Among 38 Special's best-known songs are "Caught Up in You" (1982) and "If I'd Been the One" (1983), both of which hit #1 on Billboard magazine's album rock chart, as well as "Second Chance" (1989), a #1 hit on Billboard's adult contemporary chart. According to Songfacts, it was the biggest Adult Contemporary hit of 1989. Other popular singles include "Hold On Loosely" (1981), "Fantasy Girl" (1981), "Back Where You Belong" (1984), and "Somebody Like You" (1986). These and other tracks are often played on classic rock radio stations.
After achieving three platinum albums and one gold album in the 80s, their popularity waned over the 90s-- although their 1997 single "Fade to Blue" hit #37 on the mainstream rock chart. More recently, the group's music came back into prominence after being featured in the 2001 cult classic comedy film 'Super Troopers', with songs such as "Trooper With An Attitude". They continue to tour to audiences in the American south and beyond.
The current lineup is comprised of vocalist Donnie Van Zant, guitarists Don Barnes and Danny Chauncey, bassist Larry Junstrom, keyboardist Bobby Capps, and drummer Gary Moffatt. Recently, both Donnie Van Zant and little brother Johnnie (the current frontman of Lynyrd Skynyrd) have joined forces as Van Zant and have released an album with another in the works.
Fly Away
.38 Special Lyrics
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I look at the sky up ahead,
And I wonder what it'd be like,
To be there, yes to be there.
Now I can tell you lots o' stories.
I can tell you how it should be.
But if you want to find a good life,
'Cause you gotta fly away like the blue bird.
'Cause you gotta fly away to touch the sun.
'Cause you gotta fly away come tomorrow.
Can't cha' see? Lord, can't you see?
Now I can't tell you how to live.
I hope that you can understand.
So when you're down you have to find a way,
To be a man, yes to be a man.
'Cause you gotta fly away like the blue bird.
'Cause you gotta fly away to touch the sun.
'Cause you gotta fly away come tomorrow.
Can't you see? Lord, can't you see?
Fly Away!
The lyrics to .38 Special's song "Fly Away" paint a picture of a person who longs for something more than their current situation. The singer wakes up in the morning and looks at the sky with wonder, dreaming of what it would be like to be up there. He acknowledges that he can tell many stories of how life should be, but ultimately, to find a good life, you have to take it from him. The key to finding a good life, according to the singer, is to fly away like a bluebird, touch the sun, and come back tomorrow.
The singer speaks with authority but doesn't dictate how one should live their life. Instead, he hopes that the listener will understand his message and find their way to be a man when they're down. The song's repeated refrain of "fly away" is a metaphor for leaving the constraints of everyday life and seeking something greater. It's a call to action to seize opportunities and take a chance.
Line by Line Meaning
When I wake up in the mornin',
Upon waking up in the morning,
I look at the sky up ahead,
I observe the sky straight ahead of me,
And I wonder what it'd be like,
I think about what it would be like,
To be there, yes to be there.
To exist in that pristine state of mind.
Now I can tell you lots o' stories.
I have many stories to tell you,
I can tell you how it should be.
I can enlighten you on what you should be doing,
But if you want to find a good life,
However, if you want to find a content and successful life,
A' take it from me, yes take it from me.
Listen to me and follow my advice on this.
'Cause you gotta fly away like the blue bird.
Because you must rise above your current state and soar like a blue bird,
'Cause you gotta fly away to touch the sun.
And you must fly away far enough to touch the sun,
'Cause you gotta fly away come tomorrow.
And you must continue flying away even tomorrow,
Can't cha' see? Lord, can't you see?
Don't you see that this is what you need?
Now I can't tell you how to live.
I cannot dictate to you how to go about living your life,
I hope that you can understand.
I hope that you will be able to understand it yourself.
So when you're down you have to find a way,
Therefore, when you are feeling low, you must discover a way to lift yourself up,
To be a man, yes to be a man.
To overcome the downfalls and come out strong and bright,
'Cause you gotta fly away like the blue bird.
As you must be willing to fly away once again like the blue bird.
'Cause you gotta fly away to touch the sun.
You must soar to great heights to reach your desired goal,
'Cause you gotta fly away come tomorrow.
And this action must continue forth into your future as well,
Can't you see? Lord, can't you see?
Can't you grasp the importance of this?
Fly Away!
Taking to the skies and pushing through all obstacles with a positive outlook.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RICHARD DONALD BARNES, JEFFREY S. CARLISI, DONALD N. VAN ZANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind