The band initially formed as the Classics (1964) in Vancouver, British Columbia, but later changed the name to the Collectors (1966). Their psychedelic debut album yielded the minor but long-remembered hit 'Lydia Purple'. A second album was based on the musical score written by the band for a stage play by Canadian playwright George Ryga, 'Grass and Wild Strawberries'.
After lead singer Howie Vickers left the group in 1970, the band changed its name to Chilliwack, a Salish term meaning "going back up". With lead guitarist Bill Henderson now providing most of the vocals and doing most of the composing, the band released several records that were moderately successful in Canada. Major hit singles in Canada included "Lonesome Mary", "Crazy Talk" and "Fly at Night". The album track "Rain-o", an elegant, soaring, blues-based composition that appeared in different versions on the Chilliwack debut album and the later "Dreams, Dreams, Dreams", was a well known concert favourite.
In 1978, Brian MacLeod (guitar, drums, keyboards) and Ab Bryant (bass) joined the band. Chilliwack enjoyed its greatest success with this new lineup. The singles "My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone)" (1981), "I Believe" (1982), and "Whatcha Gonna Do (When I'm Gone)" (1982) were popular both in Canada and in the U.S. The band was extremely popular at the time, and was regarded as the Canadian answer to the Grateful Dead. Rolling Stone Magazine wrote:
"At their best, Chilliwack was the finest Canadian rock band, outrocking BTO and Moxy and outwriting Burton Cummings. But a lack of consistency kept it from international success."
Henderson and MacLeod received a Best Producer Juno Award in 1982 for Opus X. In early 1983, MacLeod and Bryant left the band, to devote more time to their other project, the Headpins (with Denise McCann and then Darby Mills as lead vocalists). Chilliwack's last new recording was released in 1984 and Henderson and Lawrence continued to tour with other players until December 1988. In 1989 Bill Henderson went on to form the band UHF.
2005 saw Chilliwack play Voyageur Days Festival in Mattawa, Ontario, Canada (near North Bay) with other Canadian classic rockers Moxy, Toronto, Trooper, Goddo, Killer Dwarfs & Ray Lyell for the 30th anniversary for release of the debut album by the band Moxy.
Fly At Night
Chilliwack Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fly at night in the morning we land
Fly at night 'til we're satisfied
See the morning from the other side
And when you close your eyes
Sleep comes fast
When you fly the universe
Yeah, you need some rest
Ooh, we like the big wide spaces
Yeah, we like a sea of faces
Time is just a rubber band
Time is at our command
And when we look out
And see you there
You seem much closer
And you feel so near
Yeah, you feel so near
Well we fly by night, it's like a rocket flight
And baby that's just what it's for
Yeah, we fly by night, it makes you feel alright
It keeps you coming back for more
Well we fly by night, it's like a rocket flight
And baby that's just what it's for
We fly by night, it makes you feel alright
It keeps you coming back for more
Four men in a rock 'n roll band
Fly at night in the morning we land
Fly at night 'til we're satisfied
See the morning from the other side
“Fly at Night” by Chilliwack is a classic rock song about the exhilaration and freedom of being in a rock 'n roll band, and the feeling of traveling through space and time while on tour. The song opens with the powerful line, “Four men in a rock 'n roll band, fly at night in the morning we land,” which perfectly encapsulates the feeling of being in a band on tour. The song is about the experience of performing on stage and traveling from city to city, seeing the sights and experiencing new things.
The lyrics describe the feeling of freedom and adventure that comes with being a musician, and the sense of being part of something bigger than oneself. The band sings about the thrill of flying at night and seeing the morning from the other side, and the feeling of flying through the universe on a rocket flight. They also talk about the need for rest and the importance of taking time to recharge in order to keep going.
Line by Line Meaning
Four men in a rock 'n roll band
There are four band members who play rock 'n roll music
Fly at night in the morning we land
They travel by air during night time and reach their destination by morning
Fly at night 'til we're satisfied
They fly at night until they feel content with their journey
See the morning from the other side
They witness the sunrise from a different perspective after travelling by night
And when you close your eyes
When asleep or resting
Sleep comes fast
Sleep is easy to attain when you're tired and relax your body
When you fly the universe
When you're travelling across space
Well, you need some rest
Even in the vastness of space, rest is necessary
Yeah, you need some rest
Repeating the need for rest
Ooh, we like the big wide spaces
They enjoy being in open and vast locations
Yeah, we like a sea of faces
They enjoy having a large crowd in front of them
Time is just a rubber band
Time can be stretched and manipulated like a rubber band
Time is at our command
They have control over their time and schedule
And when we look out
When they look towards the crowd or outside the aircraft
And see you there
When they see the audience or people around them
You seem much closer
The distance between them and the audience seems shorter
And you feel so near
They feel a personal connection with the people around them
Well we fly by night, it's like a rocket flight
Travelling by night feels exhilarating and exciting
And baby that's just what it's for
That's the purpose of this type of travel
Yeah, we fly by night, it makes you feel alright
Flying at night gives a sense of satisfaction or confidence
It keeps you coming back for more
This type of travel is addictive or enjoyable
Four men in a rock 'n roll band
Repeating the opening statement
Fly at night in the morning we land
Repeating the main chorus
Fly at night 'til we're satisfied
Repeating the main chorus
See the morning from the other side
Repeating the main chorus
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: WILLIAM A. HENDERSON, WILLIAM ROSS TURNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@caligulapontifex5759
As a Canadian and a child of the 80s, I have a sad confession to make. I never took these Canadian bands like Chilliwack, Triumph, April Wine, Rush all that seriously back in the day. Now in my late 40s I'm discovering these great Canadian bands and it's awesome music.
@KevinJohnson-jc9ju
You missed alot...welcome aboard
@avidnongetit8710
1st woah your screen name is both cool and terrifying. Secondly, you are lucky, this late in your journey you've discovered a great treasure trove! And honesty, though harder than diamond, is the best surface to stand on and where true freedom, and togetherness always begin. Isn't it interesting that being and begin start with BE. Socrates wrote to thy own self BE true. But truth isn't a spectator sport or a game and always takes at least 2...
Peace
@daranjtaylor5240
All Great Bands...ENJOY
@homeontherangertruckhouse5990
Yes it's still awesome!!
@berzerlel
Same. ♥️
@greggsmith8936
Canadian rockin' bands from the 70s and 80s wete just the best!
@thenickfoxx
I was driving through the mountains of the Bow Valley in Alberta, Canada the other night and this song came on. The moon was so bright with stars filling the sky - reflecting off the snow-capped rocky mountains. It was so bright, it was almost daylight ; just blaring this song, cruising through the back roads smoking a cigarette. It's priceless and beautiful moments like that - I'll never forget, and think back to with a smile. Oh, life.
@jimhuskey3343
Man that was poetic and I I know what you mean
@thenickfoxx
@@jimhuskey3343 🤙