Kurt Elling (born November 2, 1967) is an American jazz vocalist.

El… Read Full Bio ↴Kurt Elling (born November 2, 1967) is an American jazz vocalist.

Elling graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota in 1989. He then enrolled in The University of Chicago's Divinity School and remained a student there until January 1992, when he left school one credit short of graduation.

In the last decade, Elling has released seven albums for the Blue Note label. He has also performed and recorded with many musicians, including David Amram, Bob Belden, Joanne Brackeen, Oscar Brown, Jr., Billy Corgan, Orbert Davis, George Freeman, Buddy Guy, Jon Hendricks, Charlie Hunter and Rex Richardson.

As of late 2005, Elling's current band includes Rob Amster on bass, Laurence Hobgood on piano, and Kobe Watkins on drums. He is regularly featured at the Green Mill Cocktail Lounge at 4802 N. Broadway in Chicago.

Elling has won the Down Beat and JazzTimes critics’ polls three years in a row in the Best Male Singer category. He is also Vice Chair of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the 17,000-member service organization that produces the annual Grammy Awards.

Come Fly With Me
Kurt Elling Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away
If you can use some exotic booze
There's a bar in far Bombay
Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away

Come fly with me, let's float down to Peru
In llama land there's a one-man band
And he'll toot his flute for you

Come fly with me, let's take off in the blue

Once I get you up there where the air is rarefied
We'll just glide, starry-eyed
Once I get you up there I'll be holding you so near
You may hear angels cheer 'cause we're together

Weather-wise it's such a lovely day
Just say the words and we'll beat the birds down to Acapulco Bay
It's perfect for a flying honeymoon, they say
Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away

Once I get you up there where the air is rarefied
We'll just glide starry-eyed
Once I get you up there I'll be holding you so near.
You may hear angels cheer 'cause we're together

Weather-wise it's such a lovely day
You just say the words and we'll beat the birds down to Acapulco Bay, it's perfect for a flying honeymoon, they say

Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly
Pack up let's fly away.

Overall Meaning

Kurt Elling's "Come Fly With Me" is a romantic, upbeat tune that speaks to the desire for adventure and love. The lyrics are inviting and evoke a sense of carefree excitement, and the music is buoyant and brimming with energy. The song emphasizes the idea of travel and encourages the listener to join in on an adventure to new and exotic places.

The opening lines of the song, "Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away," set the tone for the rest of the lyrics. The invitation to travel and explore is extended to the listener, with the suggestion of escaping on a journey with a loved one. The use of the word "exotic" suggests that the journey is not just to any old destination, but rather to a place that is rich in culture and excitement.

The lyrics continue to paint pictures of lush landscapes, including mentions of far-off lands like Bombay and the Peruvian mountains. The promise of adventure is further emphasized in the lines, "Weather-wise it's such a lovely day / Just say the words and we'll beat the birds down to Acapulco Bay," which conjure images of a spontaneous getaway with a lover.

Line by Line Meaning

Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away
Join me on an adventure, let's travel away from our current life

If you can use some exotic booze
If you're interested in trying something new and adventurous to drink

There's a bar in far Bombay
There's a bar in India that serves unique drinks

Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away
Join me on an adventure, let's travel away from our current life

Come fly with me, let's float down to Peru
Let's continue our journey to another destination, Peru

In llama land there's a one-man band
In Peru, there's a musician who plays multiple instruments at once

And he'll toot his flute for you
He'll play his flute for us to enjoy

Come fly with me, let's take off in the blue
Let's continue our journey together in the skies

Once I get you up there where the air is rarefied
Once we're up high in the sky where the air is thinner

We'll just glide, starry-eyed
We'll effortlessly soar through the air, feeling dreamy and awe-struck

Once I get you up there I'll be holding you so near
Once we're up high, I'll be holding you close to me

You may hear angels cheer 'cause we're together
Our connection is so special that it may seem like it's celebrated by the heavens

Weather-wise it's such a lovely day
The weather is perfect for flying

Just say the words and we'll beat the birds down to Acapulco Bay
If you want to go to Acapulco, I'll fly us there faster than the birds can travel

It's perfect for a flying honeymoon, they say
A honeymoon spent flying is an ideal way to start a marriage, according to others

Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away
Join me on an adventure, let's travel away from our current life

Once I get you up there where the air is rarefied
Once we're up high in the sky where the air is thinner

We'll just glide starry-eyed
We'll effortlessly soar through the air, feeling dreamy and awe-struck

Once I get you up there I'll be holding you so near.
Once we're up high, I'll be holding you close to me.

You may hear angels cheer 'cause we're together
Our connection is so special that it may seem like it's celebrated by the heavens

Weather-wise it's such a lovely day
The weather is perfect for flying

You just say the words and we'll beat the birds down to Acapulco Bay, it's perfect for a flying honeymoon, they say
If you want to go to Acapulco, I'll fly us there faster than the birds can travel. A honeymoon spent flying is an ideal way to start a marriage, according to others

Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly
Join me on an adventure, let's travel away from our current life

Pack up let's fly away
Get your things ready, we're embarking on a journey

Writer(s): James van Heusen, van Heusen Jimmy, Sammy Cahn

Contributed by Ava S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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