Music from the Balcony
Mike Oldfield Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

What Do You Do When Your Falling,
You've Got 30 Degrees And You're Stalling Out?
And It's 24 Miles To Your Beacon;
There's A Cut In The Sky And The Warning's Out.

Don't Take That Dive Again!
Push Through That Band Of Rain!
Five Miles Out,
Just Hold Your Heading True.
Got To Get Your Finest Out.
You're Number 1, Anticipating You.
Climbing Out.
Just Hold Your Heading True.
Got To Get Your Finest Out.
You're Number 1, Anticipating You.

Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!
Calling All Stations!
This Is Golf-Mike-Oscar-Victor-Juliet
Imc Cu.nimb... Icing,
In Great Difficulty, Over.

The Traffic Controller Is Calling,
"Victor-Juliet Your Identity.
I Have You Lost In The Violent Storm!
Communicate Or Squawk 'Emergency'!"

Don't Take That Dive Again!
Push Through That Band Of Rain!

Lost In Statical Turn,
And The Storm Is Closing In Now.
Automatical Turn!
Got To Push Through!
Trapped In Living Hell!

Your A Prisoner Of The Dark Sky,
The Propeller Blades Are Still!
And The Evil Eye Of The Hurricane's
Coming In Now For The Kill.

Our Hope's With You,

Rider In The Blue. Welcome's Waiting, We're Anticipating
You'll Be Celebrating, When You're Down And Braking.
Climbing Out.
Climbing! Climbing!

Five Miles Out.
Climbing! Climbing!
Five Miles Out,
Just Hold Your Heading True.
Got To Get Your Finest Out...
Climbing! Climbing!
Five Miles Out,
Just Hold Your Heading True.
Got To Get Your Finest Out...
Climbing! Climbing!
Climbing Out.
Just Hold Your Heading True.
Got To Get Your Finest Out...
Climbing! Climbing!
FiveM iles Out,
Just Hold Your Heading True.
Got To Get Your Finest Out...
Climbing! Climbing!
Climbing Out.
Just Hold Your Heading True.
Got To Get Your Finest Out...
Climbing! Climbing!
Climbing Out.
Just Hold Your Heading True.




Got To Get Your Finest Out...
Climbing! Climbing!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Mike Oldfield's song "Music from the Balcony" tell the story of a pilot who finds themselves in a dangerous situation while flying. The opening line, "What do you do when you're falling?" hints at the possibility of a crash, and the following lines describe the plane stalling out and the distance to the nearest beacon. The warning of a possible cut in the sky further emphasizes the perilous situation the pilot is in.


The chorus consists of directives from a voice (possibly air traffic control) urging the pilot to "push through that band of rain" and "hold your heading true." The urgency of the situation is ramped up as the pilot radios a distress signal, stating they are "in great difficulty." The voice on the other end instructs the pilot to communicate or signal an emergency.


The second half of the song describes the pilot's struggle to remain in control of the plane as they become lost in the storm and the propeller blades stop. The words "trapped in living hell" further underscore the direness of the situation. The song ends on a hopeful note, with the voice on the other end calling the pilot "rider in the blue" and expressing anticipation for their safe landing.


Overall, the lyrics of "Music from the Balcony" evoke a sense of tension and desperation as the pilot fights to make it through a treacherous flight.


Line by Line Meaning

What Do You Do When Your Falling,
What do you do when you are in crisis?


You've Got 30 Degrees And You're Stalling Out?
You are losing altitude and momentum.


And It's 24 Miles To Your Beacon;
You are far away from your destination.


There's A Cut In The Sky And The Warning's Out.
The weather is bad and dangerous flying conditions exist.


Don't Take That Dive Again!
Do not repeat your past mistakes, it could be costly this time.


Push Through That Band Of Rain!
Stay focused and continue despite the difficulties.


Five Miles Out,
Being just five miles out of your destination can seem both too close and too far away.


Just Hold Your Heading True.
Stay focused and do not deviate.


Got To Get Your Finest Out.
Give it all you got to be successful.


You're Number 1, Anticipating You.
You are an important person and everyone is waiting for you.


Climbing Out.
Rising above the problems and difficulties you are facing.


Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!
Urgent distress call.


Calling All Stations!
Asking for help and assistance from all available sources.


This Is Golf-Mike-Oscar-Victor-Juliet
Identifying yourself in distress.


Imc Cu.nimb... Icing,
Giving information about the conditions you are experiencing.


In Great Difficulty, Over.
You are in a lot of trouble and need help.


The Traffic Controller Is Calling,
Someone is trying to make contact with you.


"Victor-Juliet Your Identity.
Asking you to confirm your identity.


I Have You Lost In The Violent Storm!
The situation is serious and you are in danger.


Communicate Or Squawk 'Emergency'!"
Requesting you to use the emergency signal to indicate you are in serious trouble.


Lost In Statical Turn,
Confused in your flight path.


And The Storm Is Closing In Now.
The situation is getting worse by the moment.


Automatical Turn!
Your aircraft is turning automatically without your control.


Got To Push Through!
You need to act quickly and be decisive to overcome the situation.


Trapped In Living Hell!
The situation has become disastrous.


Your A Prisoner Of The Dark Sky,
You are stuck and cannot escape the severe weather conditions.


The Propeller Blades Are Still!
Your aircraft has stopped functioning.


And The Evil Eye Of The Hurricane's
The dangerous part of the storm is coming.


Coming In Now For The Kill.
The storm is going to destroy you.


Our Hope's With You,
We are counting on you to survive this situation.


Rider In The Blue.
You are the one in the aircraft, making the decisions.


Welcome's Waiting, We're Anticipating
People are waiting for you to arrive safely.


You'll Be Celebrating, When You're Down And Braking.
Everyone will be relieved and happy when you arrive safely on the ground.


Climbing Out.
Despite the challenges, you are overcoming the situation.


Just Hold Your Heading True.
Stay on course!


Got To Get Your Finest Out...
You need to be at your best and give it everything you got.


Climbing! Climbing!
Continuing to rise above the challenges.


Just Hold Your Heading True.
Maintain focus and direction.


Climbing! Climbing!
Persevering through the difficulties.


Climbing Out.
Rising above the problems and difficulties you are facing.


Just Hold Your Heading True.
Stay on course and focused.


Got To Get Your Finest Out...
It's time to be at your very best.


Climbing! Climbing!
Continuing to rise above the difficulties.


Five Miles Out,
Being only five miles from your destination can feel both close and far at the same time.


Just Hold Your Heading True.
Stay on course and keep moving forward.


Got To Get Your Finest Out...
It's time to give it everything you got!


Climbing! Climbing!
Continuing to overcome the challenges no matter what.


Climbing Out.
Rising above the problems and difficulties you are facing.


Just Hold Your Heading True.
Stay focused on your goal and keep moving forward.


Got To Get Your Finest Out...
You need to perform your best to get through this.


Climbing! Climbing!
Persevering through the difficulties, continuing to climb upward.


Climbing Out.
Rising above the problems and difficulties you are facing.


Just Hold Your Heading True.
Do not deviate, stay on course!


Got To Get Your Finest Out...
You have to give it everything you got to make it through this crisis.


Climbing! Climbing!
Persevering and overcoming the obstacles.




Contributed by Savannah L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions