Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. was born in 1939 to Marvin Gay, Sr. and Alberta Gay in Washington, D.C.. Gaye began his career in Motown in 1958, and soon became Motown's top solo male artist. He scored numerous hits during the 1960s, among them "Ain't That Peculiar", "Stubborn Kind of Fellow", and "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)", as well as several hit duets with Tammi Terrell, including "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"" and "You're All I Need to Get By", before moving on to his own form of musical self-expression.
Along with Stevie Wonder, Gaye is notable for fighting the hit-making—but creatively restrictive—Motown record-making process, in which performers, songwriters and record producers were generally kept in separate camps. Gaye forced Motown to release his 1971 album What's Going On, which is today hailed as one of the best albums of all time. Subsequent releases proved that Gaye, who had been a part-time songwriter for Motown artists during his early years with the label, could write and produce his own singles without having to rely on the Motown system. This achievement would pave the way for the successes of later self-sufficient singer-songwriter-producers in African American music, such as Luther Vandross and Babyface.
During the 1970s, Gaye would release several other notable albums, including Let's Get It On and I Want You, and released several successful singles such as "Come Get to This", "Got to Give It Up" and "Sexual Healing". By the time of his shooting death in 1984, at the hands of his clergyman father, Gaye had become one of the most influential artists of the soul music era.
Flyin' High
Marvin Gaye Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Flying high without ever leavin' the ground, no
Rest of the folks are tired and weary
Oh Lord, and have laid their bodies down
Yeah-yeah, oh yeah
I go the place where danger awaits me
Oh Lord
And it's bound to forsake me (ooh Lord)
I can't help it
Oh, so stupid minded
But I go crazy when I can't find it
In the morning, I'll be alright, my friend (oh Lord)
But soon the night will bring the pains
The pain, oh the pain
Flying high in the friendly sky, oh Lord
Without ever leaving the ground
Yeah-yeah
And I ain't seen nothing but trouble baby
Nobody really understands, no no (help me, somebody)
And I go to the place where good feelin' awaits me
Self-destruction's in my hand
Oh Lord, so stupid minded (can you help me? Can you help?)
Oh Lord, I go crazy when I can't find it (help me)
Well I know, I'm hooked, my friend (got to help me)
To the boy who makes slaves out of men (got to help me)
Oh-oh believe me
Flying high in a friendly sky
Oh baby, flyin' high
Ooh-hoo
Ooh-hoo
Flyin' high, in a friendly sky
In "Flyin' High," Marvin Gaye describes his addiction to drugs and his experiences with the highs and lows that come with drug use. He uses the metaphor of flying high without ever leaving the ground to describe the euphoric feeling of being high on drugs. The rest of the folks are tired and weary and have laid their bodies down, and he feels like he is escaping the reality of his problems by getting high. He acknowledges that danger awaits him, but he is willing to take the risk because he can't resist the feeling of being high. He is aware that his drug use is stupid-minded, but he cannot help it.
In the morning, he may feel alright, but at night, the pain of addiction returns. He craves the drugs, and he can't think of anything else, and he feels like he goes crazy when he can't find it. Nobody understands the depth of his addiction, and he feels like he's hooked, a slave to the drugs. In the song's final verse, he pleads for help as he wishes to break free from his addiction.
Overall, "Flyin' High" is a reflection of Gaye's personal struggles with addiction and his attempt to come to terms with it. The song shed light on the dangers of substance abuse and how it can control a person's thoughts and actions.
Line by Line Meaning
Flying high in the friendly sky
Feeling good and on top of the world without actually leaving the ground
Flying high without ever leavin' the ground, no
Enjoying a natural high without the use of drugs or alcohol
Rest of the folks are tired and weary
Other people are feeling exhausted and drained
Oh Lord, and have laid their bodies down
People have gone to sleep and are taking a break from the day
Yeah-yeah, oh yeah
Expressing agreement and enthusiasm
I go the place where danger awaits me
Choosing to engage in risky behavior
And it's bound to forsake me (ooh Lord)
Knowing that taking these risks will likely lead to negative consequences
So stupid minded
Admitting to being foolish
I can't help it
Feeling unable to resist temptation
Oh, so stupid minded
Continuing to acknowledge one's own foolishness
But I go crazy when I can't find it
Feeling desperate and frantic when unable to get what one craves
In the morning, I'll be alright, my friend (oh Lord)
Feeling temporarily better after sleeping off the effects
But soon the night will bring the pains
Knowing that the urge to engage in dangerous behavior will only return as night falls
Flying high in the friendly sky, oh Lord
Reiterating the feeling of being on a natural high
Without ever leaving the ground
Emphasizing the absence of drug or alcohol use
And I ain't seen nothing but trouble baby
Acknowledging that this behavior is causing problems
Nobody really understands, no no (help me, somebody)
Feeling isolated and like nobody else can relate or help
And I go to the place where good feelin' awaits me
Seeking out the same risky behavior again despite the negative consequences
Self-destruction's in my hand
Being in control of one's own harmful behavior
Oh Lord, so stupid minded (can you help me? Can you help?)
Continuing to feel foolish and misguided, and asking for help
Oh Lord, I go crazy when I can't find it (help me)
Repeating the same feeling of desperation and need for assistance
Well I know, I'm hooked, my friend (got to help me)
Acknowledging that this behavior has become an addiction and that help is needed
To the boy who makes slaves out of men (got to help me)
Referring to the drug dealer or person who introduced the harmful behavior and recognizing their power over the addict
Oh-oh believe me
Asking for the listener to trust in the artist's honesty
Flying high in a friendly sky
Repeating the feeling of being on a natural high and emphasizing the lack of drug or alcohol use
Oh baby, flyin' high
Expressing joy in the feeling of being on a natural high
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Anna Gaye, Elgie Rousseau Stover, Marvin P Gaye
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@butterflylovenj7300
I remember listening to this song a lot after my dad passed. I was 13 at the time, and fell in love with this album. He struggled with addiction, mental illness, and died from AIDS. 🙏🏾
@breislemonade8087
may your father forever be in peace ❤
@larrybee7713
Prayers. Close to the same thing happened to me.
@nellienell924
Your dads story is similar to my fathers ! You feel my pain ! Rip to your pops !
@AmmoShockTroop
My condolences to you and your loved ones. Sorry for your loss.
@lawrenceblack322
Me too.
@curtismiles9173
I could write my life's thesis on this Song. I never been in a black home when i was growing up and this Album wasn't present. "The All Time Greatest Album Ever Recorded" when i hear it it brings out every human emotion i have, Love, Hate, Joy, Pain, Sadness, Happiness. Its that Album that has encompassed every period of my life. I'm 60 as of Jan 2 2020 and i still cry when i hear Mercy Mercy Me. I love and miss my Brother Marvin, RIP.
@larrybee7713
Yup. Life's ups and downs wrapped up into about 4 minutes of ear pleasure.
@richbrow866
1960 baby like my dad
@thomasdriver7654
The struggle is real, I'm here to admit that because im dealing with that pain n addiction today. Pray 4 me