water, no matter how hard I try
In Verse 1, Moana expresses her longing to explore beyond the confines of her island home.
She mentions staring at the ocean’s edge for as long as she can remember, feeling drawn to it without fully understanding why.
Moana wishes she could conform to the expectations placed upon her as a “perfect daughter,” but she always finds herself returning to the water despite her efforts to resist its pull.
[Pre-Chorus]
Every turn I take, every trail I track
Every path I make, every road leads back
To the place I know, where I cannot go
Where I long to be
In the Pre-Chorus, Moana reflects on her journey and the recurring pattern of returning to the ocean, as expressed in the lines “Every turn I take, every trail I track, Every path I make, every road leads back, To the place I know, where I cannot go.”
She describes how every path she takes and every road she follows eventually leads back to the familiar place by the water’s edge.
Despite her longing to explore beyond her island, Moana acknowledges the strong connection she feels to her home and the ocean.
[Chorus]
See the line where the sky meets the sea? It calls me
And no one knows how far it goes
If the wind in my sail on the sea stays behind me
One day I’ll know
If I go there’s just no telling how far I’ll go
In the Chorus, Moana describes the powerful allure of the ocean and her longing to explore its mysteries, as expressed in the lines, “See the line where the sky meets the sea? It calls me.”
In the line “If the wind in my sail on the sea stays behind me,” she imagines a line where the sky meets the sea, symbolizing the boundary between her familiar world and the unknown beyond. Moana feels drawn to this boundary, sensing a call to venture into uncharted territory.
Despite the uncertainty of what lies ahead, she expresses determination and curiosity about discovering her own limits and potential, singing, “One day I’ll know, If I go there’s just no telling how far I’ll go.”
[Post-Chorus]
Go-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Go-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Go-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Go-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
In the Post-Chorus, Moana’s longing for adventure is emphasized through repetitive vocalizations of “Go-oh-oh-oh.” These repeated sounds convey her strong desire to embark on a journey beyond the confines of her island.
[Verse 2]
I know everybody on this island seems so happy
On this island, everything is by design
I know everybody on this island has a role on this island
So maybe I can roll with mine
In Verse 2, Moana observes the contentment of the people on her island and the structured nature of their lives. Despite the apparent happiness of her community, Moana feels a sense of restlessness and dissatisfaction with her own role, as expressed in the lines “I know everybody on this island seems so happy, On this island, everything is by design.”
She recognizes that everyone on the island has a designated purpose, but she questions whether she can truly find fulfillment by conforming to societal expectations, as she sings, “I know everybody on this island has a role on this island, So maybe I can roll with mine.”
Moana wrestles with the conflict between fitting in and following her own path, hinting at her growing desire to explore beyond the island’s boundaries and discover her true identity.
[Pre-Chorus 2]
I can lead with pride, I can make us strong
I’ll be satisfied if I play along
But the voice inside sings a different song
What is wrong with me?
In Pre-Chorus 2, Moana considers the option of embracing her assigned role on the island to bring pride and strength to her community. She acknowledges that conforming to societal expectations might bring her satisfaction.
However, despite this, Moana admits to feeling conflicted because an inner voice urges her to follow a different path, as she sings, “I’ll be satisfied if I play along, But the voice inside sings a different song.”
This internal conflict intensifies as Moana questions her own identity and wonders why she feels drawn to something beyond the confines of her island life.
[Chorus 2]
See the light as it shines on the sea? It’s blinding
But no one knows, how deep it goes
And it seems like it’s calling out to me, so come find me
And let me know
What’s beyond that line, will I cross that line?
See the line where the sky meets the sea? It calls me
And no one knows, how far it goes
If the wind in my sail on the sea stays behind me
One day I’ll know, how far I’ll go
In Chorus 2, Moana reflects on the blinding allure of the light shining on the sea and the mystery it holds. She expresses uncertainty about what lies beyond the horizon but feels compelled to explore it nonetheless, as she sings, “What’s beyond that line, will I cross that line?”
Moana compares the call of the ocean to a beckoning voice, urging her to venture into the unknown and discover what awaits her, as expressed in the line “And it seems like it’s calling out to me, so come find me.”
Despite the uncertainty, Moana’s resolve to pursue her dreams remains strong. In the lines “If the wind in my sail on the sea stays behind me, One day I’ll know, how far I’ll go,” she acknowledges the possibility of crossing the line between her familiar world and the vast expanse of the ocean.
[Outro]
Mm, mm
In the Outro, the soft vocalizations of “Mm, mm” suggest a sense of contemplation and introspection as Moana contemplates her future.
Deeper Meaning Behind “How Far I’ll Go”
“How Far I’ll Go” was crafted as Moana’s “I Want” song, a tradition seen in Disney animated musicals of the 1990s. It replaced an earlier attempt called “More,” which was deemed insufficient as it only expressed Moana’s vague desire to see more of the world.
In contrast, “How Far I’ll Go” delves deeper into Moana’s internal struggle between her love for her island and people and her irresistible urge to explore beyond the reef.
In an interview with People, the songwriter Miranda said:
“To me that’s much more complicated than, ‘I hate it here and I want to get out,’ … To say, ‘I love it here, I love my parents, but why can’t I stop walking to the ocean and fantasizing about getting out of here?’ And questioning that instinct? It’s even more confusing. And that’s a valid story too.”
To write a more compelling song, Miranda immersed himself in Moana’s mindset. He spent a weekend locked in his childhood bedroom, recalling his own experiences at age 16 when he faced a gap between his dreams of show business and his middle-class upbringing.
The song reflects Moana’s deep connection to the ocean, symbolizing her desire to explore the unknown and fulfill her destiny.
On one hand, Moana feels a strong sense of duty to her people and her family, expressed in lines like “I wish I could be the perfect daughter.” However, she is drawn to the allure of the ocean and the possibilities it represents, as seen in the recurring motif of the line “See the line where the sky meets the sea? It calls me.”
Throughout the song, Moana wrestles with her identity and her place in the world, questioning whether she should conform to societal expectations or follow her own path.
The title “How Far I’ll Go” reflects Moana’s curiosity and determination to discover how far she can push herself and how much she can achieve in pursuit of her dreams.
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