Flying Home
Armand Samson; Bert Brown; Oscar Peterson; Oscar Peterson Quartet; Roland Verdon Lyrics


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We're sitting out here on the runway
Waiting for the plane to leave
And the captain says, "There'll be a short delay
Bear with me, please"

They gave us the usual hassle
"You can't take those guitars on board"
But the boys in the band just smiled
Heard it all before

And as they're starting to serve champagne
To the folks at the front of the plane
I can hear the engines roaring
We're on our way

And we are flying home
I feel the freedom in my soul
Flying home at last
Flying home
I've got the freedom in my soul

And it's four in the morning
My world is calling
Speeding through the universe tonight

The movie reminds of my lady
As she waits, "Where are those guys?"
Yes, it's nice to see old Butch and Sundance in the sky

And now the sun is beginning to rise
It's like looking down on Paradise
There's a ball of fire that's burning
Giving life

And we are flying home
I feel the freedom in my soul
Flying home at last
Flying home
I've got the freedom in my soul

And it's four in the morning




My world is calling
Speeding through the universe tonight

Overall Meaning

The song "Flying Home" by Oscar Peterson Quartet captures the excitement of traveling and returning home. The opening stanza paints a picture of the anticipation of waiting for the plane to take off. The captain's reassurance to "bear with me please" suggests that there might be challenges ahead, and the next verse confirms that "the usual hassle" ensued as the band's guitars were considered too bulky to carry onboard. However, the band members took it in their stride, as they had faced this situation before. The following lines evoke the thrill of takeoff, as the engines start roaring and the plane speeds up.


The chorus of the song is a celebration of freedom, and it reverberates in the verse as well. The singer feels a surge of exhilaration as the plane takes off, and the feeling of being airborne gives him the freedom his heart has been seeking. The phrase "flying home" symbolizes the return of the prodigal son, who is coming back to where he belongs. The song affirms the value of going out into the world and experiencing all that life has to offer, but it also acknowledges the longing for home and the joy of coming back to a place where the soul can rest.


The last stanza of the song adds yet another dimension to the experience of traveling by air. It's four in the morning, and the journey through the universe continues, but the singer's thoughts take a detour towards his lady love. The reference to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid in the sky is a charming metaphor that captures the camaraderie between travelers and their shared destiny. The sunrise is breathtaking, and it reminds the singer of the beauty of the world that he almost forgot while being caught up in the humdrum of life. The song ends on a triumphant note, with the singer finding the freedom he craved in the journey.


Line by Line Meaning

We're sitting out here on the runway
Armand Samson, Bert Brown, and the Oscar Peterson Quartet are waiting for their plane to leave the airport.


Waiting for the plane to leave
They are waiting for their flight to take off.


And the captain says, "There'll be a short delay
The captain of the plane announces that there will be a brief wait.


Bear with me, please"
He asks the passengers to be patient.


They gave us the usual hassle
The airport staff gave the band trouble.


"You can't take those guitars on board"
They were told that they could not bring their guitars on the plane.


But the boys in the band just smiled
The musicians took it in stride and didn't get upset.


Heard it all before
They have experienced this before.


And as they're starting to serve champagne
The flight attendants are beginning to offer drinks to the first-class passengers.


To the folks at the front of the plane
The people sitting in the first-class seats are being served first.


I can hear the engines roaring
The sound of the plane's engines can be heard.


We're on our way
The plane is taking off and leaving the airport.


And we are flying home
The band is returning to their home country.


I feel the freedom in my soul
The experience of flying is liberating and exciting.


Flying home at last
The band is happy to be returning home.


I've got the freedom in my soul
The feeling of flying is making them feel free and happy.


And it's four in the morning
It's early in the morning.


My world is calling
There are things they need to do when they arrive at their destination.


Speeding through the universe tonight
The plane is flying through the night sky at a fast speed.


The movie reminds of my lady
Watching a movie on the plane reminds one band member of their partner.


As she waits, "Where are those guys?"
Their partner might be wondering where they are.


Yes, it's nice to see old Butch and Sundance in the sky
The band members are enjoying the view of the sky and are reminded of a famous movie.


And now the sun is beginning to rise
The sun is starting to come up.


It's like looking down on Paradise
The view from the plane is gorgeous.


There's a ball of fire that's burning
The sun is like a bright, burning ball in the sky.


Giving life
The sun is essential for life on Earth.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN T. WILLIAMS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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