Flight 19
Phil Manzanera Lyrics


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MacCormack-Manzanera

Friday night she got carried away
Suzie lost everything she see
Johnny found out she didn't understand
She wanted it all, she wanted it all
Saturday she was laughing it off
Johnny's lonely as he can be
Everyone seemed to agree
Suzie don't need sympathy
But Sunday morning she drove her car into a wall

Lonely one, a wall is not a home
Lonely one, a soul is not a throne
Lies are highs, the truth is out on loan

Johnny ran down to the hospital ward
And he tried to apologise
He said " You were too weak and you could not speak
And I've been blind and you know I'm crying
Sometimes I turn off, want the world to go away
But if you ever come around
I'll never let you down"
And the doctor said "Who's gonna pay for the bed?"

Lonely one, you always feel the same
(Why do they want all my time?)
Lonely one, it's such a childish game
(Why isn't anything mine?)
Lonely one, you're going to go insane

Lonely one, the stars were meant for you
Eyes are yours but you don't own the view
Lonely one, do what you gotta do

Time runs out for the innocent man
When he can't get what he wants
Johnny wears shades and he holds a blade
On no, you mustn't do that, you mustn't do that
Sometimes you turn off, want the world to go away
Whatever keeps you alive
All that you need to survive
Any old way to keep the things you know from
Bringing you down

Saint Serene, get me on Flight 19




Saint Serene, get me on Flight 19
Saint Serene, get me on Flight 19

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Flight 19," a song by Phil Manzanera, are filled with themes of loneliness, regret, and the desire for escape. The song tells the story of Johnny and Suzie, two people struggling with their own feelings of isolation and desperation. Suzie, who has "lost everything she sees," seems to be searching for something that she can't quite find. She wants it all, but doesn't understand what she's really looking for. Johnny, meanwhile, is "lonely as he can be," and tries to apologize to Suzie for not understanding her better. But as the song progresses, it becomes clear that Johnny is also struggling with his own demons. He turns off and wants the world to go away, and even contemplates violence.


The chorus of "Flight 19" speaks to the longing for escape that both Johnny and Suzie feel. They both want to be free of their own pain, to get away from everything that's bringing them down. The repeated invocation of "Saint Serene, get me on Flight 19" serves as a metaphorical plea for release from their troubles. Flight 19 refers to a group of U.S. Navy bombers that vanished over the Bermuda Triangle in December 1945. The disappearance of Flight 19 in the infamous Bermuda Triangle also suggests a desire to escape and to explore the unknown.


Overall, "Flight 19" is a song about the ways in which we all search for meaning and connection in a world that can be isolating and confusing. The characters in the song are grappling with their own feelings of loneliness and despair, and are looking for a way out. The idea of Flight 19 serves as a powerful metaphor for the human desire for escape, even if that escape is ultimately unattainable.


Line by Line Meaning

Friday night she got carried away
Suzie got too caught up in something on Friday night


Suzie lost everything she see
Suzie lost everything she could get her hands on


Johnny found out she didn't understand
Johnny came to realize that Suzie didn't understand the consequences of her actions


She wanted it all, she wanted it all
Suzie was greedy and wanted everything


Saturday she was laughing it off
On Saturday, Suzie shrugged off what had happened on Friday


Johnny's lonely as he can be
Johnny is very lonely


Everyone seemed to agree Suzie don't need sympathy
Everyone believed that Suzie didn't deserve sympathy


But Sunday morning she drove her car into a wall
Suzie committed suicide on Sunday morning by driving her car into a wall


Lonely one, a wall is not a home
Being alone is not the same as being at home


Lonely one, a soul is not a throne
A soul cannot be a substitute for a position of power or authority


Lies are highs, the truth is out on loan
Lying can seem like a high, but the truth is not always present


Johnny ran down to the hospital ward
Johnny went to the hospital to see Suzie


And he tried to apologise
Johnny attempted to apologize to Suzie


He said " You were too weak and you could not speak
Johnny acknowledged that Suzie was unable to defend herself


And I've been blind and you know I'm crying
Johnny realizes that he was ignorant and feels remorseful


Sometimes I turn off, want the world to go away
Johnny sometimes wants to escape reality


But if you ever come around
Johnny will be there for Suzie if she ever comes back


I'll never let you down"
Johnny promises that he won't disappoint Suzie


And the doctor said "Who's gonna pay for the bed?"
The doctor questions whether Suzie's medical bills will be paid for


Lonely one, you always feel the same
Being alone can feel the same way all the time


(Why do they want all my time?)
The artist questions why people always want their time


Lonely one, it's such a childish game
Being alone can feel like a game that is childish


(Why isn't anything mine?)
The singer feels like they don't own anything


Lonely one, you're going to go insane
Being alone can drive a person insane


Lonely one, the stars were meant for you
The singer believes that the stars were meant for them, as a symbol of belonging


Eyes are yours but you don't own the view
You can only see what is in front of you, but you don't own it


Lonely one, do what you gotta do
The singer encourages the lonely one to do what they need to do to survive


Time runs out for the innocent man
Time is limited for the innocent person


When he can't get what he wants
When the innocent person can't obtain what they desire


Johnny wears shades and he holds a blade
Johnny hides his emotions and carries a weapon


On no, you mustn't do that, you mustn't do that
The singer warns against violent behavior


Sometimes you turn off, want the world to go away
Sometimes you just want to block out the world


Whatever keeps you alive
Whatever strategy you use to stay alive


All that you need to survive
Doing whatever is necessary to survive


Any old way to keep the things you know from bringing you down
Using any method to avoid getting brought down by negative thoughts


Saint Serene, get me on Flight 19
The artist is asking for Saint Serene's help in going on Flight 19


Saint Serene, get me on Flight 19
Repetition of the singer's request for Saint Serene's help in going on Flight 19


Saint Serene, get me on Flight 19
The singer repeats their request once more for emphasis




Contributed by Juliana C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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