“Wings” is the lead single off of Birdy’s second album Fire Within. It was commercially successful, especially in Europe.

The song is about longing

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Birdy says of the song and the music video directed by Sophie Muller:

[My home] was an inspirational place, with all my mum’s family living very close on this old, run-down estate. Most of my brothers and sisters had a child of about my age, so there was always someone to play with. There was lots of space to run around and do things like go swimming on the beaches that border part of the land. I do know how lucky I am.

But I left college a few months ago before actually taking any exams because I had reached the stage where I needed to concentrate on my music – and my parents agreed. I really enjoy studying, though, so maybe one day I will go back and take my A-levels.

[“Wings”] is about having a wonderful time and the memory of being with your friends and kind of wishing you were back [home], so I wanted it to feel like a festival, and then the director had the idea of putting everyone in carnival clothes to make it a bit weirder and more interesting. We had a brilliant time making it, everyone just looked so amazing. My little sister Caitlin and two of my cousins are the ones riding the horses, and in the shots of me on the swing I am with my best friend Becky.