Cracking the Zarry Code - how Deep is real.

If I Could Fly

This song was written and recorded by Harry, apparently in April 2015 (according to One Direction Wiki) so just after Zayn left the band. Harry spent some of that month in LA.

I get the feeling this chapter is going to be difficult to write.

First, I must admit that, as a song, I don't like IICF. I find it simplistic and the tune a bit predictable. It sounds like 1D trotting out boring boyband romantic clichés ("for your eyes only"; "I'm missing half of me" "I show you my heart"). Which is why, if I ever did hear it back at the time of Made in the A.M. (and I honestly can't remember if I did), I wouldn't have listened too carefully. It is heart-on-sleeve confessional and melodramatic to such an extent that it almost seems fake. There is no edge to it, no metaphor, no mystery and no cleverly-worded lyrics. Which is frankly unusual for a Zarry song and even for a One Direction song. Of course, the reason for the song being like this (and this is why I can forgive the clichés) is because it is Harry telling us his true feelings of devastation at the loss of someone he loves. He breaks his heart wide open - as he says in the song: "Right now I'm completely defenceless" and "I let my guard down". No cleverness, no innuendo, no double meanings. This is Harry staring at his life like the bottom of an empty glass.

Second, I know there is a lot of controversy about what the song is about, with larries convinced that it is about Louis, who wasn't with Harry in LA at the time he (probably) wrote it. (Louis was apparently at home in the UK). The larries link it to Liam and Louis's song Home which I'll admit does suggest Larry-in-the-aftermath-of-Zarry.

I'll address these points one by one, so please bear with me.

Let's look at some of the lyrics

If I could fly

I'd be coming right back home to you

I think I might

Give up everything

Just ask me to

Pay attention / I hope that you listen

Cause I let my guard down

Right now I'm completely defenceless

For your eyes only

I show you my heart

For when you're lonely

And forget who you are

I'm missing half of me

When we're apart

Now you know me

For your eyes only

When you know that the sentiments in IICF are real and all coming from Harry, this simple song acquires an artistic stature it wouldn't otherwise have.

But who is Harry singing about? Who is he missing? Yes, Harry was separated from Louis at the time he wrote the song; and Home is a Louis song which raises a lot of questions (but not enough to negate Zarry 's supremacy I think!). But I am not sure how the larries can be so sure that IICF is theirs.

Here's why:

In April 2015, who had just left Harry for good? Not Louis.

And more importantly, who would Harry have to "give up everything" to be with? Not Louis, who was still his bandmate. At the time Harry wrote IICF the band were still set to record and release a fifth album - and to tour it. Louis has said himself he had no plans to leave the band (it was Harry that pushed for the hiatus); so why would Harry have to give up everything to be with Louis?